LESS $, MORE !: This is our personal plan for summer 2011, and perhaps yours, too. Have more fun and try and pinch a few dollars here and there while doing so. Oh, wait. That's our plan every summer, but this year we have a boost from the get-go. That boost is coming courtesy of the National Park Service, which will waive entrance fees to dozens of parks on Tuesday, June 21. Which, of course, is the first day of summer. Which, of course, makes sense, as the national parks are pretty much synonymous with the summer vacation season. They are, of course, open during other times of the year, but then you know that, and you might be slightly sore at us for saying so here, what with the crowds and all. But our policy? More national park love more often.
THE DEAL: If you know about the NPS fee-free days, you know they're a great deal and that they don't come around too often; there's that week in spring, and a few other important holidays. So you want to not pass up the chance. And if you know your national parks, and we believe you do, you know that many of our best treasures don't ever charge a get-in fee, regardless of date. Sweet. Note that in-park activities will still have a fee and such. That glossy-maned beauty in the picture above has us longing to clip-clop in Yosemite soon.