On the centennial of the National Park Service, this richly illustrated book offers invaluable advice on exploring America’s national park system. The book delves into issues affecting an array of parks: the iconic western national parks like Yellowstone; the urban parks such as Golden Gate National Recreation Area; historic sites including the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Gettysburg National Military Park; and cultural areas like Mesa Verde National Park that are among America’s over 400 national parks. Twenty-three essays from contributing authors with deep personal and professional connections to the national parks serve as expert guides to places in the park system where: much of the nation’s biological and cultural diversity is represented; ideas such as freedom, civil rights, and conservation were conceived; vast wilderness offers solitude and reflection; storied landscapes preserve a sense of place; the balance between recreation and preservation is tested; research and learning engage the next generation; the dynamics of nature are being shaped by a changing climate; and innovations in technology, sustainability, and stewardship provide a sense of purpose and hope.

Walks of a Lifetime in America’s National Parks: Extraordinary Hikes in Exceptional Places Walk the national parks and find out for yourself why they’re “America’s best idea” and why walking is the richest way to experience and appreciate these iconic places. There can be no better guides than Bob and Martha Manning, longtime Hiking Ambassadors for the American Hiking Society and life-long stalwarts of the National Park System. In this book, the Mannings introduce and describe all the national parks and offer first-hand descriptions of the very best trails that lead walkers to quintessential scenic vistas, celebrated rivers and lakes, majestic waterfalls, outstanding wildlife viewing areas, significant historic and prehistoric sites, and much more. These walks range from short nature trails to half and full-day hikes to backpacking trips. The book is richly illustrated with hundreds of color photographs, and concludes with a wealth of practical advice on how to best visit and hike the national parks.

There are twenty-four World Heritage Sites scattered across the United States.These U.S. World Heritage Sites are the most important natural and cultural areas around the world; these are the places that the United Nations, and the 167 countries it represents, have recognized as the most important contributions to the world’s heritage. World Heritage Sites are premier visitor destinations, yet most people are not familiar with the World Heritage Site designation and many of the places included on the World Heritage List. A Guide to America's World Heritage Sites: The Heritage of Humanity describes these twenty-four sites, including why they are so important, the visitor attractions they feature, and logistical advice on how to visit them.

This innovative book provides a dynamic—and often surprising—view of the range of environmental issues facing the United States today. A distinguished group of scholars examines the growing temporal, spatial, and thematic breadth of topics historical geographers are now exploring. Seventeen original chapters examine topics such as forest conservation, mining landscapes, urban environment justice, solid waste, exotic species, environmental photography, national and state park management, recreation and tourism, and pest control. Commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the publication of the seminal work The American Environment: Interpretations of Past Geographies, the book clearly shows much has changed since 1992. Indeed, not only has the range of issues expanded, but an increasing number of geographers are forging links with environmental historians, promoting a level of intellectual cross-fertilization that benefits both disciplines. As a result, environmental historical geographies today are richer and more diverse than ever. The American Environment Revisited offers a comprehensive overview that gives both specialist and general readers a fascinating look at our changing relationships with nature over time.

There are fifty-five National Heritage Areas scattered across the US and they continue to grow in number and diversity. Though they’re not officially national parks, their conservation, education, and recreation related objectives echo those of the national parks: to conserve nationally significant natural and cultural landscapes and to make them available to the public for purposes of education, recreation, and sustainable tourism-related economic development. But the methods of achieving these objectives are different—very different—than those used in the national parks. While both national parks and NHAs are established by Congress, national parks are conventionally large areas of public land that are owned and managed by the National Park Service (NPS). NHAs take a more inclusive, partnership-based approach to their work; they offer local citizens, government at all levels, non-profit organizations, and private sector enterprises the opportunity to define, celebrate and conserve the natural, historic, cultural, scenic and recreational resources that have been vital in shaping their identity and destiny. NHAs are composed primarily of private lands; they’re living landscapes where participants reside, work and play. Each chapter in this guidebook describes the remarkable natural and cultural resources that define NHAs and highlights nearby visitor attractions, enticing readers to visit NHAs and to enjoy and appreciate the attractions offered.