Spur a discussion about traveling to a national park for a vacation and odds are that it will revolve around getting out into nature, looking for wildlife, perhaps honing your photography skills, or marveling at incredible vistas.

Will the discussion include destinations that portray aspects of the country's history, or cultural melting pot?

Equating national parks with nature is obvious, but making a similar connection with history and culture might not be so obvious. And maybe that lack of appreciation for America's culture and history explains why the National Park Service has been struggling with protecting and interpreting those aspects of the parks.

The National Parks Conservation Association has just released a report calling for a Cultural Resource Challenge, one that asks for a hefty investment by Congress in the Park Service's cultural affairs wing. We explore that report in today's episode with Alan Spears, NPCA's senior director for cultural affairs.