Special screenings and events to mark broadcast of Ken Burns' "The National Parks: America's Best Idea"

National parks are the United States' best idea, says documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, who celebrates them Sunday with the launch of a public-television series.

And around Seattle and Western Washington, special screenings and events this weekend and beyond are tied to the documentary, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea"

Its six two-hour episodes will show locally on KCTS 9. They cover everything from the wonders of Yellowstone National Park, founded in 1872 as the first national park, to parkland visionaries John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt plus the American families who enjoy the parks today.

Washington has three major national parks — Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park and North Cascades National Park — with some of the most spectacular mountain and coastal scenery in the nation. The state also has a half-dozen smaller national-park sites, from the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Seattle to Whitman Mission National Historic Site near Walla Walla.

This year, Americans again are embracing national parks and visitor numbers could reach a record 288 million, compared to 275 million in recent years.

What's driving Americans to the parks this year? The economic recession, which keeps vacationers closer to home and looking for budget recreation such as camping. Three fee-free weekends at national parks across the country. President Obama's high-profile trip to Yellowstone National Park this summer with his family. And now "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" documentary.

Here's a look at special screening and events tied to the documentary in Western Washington :

Seattle events/screenings

• KCTS 9 will host a premiere party Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at its Seattle studio (401 Mercer St.) with national park leaders, s'mores and a big-screen viewing of the first episode. It's free, but RSVP to events@kcts9.org. More information: www.kcts9.org/events

• A free screening of part of episode 5, which includes stories linked to Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park, is on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the REI store in Seattle. It includes a panel discussion on the future of the national parks. www.rei.com/seattle or 206-223-1944.

• Episode 5 will be screened in full at The Mountaineers headquarters (in Seattle's Magnuson Park) starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, with a social hour and 8 p.m. viewing. It's a fundraiser for Washington's National Park Fund; $15 per person. www.mountaineers.org

• If you want more on the national parks, there's an open house Saturday at the Seattle REI store starting at 10 a.m. to celebrate National Public Lands Day. Rangers from national parks in Washington will give free talks and slide shows. www.rei.com/seattle or 206-223-1944.

Mount Rainier screening

• All six parts of "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" will be shown starting Sunday evening and continuing through the week at Paradise Inn, the historic lodge at the Paradise area in Mount Rainier National Park. In the lobby at 8 p.m. daily, Sunday through Friday. Free.

• For volunteers who are participating in National Public Lands Day on Saturday at Mount Rainier, there will be a special sneak preview of the "The National Parks" at 3.30 p.m. at the Longmire Community Building. To volunteer or get more information, phone 360-569-2211, ext. 3385, or see the volunteer blog at rainiervolunteers.blogspot.com.

Port Angeles screening

Olympic National Park and the Olympic Park Institute are hosting a free screening of the first episode on a big screen at the Red Lion Hotel in Port Angeles Sunday at 7.30 p.m. No tickets necessary, but an RSVP is appreciated: 360-565-3130.

Kristin Jackson: kjackson@seattletimes.com