Discover nature, history, and heritage in national parks

Group gathered by Tumacacori mission under a moonlit sky.

A sunset in Southern Arizona. A fossil preserved in an ancient reef. A bat flying under a full moon. October is a quieter time of year in many national parks. In this edition of American West Monthly, connect with nature, history, and heritage in some of America’s most treasured places.

Old brick church in a yellow flower field under a blue sky.

Courtesy of NPS

Visit a heritage site in Southern Arizona

Tumacácori National Historical Park protects one of the Southwest’s oldest Spanish missions, built on the homelands of the O’odham. Just an hour away from Tucson, there’s plenty to enjoy at this Southern Arizona park.

Experience Tumacácori National Historical Park

Take a trip to a cultural crossroads in Southern Arizona when you visit Tumacácori National Historical Park, an Indigenous and Hispanic heritage site in the heart of the Santa Cruz River Valley.

Old mission building at night with people holding lanterns.

Two archaeologists excavating a fossil in rocky soil.

Courtesy of NPS

National parks for fossil enthusiasts

October 14, 2026, is National Fossil Day—and we’re spotlighting some of the places where you can travel back in time. From ancient sea beds to ice age wonders, you don’t want to miss these parks.

Close-up of a bat with large ears perched on a branch.

Courtesy of NPS/Don Albright

Celebrate Bat Week

It’s the season to celebrate bats! Our guide highlights where you can see these fascinating flying mammals in a national park.

Person in a hoodie standing on sunlit sand dune, with footprints behind them.

Courtesy of NPS

Tips for shoulder and off-season travel in the national parks

Looking for a quieter, less-crowded national park experience? Interested in enjoying beautiful landscapes in a whole different season? Check out our travel tips for enjoying the shoulder and off-seasons in parks.