National Parks are one of America’s treasures. Places of historical significance and/or beauty are preserved and open for us to visit and explore.

Before you visit a National Park (NP), National Historic Site (NHS), National Shoreline (NS), or National Monument (NM) it is best if you have done your research. Here are a few things that you should know:

1. Make sure you plan your visit. There are events happening in our NPs every day around the country. You may want to make sure that you get in on a Dark Sky Festival at Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP or A Washington Family Christmas at George Washington Birthplace NM. No matter where you want to go, make sure you check out the awesome events that are happening to assist you in planning your trip.
2. Know the fees. Not all places will charge for admittance, but many do. There are several passes that you can get to help offset these prices.
   • America the Beautiful annual pass is available for $80. This waives any admittance fee into the parks and can be purchased in advance or on the first stop of your trip. T
   • If you have a 4th grader you can print off paperwork to get a free pass (valid September-August of their 4th grade year).
   • If you you have served in the military you are eligible for a free pass. Simply show your CAC or Military ID at the first stop on your trip to obtain this.
   • If you are 62 or older you qualify for the Senior Pass. You can get a lifetime pass for $80 or an annual for $20.
   • The Access Pass can be obtained for any citizen with a permanent disability. The pass is free but you must pay $10 to process the required paperwork if you purchase it online.
3. Get the apps. They are fun, educational, and can help you get around. The Passport app is my favorite because I can easily find parks that are nearby, mark them off as I visit, and easily locate the Visitor’s Center.
4. Passports are a must! No, not your passport to enter another country, but the Passport to the National Parks! Buy these from the Visitor’s Center (which helps keep our parks clean and operating!) and stamp them at every park. The stamp will be found in the “Cancellation Location” in the Visitor’s Center. Each stamp is the date of the visit, and you can purchase additional things like stickers to adorn the pages. If you don’t often visit the parks you can get by with the smaller one. If you are an avid traveler, I highly suggest the larger version.
5. If you go, do your part. Follow all posted guidelines and rules. Always leave the parks cleaner than you found them. Help preserve the parks for future generations. #FindYourPark