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How to Survive a Forest Fire
By Jonsky Sicuna

Forest fires are either started deliberately or by accident. In either case, it destroys not only the surrounding wildlife but also the lives of people who are caught in between the fires or people with a home nearby.

Forest fires are prone to happen in any dry, wooded area especially in areas covered with conifers, which is highly flammable. This likelihood is further increased by the abundance of dead and fallen wood or when there is a drought season.

Check for how long the drought has been going on. The trail manager will likely have all the information you need about the condition of the area. They will also post that information to let the public know about the current level of fire danger.

How to Photograph Winter Scenes
By Kim Rormark

Too many great winter scenes are never photographed Unfortunately a lot of great winter images are never shot. The reason for this is the unpleasant cold and sometime wet weather conditions keeping photographers inside. Another reason is the technical aspects. Photographing winter scenes is challenging and often the images is exposed wrong giving a too dark and dull image. Both the weather conditions and the technical parts fortunately can be dealt with. Know how to photograph winter scenes and you will soon be shooting great winter images.

JN "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island
By Mark M Washburn

Any trip to the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva in the Gulf of Mexico should include a visit to the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is named for the political cartoonist, J. Ding Darling, who was ahead of his time in taking a keen interest in the environment. Darling fell in love with Sanibel Island and used his influence and political connections to protect the pristine wildlife and surrounding wetlands. Today, approximately 50% of Sanibel is part of the wildlife refuge, best known for its spectacular bird populations as well as the peaceful existence of many previously endangered species.

Mississippi River National Parks
By David Urmann

The Mississippi River is not just surrounded by wonderful bridges and tributaries, but also by seven great National Parks. It attracts many tourists every year.

These seven National Parks are Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Effigy Mounds National Monument, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, Vicksburg National Military Park, Natchez National Historic Park, New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, and Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve.

The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area protect and interpret the Mississippi river. This national park includes the river itself. This recreation area is important for the cultural, scientific and economic resources.

Acadia National Park - A Treasure on the Rocky Coast of Maine
By Alan LeStourgeon

There are few better ways to enjoy the beauty, splendor and history of Maine than to spend some time in Acadia National Park. As with all national parks Acadia offers a great time for all. Families can enjoy all kinds of fabulous activities in a setting that exudes the beauty of Maine.

People have enjoyed the splendor of this Mt Desert Island attraction for decades on end. The breathtaking scenery and wildlife offer an incredible diversity of activities and sights to see. The park is open year round giving a unique perspective season by season. No matter what time of year you decide to take your vacation there will be an amazing landscape just waiting for your arrival.

Grand Teton National Park, Named For the Female Anatomy
By Alan LeStourgeon

One of the most fabulous parks in the National Park System is Grand Teton National Park located just south of Yellowstone Park in northwestern Wyoming. The origin of the name of the park is just as interesting as the park itself. The mountain range was mistakenly named by a French trapper who felt that some hills in the area of Arco, Idaho were reminiscent of the female anatomy and thus the word Tetons which is French for nipples was given to those hills. Years after that the name was incorrectly given to the mountains now within The Grand Teton National Park on a map!

5 Tips For Sharper Landscape Photos
By Brandon Baumgarten

The key to getting the sharper landscape and nature images is to use specific digital photography techniques. Disciplined use of these techniques by photographers leads to technically better photos.

1. Use a sturdy tripod - Camera movement is a common culprit of soft photos. Using a sturdy tripod will usually alleviate the problem, and also allow you to compose your image with precision. The use of a tripod allows the digital photographer to use a slower shutter speed, for a greater depth of field due to the corresponding aperture.

What to Avoid When Living Outdoors
By Ryan Canfield

Avoid Predators

The most common cause of predators being attracted to a campsite is the lure of the smell of food. Uncooked food and snacks should be kept in an airtight cooler or other container constantly. If you are not eating the food, then it should not be out of the containers. Leftover food or scrapes from a meal should be buried several feet below the ground's surface outside of the camp. This keeps bears and other large predators from entering your camping looking for a hand out.

Traveling alone through a deserted area is not a wise thing to do when learning what to avoid in the outdoors. When you travel alone, you make yourself an easy target for larger predators that might be in search of a quick meal. Traveling with a partner makes you less of a target and many predators won't bother wasting their time.

Alaska Attractions - Kenai Fjords Tours Part 1
By Connie Limon

Kenai Fjords National Park Tour

The Kenai Fjords Tours is the original Alaska glacier cruise and tour operator in Alaska’s Fjords National Park. On their tours you will be able to see Alaska’s incredible wildlife and glaciers. Not only will you see the incredible beauty of Alaska, but you will also learn more from the most knowledgeable captains and narrators. Sit from comfortable and spacious cabins as you view glaciers and wildlife like you could not ever imagine just sitting from your home. You have to experience these tours to realize just how beautiful Alaska really is. It might be a little difficult to live in Alaska in some areas, but that does not mean you cannot see firsthand just what this place looks like. The greatest portion of Alaska is inhabitable by human beings; however, Polar Bears, whales, sea lions, sea otters and other forms of wildlife feel right at home here in specific areas of course. These tours give us humans a chance to peak in on the private life of these beautiful and awesome looking creatures. What a cool and refreshing way to spend a vacation!

Washington State Parks
By Nicole Munoz

The state of Washington offers an extremely diverse landscape. From the temperate rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula and the moderate Pacific coast in the west to the high peaks of the Cascade Range and the dry deserts of the west, it is no wonder the beauty of Washington state parks attracts visitors from all around.

There are 120 Washington state parks and recreation areas with a wide variety of amenities, attractions, and activities. Windsurfing, rock climbing, skiing, and snowmobiling, Washington state parks offer plenty of activities to suit every outdoor lover. There are also plenty of historical sites, cultural exhibits, and interpretive centers for educational opportunities.