National Parks Offering Free Admission During Nat'l Park Week

If you've been thinking about visiting a national park, I've got a tip for you: Do it during National Park Week April 17-25. The U.S. government is waiving fees at more than 100 national parks.

At Grand Canyon National Park, that'll save you the $25 per car entrance fee. At Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico (which always rocks my socks off), you can keep $6 per person (who's 15 or older) in your pocket. At Lassen Volcanic Park in California, that'll put $10 per car back in your pocket. (NOTE: Not all national parks charge entrance fees)

Concessionaires are also offering a bunch of deals, from discount prices on ski boat packages to coupons on tours and other activities.

I'm kind of curious what's prompting such a huge price slash and a bunch of discount. Maybe rising gas prices and a bunch of taxpayers not really inclined toward traveling right now. Here is Arizona, the closure of a number of state parks also has the potential to benefit the national parks - a few less open state parks will push people to seek other recreational opportunities. Either way, it's clearly a situation that can benefit anyone who's been interested in visting a national park.

Lassen, by the way, sounds like a real sleeper of a national park. I mean, 150 miles of hiking trails, ACTIVE goethermal areas, lava domes and cinder cones? Sounds like a bit of New Zealand plunked down right in the States. I really need to get there. I know our federal government can give us a few things to complain about. But let me tell you, the national parks are not one of them. There are national parks for just about everybody - all abilities and interests. Find yours at the U.S. National Parks Web site!