Many people enjoy visiting national parks and other scenic attractions.
A growing number have also decided to pack up and move to the small cities and towns close to these special places. And a lot of them are heading for the communities that serve as the gateways to our national parks, wildlife refuges, and other public lands. Gateway communities are important not just because they provide food and lodging for Americans on their way to visit national parks and other public lands. They are also portals to our most cherished landscapes. Indeed, they define the park experience for many visitors.