Assateague Island National Seashore protects sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays along a strip of barrier island that stretches across the Maryland and Virginia border. In this dynamic coastal environment, the island is continuously being reshaped by wind and water. Explore life on the edge of the sea by crabbing, clamming, kayaking, biking and camping – be sure to plan ahead, as campsites for the summer start filling up in March! Sunrise photo by Jake Breach (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

The waters of Leigh Lake at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming reflect the deep green of the surrounding trees. Photographer Dennis Liew enjoyed this perfect moment with his girlfriend. “We canoed to the eastern side to watch the sun light up the mountains. It was a serene moment; the air was calm and not a soul there disturbed the peace.” Photo courtesy of Dennis Liew.

Lightning rips through the sky over White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world’s largest gypsum dunefield. Photo courtesy of Donald Palansky. 

Is there a better way to fight the summer heat than getting out on the water? Kayaking Lake Superior at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan offers amazing views of unique rock formations and endless blue water. Oh, and there are beaches, waterfalls and hiking trails to explore, too! Photo by Courtney Kotewa (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

A skylight​ is not just a view to the world above you, but ​a window to the world beneath. In this photo​,​ taken last month on the Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater at Kīlauea​ in Hawaii, a volcanic skylight reveals a river of molten rock, drifting just below the charred surface. It’s a powerful reminder of the forces at work below us. Photo by U.S. Geological Survey.

Whoa, check out this pic of ominous clouds over Badlands National Park in South Dakota from earlier this month. Badlands is known for its extreme temperatures and weather. While the scenery can be dramatic, be sure to seek shelter when storms start rolling through the park. Photo by National Park Service. 

The unspoiled beauty of Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park is calling. It was a dreary, overcast and foggy day but Christian Loya decided to hike out to Shi Shi Beach anyway and hope it cleared. “My persistence paid off on this one. It finally did just before sunset and I was treated with this glorious sunset.” Photo courtesy of Christian Loya.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico protects the remains of massive stone buildings – containing multiple levels and hundreds of rooms  – built by ancestral Pueblo peoples. Chaco Canyon was home to thousands between 850 and 1250 A.D, and these archaeological ruins testify to organizational and engineering abilities not seen anywhere else in the American Southwest. Photographer James Kaiser wandered around Pueblo Bonito for hours, taking photos and marveling at its beauty: “I’ll never forget how uncrowded and timeless it felt in Chaco Canyon that morning,” Kaiser says. Photo courtesy of James Kaiser.

Happy Birthday to the Bureau of Land Management! Responsible for nearly 250 million acres of public land, the Bureau manages resources to best serve the present and future needs of the nation and preserve some of our country’s most stunning landscapes. Photo of Delta Wild and Scenic River Watershed in Alaska by Bob Wick, @mypubliclands.

Take a moment and remember the beauty in this world. This perfect sunset over Bowman Lake at Glacier National Park in Montana will sooth your senses.