If this gorgeous spring weather has you itching to get outside with your family, we’ve got the perfect excuse to head out to one of our national parks this weekend: it’s free!
This year, the National Park Service turns 100 years old, and to celebrate, during National Park Week (April 16-24), admission at all national parks will be free.
As in, totally free. For everyone.
Whoo!
Related: 22 National Parks and Sites you can visit without hiking boots. Maybe even without a plane ticket.
Junior Rangers at the Virgin Islands National Park, photo by Carolyn Roust for NPS
Of course, we’ve been motivated do whatever we can to support to the awesome National Parks program lately, as they work tirelessly to protect our beautiful landscapes and fight against climate change even while facing dangerous government defunding of their work.
Related: The best science, climate, and parks accounts to follow on Twitter to help protect science
So if you want to say thanks too, we’re all about sending our National Parks some support this week, and helping to instill in our children a lifetime love of America’s exquisite lands, parks, and historic sites.
As for me, Yellowstone and Arches National Parks are at the top of my to-visit list right now, but there are plenty of day trip options too that may not spring to mind. If you’re around the New York area, Consider Ellis Island or if you’re in Tennessee or New Mexico, you might want to visit the Manhattan Project National Historic Park, a fascinating destination for STEM-loving kids.
Just check out the cool travel guides the parks have created to help your family the right park to visit, because there are guaranteed to be plenty you don’t know about. And a whole lot more to do besides camping and hiking.
To learn more free admission during National Park Week visit their website — but consider giving a donation anyway to help support the important work they’re doing.
Photo of Rainbow Bridge at top by Shawn Harris Ahmed, Share the Experience.
