© Paul via Flickr

Want to see one of the most dramatic canyon in the country? Imagine looking out at sheer walls of gray stone standing more than 2,600 feet above the a river, actually created by water alone for over 2 million years. If this sounds awesome, which it is, plan a trip to Colorado's Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The park protects some of the deepest and most spectacular miles of gorge and offers amazing opportunities to spend time outdoors. It's simply an unbelievable place to visit and a true testament of the wild.

© Birdfreak.com via Flickr

Get ready for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count! Scheduled for February 17-20, everyone is encouraged to participate, whether you're a beginner or seasoned birder. The count can be done anywhere, at any time, on any or all of the designated days. The data collected provides important information to conservation and government organizations that can influence decisions on public policy. Participating is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count.
2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time.
3. Enter your results online.

© AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker via Flickr

Congratulations to Big Bend National Park for earning the designation of "Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park" by the International Dark-Sky Association. A Gold Tier designation denotes a sky free from all but minor impacts of light pollution, which is pretty hard to find in North America. About.com congratulates you Big Bend for your night sky stewardship!

© m-oo via Flickr

Looking for a creative way to spend Valentine's Day? Forget the chocolates this year and take your special someone to a national park. There are plenty of beautiful parks out there, but some offer just the right mix of natural beauty, things to do, serenity, and adventure. Check out these romantic getaways and get planning!