Free Weekends at US National Parks!
Posted on June 2nd, 2009 by Heather Dugan
It’s the thought that counts. I was already sold on the tremendous value of our national parks and monuments.
The National Park Service is waiving admittance fees at 147 sites that charge for entry on three weekends this summer. The free admission weekends are June 20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16.
While the potential savings of $3 to $25 per national park may not be enough to propel travelers to distant locations, it might encourage people to check out the wonders in their own vicinity. And for those already planning a national park junket, it might mean an extra souvenir or two…
*Check out “National Parks and Monuments” in the sidebar.
The US seem to do a great job promoting their National Parks. I like the idea of a couple of free weekends to encourage folks to wander through them. Zion and Bryce (in February and March) bring back great memories of truly magical locations – the sheer rock walls and the unusual hoodoos especially. And my only chance ever to go snow-shoeing and seeing only two other vehicles in Bryce all day.
You have such a wide choice of National Parks over there and they are so diverse one from the other. You would never get bored.
The government has no business charging folks to walk about the public lands and ply the beaches of the country where they were born in the first place. If it’s vigilance and upkeep that the national park service wants to finance let the government lease out the vast tracts of arable land that it holds unused to farmers and ranchers at a discount and through a draw of lots, that will also help lower the price of food, which incidentally, is higher in the U.S. than in the rest of the Americas. We have had to endure the likes of Joe McCarthy, Robert McNamara and Ronald Reagan and their rhetoric only to see this country become more and more restricted to it’s citizenry in the style of the old Soviet Union, it’s ridiculous.
Good to hear your voice today, nice post, have a wonderful day..;)
Thanks for the Heads up…. Gonna be in Cali huh? Do stop by.
Mark: I remember that you had quite the adventures in our western US! It seems like you’ve mastered making the most of all your travel opportunities.
I hope this free weekend offer gets a few more people outdoors this summer. Nothing on our TVs or computers can compare…
Suzanne: So true. ~And one can experience most of them at varying levels of exertion, making them fairly available for all to enjoy. Some visitors see the parks via shuttle buses and paved trails, but many others backpack to more remote locations. I always think -the further you get from your car, the better!
Jomo: Thanks very much for sharing your perspective.
I guess I view park fees as a maintenance cost similar to the expenses I incur in owning a home. Our national parks may be publicly owned, but the roads and trails require upkeep for the land to be truly accessible to the general public. ~And I’ll gladly pay extra for restroom faciilities, food conveniences, public safety and educational materials/services.
I have heard the land lease idea and while it may have merit within particular parks and monument land, commercial use of protected land poses an obvious challenge to the intent to preserve. Finite and irreplaceable resources such as our park lands deserve the same sort of respect our elderly citizens merit. Unfortunately, we don’t always recognize unique value until it is absent from us. Dialogue regarding alternatives is good, but any change in land use policies must be carefully measured against likely effects on future generations.
Hi mee mOe! Thanks for the “smile”, and I hope you’re enjoying your first week of June 2009!
Absolutely, Intrepid. I’ll just follow the airport signage: Ticketing, Baggage Claim, Intrepid… (just hoping I don’t get directed to Manhattan!)
Breathtaking shots, Heather!!! The National Parks sure are doing their part to help people out during these hard economic times.
Great post.
Hugs, JJ
Thanks JJ! Yes, I think it’s an excellent way to nudge at hesitations. “Free” always sounds better and may make a few people reconsider a park visit.
I’m headed to Yosemite (among other places) in a week or so. ~Hoping it won’t be too crowded with all the “free weekend” visitors!