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Getting misty at the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone
The National Park Service is celebrating a milestone and greetings are flooding the media. While entrance fees are waived across the U.S. today, free days are offered throughout the year. There are over 400 National Parks and only 127 of them charge. So cost needn’t be a concern any day of the year. There has to be a park within reach. It’s time to step away from the keyboard and get wild.
Visiting the National Parks requires some planning. I was fortunate enough to see part of eight National Parks and several National Monuments this summer. I say part because the Parks are huge! If you’ve come into Yosemite from the South, it will an entirely different experience from the Eastern entrance. There are more trails, hikes for any age, ability or experience level than you can cover in a lifetime.
Yosemite Valley
You don’t need a car either. Many of the National Parks were designed with rail access and have stations that will deliver you just steps from lodges and amenities. Bus tours and rentals abound near each park entrance as well as at airports in the vicinity. The National Parks have been big business for nearly a hundred years. There’s something for most any budget and travel style.
Mt. Rainier National Park
Six months before leaving our family started discussions about the route, which parks and activities were most important to each of us. While we did some car camping, we drove and elected to reserve a handful of nights at lodges inside several parks.
Mt. Rainier Paradise Inn built with fallen logs found in the park.
Staying inside a National Park keeps you close which extends your day and night exploration and hiking time. The best time to spy wildlife is at dusk or dawn. It was easier to manage since we were sleeping just steps away from trails. The lodges also offer some respite from the crowds that can jam the more popular parks. National Park lodges and any accommodations close to park entrances can be spendy and often sell out months in advance.
The best part about visiting the National Parks: You, your friends and family will walk away with a thirst to see more of this amazing country and a hunger to keep these national treasures safe.
If your work schedule or budget won’t allow a long road or train trip then splurge on a picnic during one of the Free Days. The park free days include the 99th Birthday, August 25th, and November 11th, Veteran’s Day. (All active duty military members and their dependents are eligible year round with a free America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.)
Mt. Rushmore National Monument
If you’re eligible go almost free with a Senior, a Disability or Volunteer Pass or purchase an annual pass for $80. The passes are a great value as they include not only entrance to all 408 national parks but also national wildlife refuges, national forests and more than 2,000 Federal lands.
Elk materialize most everywhere inside Yellowstone National Park.
2016 is the National Park Service’s Centennial and demand will be high not only for Americans but for foreign visitors longing to step into the iconic vistas they’ve seen in movies and TV.  Start planning your visit early. There are festivals, guided events and all manner of celebrations planned throughout the year.
Isn’t your heart clamoring to go wild?
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Good work.
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Thanks
This is Very Nice Article. Thanks
Thank you. I hope you’ll have a chance to visit many of the parks too.
I am amazed at home much ground you covered! I found this post super helpful and will bookmark for the future. Can’t wait to read and see more of your trips.
Thanks, Suzanne. It was a quick trip as we were on a mission to get the car across country. Ideally I’d have spent months exploring!
You were a busy bee! I didn’t visit any national parks this summer. But now you have me wanting to stay at the Mt. Rainier Paradise Inn, so someday I hope I’ll get there.
I hope you get the chance to stay at Paradise Lodge. It’s basic but one of a kind.
We are so lucky to have these amazing parks in the U.S. I just found out yesterday that this anniversary is on my birthday! I think that’s pretty cool. 🙂 The passes and free days are awesome deals I hope I can take advantage of them. Must start some planning.
Happy birthday, Cathy! I hope you get to visit the parks soon.
Such beautiful photos. Eight national parks and all beautiful and different
Thanks, Paula. Those are just a few of the shots. Many more to come.
Perfect guide to the National Parks. Thanks for the reference.
Also, I love your photos. What camera do you use?
Thanks for the compliments. Most of those pictures were taken with my cell phone! The rest with a Canon with a long zoom.
Wow, eight national parks! It sounds like a wonderful summer. We had planned to visit Yellowstone this summer, but had to postpone due to illness. We’ll make it down there soon!
It was a whirlwind but that’s how the family wanted to go. Spurred by the need to get a car to Philadelphia we packed as much in as we could. I wouldn’t recommend that schedule unless it was the only way to go!
What a great idea, to do a emmer of National Oarks, Elaine! It’s been a long while since I’ve done such a road trip. Would love to go and see the Crazy Horse monument at Mt. Rushmore, as it wasn’t yet built the last time we were there.
Thanks, Doreen. We did stop at the Crazy Horse monument and it still isn’t finished. An incredible work in progress and the cultural center is worth a visit on its own.