Natl Parks FREE to all on Vet's Day

Book

Next Thursday, in honor of all veterans, the National Park Service (NPS) will open all its parks free of charge to everyone!  What a great opportunity to enjoy some of the best scenery in America AND at the same time, if you are 62 or older, pick up your very own NPS America the Beautiful Senior Pass ($10 for life, this pass replaces the Golden Eagle Pass and can only be purchased in person, with ID/proof of age)!

 

Find the park you'll be closet to November 11 by state or by name. And if you can't get to a park this month, enjoy learning about them before your next trip.  (Click titles for more info):

    National Geographic Guide to the National Parks 
    National Geographic Complete National Parks 

DVDs

    The Official Guide to America's Nat'l Parks

Consider a the spectacular photography in

    America's Spectacular National Parks coffee table book or Ken Burns PBS series  (DVD set):

     Ken Burns: Nat'l Parks - America's Best Idea

as holiday gifts ideas.

If you are lucky enough to be able to take a grandchild with you to a National Park on November 11 or in the near future, check out the Mysteries in Our National Parks series of books from the mother-daughter team of Skurzynski & Ferguson published by National Geographic for ages 9-12 (or read-aloud to younger children):

    Out of the Deep: Acadia (Maine) Nat'l Park

    Night of the Black Bear: Great Smoky Mtns (NC, TN) Nat'l Park

    Escape From Fear:  Virgin Islands Nat'l Park

    Deadly Waters:  Everglades (FL) Nat'l Park

    Running Scared: Carlsbad Caverns (NM) Nat'l Park

    Cliff-Hanger: Mesa Verde (CO) National Park

    Over the Edge:  Grand Canyon (AZ) Nat'l Park 
               (and don't forget classic Brighty of the Grand Canyon)

    Ghost Horses:  Zion (UT) Nat'l Park     

               (Note: some road delays possible)

    Valley of Death: Death Valley (CA) Nat'l Park

    The Hunted: Glacier (Alaska) Nat'l Park

    Buried Alive: Denali (Alaska) Nat'l Park

    Rage Of Fire: Hawaii's Volcanies Nat'l Park 

or Carole Marsh's Real Kids, Real Places mysteries for the same age group (this series has Teachers' Guides, as well) some of which take place in National Parks:

    The Mystery at Yellowstone National Park 

    The Mystery at Cape Cod 

    The Wild Water Mystery of Niagara Falls 

    The Mystery at Mount Vernon 

    The Mystery at Jamestown

    The Mystery at Fort Sumter

    The Mystery of the Biltmore 

    The Mystery in the Smoky Mountains 

    The Mystery on the Great Lakes

1000-piece puzzle

    The Mystery at Mount Rushmore 

    The Mystery on the Mighty Mississippi 

    The Mission Possible Mystery 

    The Mystery of the Haunted Ghost Town

    The Mystery on the California Mission Trail 

    The Mystery on the Oregon Trail 

    The Gosh Awful! Gold Rush Mystery 

    The Ghost of the Golden Gate Bridge 

Happy traveling!  And here are more gift ideas for fanciers of our park system:

300-piece puzzle

    Monopoly - My National Parks

    Scrabble National Parks Edition Game

    National Parks Yahtzee

    National Parks: America's Best Idea Map

                    (300-piece Puzzle)

    White Mountain Puzzles National Parks

                    (1,000-piece Puzzle)
And for their first camping trip:
    Wildkin Camping Sleep Mat
    Olive Kids Ride 'Em Sleeping Bag