YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — President Barack Obama wants more people to appreciate and visit America's national parks as the park system nears its 100th birthday.
Obama and his family spent the night at Yosemite National Park in California after touring an underground cave on Friday at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico.
The president plans a speech at Yosemite on Saturday, and he's expected to highlight the economic benefits of the 400-plus sites managed by the National Park Service.
Obama also is expected to discuss climate change and other threats to the park system, and highlight programs to encourage more people to visit parks.
He's hoping to lead by example by taking his wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha, along to help celebrate the park service's centennial, which is in August.
