April 21-29,2012

Oh well, we are visiting NPs a week too early. It's nice that they do this, but we don't mind paying since we feel our NPs are so worth it.

Thanks for posting...wouldn't have known otherwise.

I have to wonder about something.

Other than losing much needed income for the national parks, does this actually encourage people to go to the parks other than those who live a short drive to a park?

It's hard to say Myer, but I think it's considered a good way to raise awareness of the parks and get some publicity, which in the long run should increase visitation. Get somebody in the first time and hopefully they'll come back or be inspired to visit other parks.

Where,

You may have a point. I wonder if they've studied this. Does a free week get those who have not been initiated?

I do agree that once you've been it's just the start.

We've been to several national parks during the "free" times and there is increased visitation for sure! We actually try to avoid these times because the parks do get extra busy and we use to always get National Park Passes and now DH has his Senior Pass.

I saw when the National Parks announced the free dates and my luck it falls when we will be in Hawaii...not sure if I'm going to be able to avoid going to the Volcano National Park during free week!

Utahtea

About a month after I turned 62 I stopped at the visitor center at Crater Lake and bought my Lifetime Pass for $10. I believe I had the only purchase of the day (early November).

Myer - not sure if they've done studies but I suspect they have. I believe the goal is to get families (kids) into the parks that otherwise might not go. Get somebody interested at a young age and the odds are they'll be interested for life. I think the general population has become a bit disconnected from nature and the parks and that doesn't bode well for the future of the parks - hence the effort to get people in there. It might mean a little less revenue short term but more revenue and support in the future. Just think about the funding source - in 50 years if Congress wants to balance the budget by cutting funding for the parks, who would care if the majority of the population has never been to one?

Utahtea - I doubt you'll see as much of an impact in Hawaii as on the mainland. I think the mainland parks see an increase from people living close by that otherwise wouldn't go - and there aren't any big population centers on the Big Island other than Hilo. Probably a safe bet that most of the island's resident that want to go have already been too VNP. And all the tourists are already planning on going anyway, free or not.

Well, what a surprise, this coincides with our trip!
It might save us $10 but I doubt that many people would plan a trip around these dates if travel was involved.

Good publicity though!

tomfuller,

DH insisted on going to Yosemite on HIS birthday to get his senior pass even though we still had a couple of months on our year pass...LOL! Since we were camping it was worth it because we got half off on the camping.

I think I'll insist on going to Yosemite for my birthday this year for the same reason!

Utahtea

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