National Parks Announce Fee Free Days for 2011

The National Parks are America's crown jewels and I would urge folks to take the opportunity to visit them to see the natural wonders that the nation has to offer. Some of the most well known parks and monuments impose entrance fees to help supplement the operating costs of maintaining the facilities and programs offered. However, several times a year the National Park Service offers fee free days. For 2011, those days are as follows:

* January 15-17
(Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday weekend)
* April 16-24
(National Park Week)
* June 21
(First day of summer)
* September 24
(Public Lands Day)
* November 11-13
(Veterans Day weekend)

Mrs. Lawhawk and I have purchased annual passes the last couple of years since we make an effort to visit as many national parks as possible, and even if we don't visit as many as we like, knowing that these funds are dedicated to national park operations means that the money is going to a truly worthy purpose.