The financial crisis, the housing crisis and the jobs crisis have made things very tough over the last 18 months for many families. Most people have to figure out how to do more, with less income, while still dealing with general instability. That said, life does not stop; people still have to find something to do to fill their weekends and vacations. The trick is figuring out something that will not break the bank, in addition to finding inexpensive ways to travel or lodge. My suggestion; visit the National Parks and Monuments of the United States. That is exactly what I did with my family over Spring Break this year.
We decided to take a week and visit the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion Canyon; called the Canyon Loop by some, as you can visit all three by driving in a big circle. While doing our research we discovered that the entrance fee for all of the parks was about $25 per vehicle. Doing some quick Math, we figured out that we could spend another $5 ($80 total) and get an annual Pass for all 462 National Parks and Monuments in the country. Not only was this a no-brainer, for this one week trip, it really makes sense for everyone to do. Consider this; many of us live within an hour of at least 1 National Park or Monument.
With 52 weekends in a year, traveling an hour or two is nothing when trying to entertain the kids, or impress a person you just started dating. Now add, at least, 2 weeks of vacation and a number of national holidays each year, and most of us have the chance to drive the few hours it would take to reach far more than 3 parks or monuments in a year. When you consider dinner and a movie is going to run you at least $40, an annual pass to see some of the most amazing things on the planet for $80 is a drop in the bucket.
We started our trip at the Grand Canyon, looped up to Bryce for two days, and came back to finish in Zion. We flew to Las Vegas where we rented a van to start the first leg of our trip and spent the next week driving the Canyon Loop to all three parks. During the 7 days and 15 hours of driving, we came within an hour of 7 additional National Parks and Monuments that our annual pass would have gotten us access to. Take a look at Google Maps the next time you are planning a vacation, I am sure your route will take you within a stone’s throw of a few parks yourself.
The America the Beautiful National Park Pass is very easy to obtain. You can order it on-line at this link: http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html. Or, to make sure you squeeze every day out of your pass, you can pick one up at the entrance of the first park you visit. In addition to the America the Beautiful Pass, there is also a great deal for seniors. For just $10, seniors (age 62 and older) can obtain the America the Beautiful Senior Pass. This is a lifetime pass for all National Parks and Monuments. My father in law has this pass and uses it often.
What does the pass get you? In addition to covering the park entrance, there are a number of additional benefits the pass offers. Some of these benefits include Ranger Walks, Special Park Shows, Park Museums and access to park trams and busses which we used in Zion. The Pass is good for 3 adults (related or not) in areas that require a per person fee, and will get 2 motorcycles into the park of your choice. The pass gains you access to federal lands run by the following agencies:
- Bureau of Land Management http://www.blm.gov
- Bureau of Reclamation http://www.usbr.gov
- Fish & Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov
- USDA Forest Service http://www.fs.fed.us
- National Park Service http://www.nps.gov
- Federal Recreation lands http://www.recreation.gov
- National Atlas (lands maps) http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printable.html#fedlands
Not only is the National Parks Pass a great deal for individuals and families, it is a great way to chip in and help keep these parks open for continued enjoyment. These rough economic times that are affecting each of us are also affecting these beautiful parks. We cannot trust our politicians to keep these places open during rough times. However, the purchase of a National Parks Pass by a few of us can help to guarantee continued enjoyment of these beautiful places for all of us. Personally, I plan on using my annual pass to visit Pinnacles National Park and Yosemite before my year ends. I really hope you will consider one also.
Darrin Underwood
Contributor
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