THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA’S BEST IDEA– a six-episode series directed and produced by Ken Burns and written and produced by Dayton Duncan – is the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence and just as radical: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone.

Filmed over the course of more than six years in some of nature’s most spectacular locales — from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska — the documentary is nonetheless a story of people from every conceivable background — rich and poor; famous and unknown; soldiers and scientists; natives and newcomers; idealists, artists and entrepreneurs; people who were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved, and in doing so reminded their fellow citizens of the full meaning of democracy. It is a story of struggle and conflict, high ideals and crass opportunism, stirring adventure and enduring inspiration. Watch a preview

Here in the Valley, we are in close proximity to three national parks. Learn more about our close-to-home natural wonders by exploring the resources section of this site. Or, hear from the park rangers as they tell us about the Giants, Glaciers and Caves that make these natural wonders a destination for visitors from around the world.

You can learn more about the series and our national parks by attending one of the many events planned this September.