When you visit a national park, do you spend more time trying to find a place to park your car than you do enjoying the park? That's an exaggeration, of course. But if you've ever visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon at peak season, or tried to drive into Yosemite Valley in the summer, or headed out for what you thought would be an enjoyable afternoon in Cade's Cove at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you know how bad traffic can be in some of our parks.
    The folks at Voice of America touched on this phenomena in a recent radio essay. In a story for their American Life series they reflect on how Americans have altered the way they visit national parks.  More and more, it seems, a frightening majority of people only have time for daily visits to our parks. While that no doubt reflects the fact that many Americans have forgotten how to truly relax and take a break from work, the hassles involved with getting into some of our parks might also play a role.
      What do you think?