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Millions of people will visit one of America’s national parks this year. For many, the typical visit involves arriving in the morning and leaving that afternoon. But that travel agenda misses a truly unique park environment, as these parks come alive at night, with nocturnal wildlife, incredible sunset vistas and ultra-dark skies full of constellations most city dwellers can’t even imagine. So this year, do yourself a favor and plan to spend a night (or two) in a national park. If you’re not the camping type, book an overnight stay in a cabin or a more luxurious park lodge. To motivate you to get this done, here’s a photo essay of stunning nighttime images from some of America’s most popular national parks. We’re not saying you’ll get the same results with your camera … but you’ll never know unless you try.

In April 2013, New Yorkers celebrated the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Woolworth Building. Often hailed as the first major modern skyscraper, the 792-foot-tall building wasn’t the only structure reaching new heights in that era. Several American cities embarked on a skyscraper-building binge in the late 19th and early 20th century, as advances in building techniques, ambitious architects and eager business and civic leaders spurred construction in New York, Chicago and other major cities. Here are 10 historic skyscrapers from that period, all more than 100 years old, and all noteworthy in some regard. At the very least, they’ve all survived the wrecking ball, where some much more famous buildings from their era met a sad fate.

Trailblazing African-American athletes have taken the spotlight this spring. Jackie Robinson’s oft-told story of shattering baseball’s color barrier has been recounted with style and grace in the fictional movie 42. In the NBA, journeyman player Jason Collins stunned the sports world with his revelation that he is gay. While both men will be long remembered for their roles in changing sports, other major African-American sports pioneers have been, if not forgotten, at least overshadowed in sports history. Most serious fans know about Robinson’s historic feat in baseball, but could the average sports fan name the first black player in the NFL? The NBA? How about the first black NASCAR driver? While few would argue that these men deserve the same accolades as Robinson — a star player who desegregated America’s most popular sport — they all faced similar challenges. And all deserve more credit than they’ve received.

There are few outdoor experiences that can rival taking a hike along a popular trail for the first time. Mix good exercise, great scenery, and the thrill of the unexpected and you can have fun on your own, or a nice bonding experience if you take the walk with family and/or friends. Here are five great hiking adventures in U.S. state parks, through five very different environments, that are sure to leave you with plenty of great memories, some cool photos — and maybe some sore legs for a day or two.

For many years, coffee had a reputation as a health risk. Some of the bad rap came from old medical studies that found coffee drinkers seemed to have a higher risk of early death. One problem: Researchers failed to take into account that many coffee drinkers also smoke. More recent studies have found many possible health benefits from caffeine use. But there’s enough conflicting research out there to muddle the issue; you’ll read one study about how coffee is good for you, and then a few months later hear about another study that has found coffee is bad for your health. Although most recent studies underscore the benefits of moderate caffeine use, there are some downsides to coffee drinking for certain people.

The progressive rock band Rush finally gets some long overdue recognition with its 2013 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It’s a great source of pride to fans of the group, not to mention millions of Canadian music fans that claim the band as their own. Dozens of successful musical groups hail from Canada, from seminal legends such as The Band to popular divas like Celine Dion and current pop stars like Justin Bieber. But in honor of Rush’s classic rock roots, we’ve decided to take a look at Canada’s 10 best classic rockers. The hardest part of this is deciding what fits the description of “classic rock,” but hopefully, that somewhat ambiguous term is understood well enough that fans of Nickelback, Arcade Fire, The Band, Joni Mitchell and a few other performers won’t be upset their favorite artist didn’t make the cut.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 is certainly one of the most controversial acts of legislation in modern U.S. history. The bill led to a bitter national debate that sparked heated town hall meetings and controversial deals in Congress. And it passed through Congress along almost entirely partisan lines, after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi infamously noted that lawmakers would have to pass the bill to find out what’s in it. Three years later, as the Affordable Care Act nears full implementation in 2014, some of the negatives of the new law are becoming evident. Conservatives who’ve criticized the plan — which they derisively call “Obamacare” — are saying, “I told you so.” Supporters of the new law point out that adopting a plan that overhauls one-sixth of the U.S. economy will obviously have some growing pains. Yet millions of Americans, including many Democrats who originally supported the law, are discovering that it has a dark side. Here are 10 troubling signs for the new health care law, culled from media and government reports and other sources in recent months.

There are many legendary historic sites to explore in the U.S. But what’s the greatest travel destination for an American history buff? Is it a trip to Gettysburg? A visit to Philadelphia’s Independence Hall? During this spring and summer travel season, maybe it’s time to explore some of the most famous ships in U.S. Naval history. There’s usually some strenuous climbing and a good bit of walking involved — and if you’re claustrophobic, quit reading right now — but as you take these tours, it’s impossible not to think of the sailors who served in these cramped spaces, fighting epic battles that changed the course of America. Here, in no particular order, are five of the most legendary U.S. Navy vessels that are open for tours — and, if you’re extremely lucky, maybe a cruise.

Many companies spend millions of dollars establishing a brand name, but shrewd companies realize when a name change is in order. In early 2013, Research in Motion Ltd. changed its name to BlackBerry, in an effort to capitalize on the well-known brand name of its most famous product. Other name changes come to erase a bad corporate image, as when the scandal-ridden WorldCom became MCI. But sometimes, companies simply realize it’s time for a change. Here’s a look back at the original names of some of today’s most famous companies. Would they have become multinational conglomerates with their original names? You make the call.

A 33-year-old man from the UK, Graham Hughes, made headlines in early 2013 when he claimed a record-breaking feat of having traveled to more than 200 countries in the world without flying. The British traveler spent four years reaching his goal. Impressive, yes, but he’s certainly not the only person who has been bitten by the travel bug and spent years — not to mention a substantial sum of money — to achieve travel goals that would seem utterly unobtainable to most people. In fact, many unique clubs exist to not only recognize these ambitious travelers, but to encourage others to follow in their well-traveled footsteps.