America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this summer….two “fee-free” weekends! The National Park Service, national wildlife refuges, and certain Bureau of Land Management sites will offer two “fee-free” weekends this summer to encourage Americans to connect with the outdoors and engage in healthy activities while visiting national parks and other federal lands. On Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6, 2010 entrance fees for Wright Brothers National Memorial will be waived for park visitors. The next “fee-free” weekend will take place on August 14-15. The 147 National Park Service sites across the country that charge entrance fees will waive those fees during these weekends.
National Trails Day will also be celebrated on Saturday, June 5th. You can visit the website at www.americanhiking.org for information on programs and events nationwide.
“Our national park system continues to provide opportunities for affordable family vacations close to home,” said Superintendent Mike Murray. “National parks are places for everyone to have fun, reconnect with nature, build a sense of ownership and stewardship toward parks and the environment, and to learn more about our great country.” The staff of Wright Brothers National Memorial, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Cape Hatteras National Seashore encourages everyone to visit one of our nation’s premier parks this summer, including the parks in your own backyard. Bring your family and friends to Wright Brothers, the site of the first powered flight, and learn more about this great nation’s aviation history. Enjoy exploring the nation’s first national seashore, attend a ranger program, and visit the site of the first English settlement. Additional information can be found on line at https://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.
While entrance fees for passengers in both private and commercial vehicles will be waived, recreation “user fees” such as permit fees, camping fees and lighthouse tour fees are not waived under this program. Entrance fees are not charged at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site or Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
