January 12, 2011 – The National Park Service has announced Fee-Free days for 2011.  The program provides several fee free days throughout the year at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.  The Fee-Free Days program was started in 2009 by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to help Americans visit public lands in our National Parks during the economic downturn.

The dates are:

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 – Veterans Day

Many national park concessions will also offer discounts on Fee-Free days, saving visitors money on food, lodging, tours and souvenirs. More information is available at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.