Sometimes it feels easy to forget that the national parks spread across our borders. In fact, Canada is home to some of the most stunning parks you have ever seen! Whether you want to explore the forests of Bruce Peninsula, the bears of Vuntut, or the migrating caribou of Ivvavik, Canada's got it all.

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Acadia National Park is the latest park to be featured on a coin. Bass Head Lighthouse, in Southwest Harbor, can be found on the latest quarter in the US Mint's America the Beautiful Quarters Program. The coin was unveiled at a special ceremony in the park this morning.

"When you just look at the natural beauty [of the lighthouse], that's part of it," said B.B. Craig, Associate Director for Sales and Marketing for the US Mint, "but then when you look at the history, that speaks for itself."

The US Mint releases five quarters each year, depicting 56 national parks and other national sites.

© foxypar4 via Flickr

With the 4th of July around the corner, learn about the holiday and its importance by visiting Independence National Historical Park. Plan your trip to Philadelphia now!

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives began consideration of HR 2578, a bill that undermines fundamental protection for dozens of national parks. Below is a statement from the NCPA:

"If enacted, the most far-reaching and extreme provision of this legislation would create a zone within 100 miles of our country's international land border of Mexico and Canada. In this zone, the most basic protections for our national parks, historic sites, and other protected areas may cease to exist at the whim of the Department of Homeland Security. This bill undermines basic national park protections based on the false premise that it is somehow impossible to secure our borders and protect our national heritage at the same time.

"No government agency should be above the law, yet this bill would allow the Department of Homeland Security unfettered authority to ignore laws that protect our fish and wildlife, national parks, forests, and historic sites. Ironically, the federal agency that would receive this unfettered authority said it does not want it, doesn't need it, and shouldn't have it. According to Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano, this legislation "is unnecessary, and it's bad policy." "Multiple national park sites would be threatened under this legislation, including Voyageurs, Glacier , Fort Union Trading Post, Perry's Victory Memorial, Fort Stanwix National Monument, Big Bend, Tumacacori, Saguaro, and Joshua Tree.

"The bill also includes authorization for reconstructing an expensive, little-used route in North Cascades National Park and undermines the National Park Service's carefully drafted plan that protects families visiting Cape Hatteras beaches, as well as nesting shorebirds and turtles, while still allowing vehicle access along much of the national seashore. Congress must vote "NO" on HR 2578 to protect our national heritage and natural resources."

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