This year the Department of Interior is celebrating its 100th birthday of the National Park Service. And every year around Earth Day, they set aside 1 whole week where you will get FREE ADMISSION to any national park! This year National Park Week is April 16th – 24th. It’s a wonderful opportunity to explore as near or far away from home, the beauty of our national heritage.
I was not one that came from a family that was heavy into the outdoors, so most of my experience with national parks has been in my adulthood, especially after moving to Las Vegas. I feel so fortunate that we have an abundance of national parks all within easy driving distance, such as Death Valley, Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon. If it wasn’t for my curiosity, adventurous friends inviting me along, and being exposed to these national treasures, I would only experience the beauty of our parks through photographs. And from a first-hand experience, I can attest, walking on those trails, traversing the streams and rivers, hiking the mountain trails, swooping over canyons via helicopter, and breathing in the crisp, fresh air, that one can only come away from an experience in our national parks rejuvenated and with a new appreciation.
Visiting our national parks is all about exploring, seeing the world anew, and experiencing gratitude for the variety and abundance of beauty before us. We are fortunate to have the National Park Service where not only do American citizens, but those from all over the world come to experience these treasures all within the borders of the United States. So take the time to discover new and open spaces, connect with fellow travelers on easily affordable escapes to partake in America’s largest celebration of national heritage.
I’m very excited to be adding Great Basin, Everglades, and possibly Mount Rainier later this year. Stay tuned to the blog and Instagram for live postings from those trips.
Finally, if you’d like to see how a visit last year to Zion resulted in an interview and one of my images featured by National Geographic Travel, feel free to click here to read more.
