Travel Tip #36 - National Park Service Centennial Celebration

     In 2016, the U.S. National Park Service will be celebrating its 100th birthday. The National Park Service was founded Aug. 25, 1916, and currently comprises 409 sites, including 58 national parks, covering an area of 84 million acres. This includes more than 18,000 miles of trails, and protects 27,000 historic and prehistoric structures, as well as 247 species endangered or threatened wildlife.

     Typically, 127 of the sites charge an admission fee that ranges from $3 - $30. As part of their centennial celebration, the NPS has decided that it will waive the entrance fee on 16 days in 2016:

- Jan. 18 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

- Apr. 16-24 - National Park Week

- Aug. 25-28 - National Park Service's 100th Birthday weekend

- Sept. 24 - National Public Lands Day

- Nov. 11 - Veteran's Day

     If you haven't visited a national park recently, this is a great opportunity to reconnect with nature and/or history near wherever you live. Although the entrance fees are waived, visitors should realize that amenity or user fees are still in place (ie. camping, boating, transportation, tours, lodges, etc.). For more news on the centennial celebration, visit the National Park Service website. Additional information about special centennial celebrations can be found at findyourpark.com.