Passport Picks Summer
Greetings!

 

Welcome to the third installment of Passport� Picks! We've put together this list to highlight some of the activities that are taking place in June, July, and August. Pack up the car, grab your Passport�, and spend some time exploring the parks this summer! 

 

Passport� Picks for Summer
    1. National Get Outdoors Day. This new annual event encourages healthy and active outdoor fun. GO Day is a fee free day in all national parks! You can find a list of other participants here. Mark your calendar for Saturday June 9, and go outdoors and explore!
    2. Founders Day. Saturday August 25, 2012 marks the 96th birthday of our national park system! Many parks will be having celebrations. Find a park to look for events.
    3. Independence Day. On Wednesday July 4 America will celebrate 236 years of independence. Many parks will be holding special events-including Morristown NHP, Sagamore Hill NHS, Vicksburg NMP, and Frederick Douglass NHS. Contact your local park or check out nps.gov for information.
    4. Manassas National Battlefield Park. Sesquicentennial events for Second Manassas will be taking place the last week of August. These include a 6 hour bus tour and a 90 minute guided walk. Details for fees and times can be found here or contact the park for more information.
    5. Want to party in the parks? Kick up your heels at these two formal events. Hot Springs National Park is holding the Magnolia Ball in the Arlington Hotel Crystal Ballroom during the Hot Springs Music Festival. It's a 19th century ball where period dress is encouraged, but not required. $75 per ticket. The event will be held on July 7 from 7-10pm.                              
       
      If you prefer something more contemporary, head to Fire Island NS for their 26th annual Barefoot Black Tie Dinner Dance. Spend a romantic evening dining and dancing in front of the lighthouse-including an open bar and a silent auction. Call for fee information.
    6. The Perseids Meteor Shower will be putting on a natural light display in August. Head to Indiana Dunes NL on August 10, Sleeping Bear Dunes NL on August 11, or your local park and enjoy an evening of star gazing.
    7. Fort Necessity National Battlefield. Visit the Cherokee Cultural Heritage Festival on July 7 and 8 and learn about the Cherokee influence in Pennsylvania. You will also enjoy a dance performance by the "Warriors of Anikituhwa". There is no additional fee to attend this event.
    8. Chattahoochee River NRA. Head to the river on July 28 for the 5th Annual Summer Splash! Bring your kayak, canoe, or raft and beat the heat with a 6-mile float down the Chattahoochee. Don't have your own boat? You can rent a kayak, canoe or raft at the park! Reservations are required, so make sure you contact the park beforehand.
    9. Steamtown NHS. Head to Scranton, Pennsylvania and relive the era of steam with a train ride. Trips vary in time, but take place every Saturday through the summer months. Information on all of the rides can be found here.
    10. Jimmy Carter NHS. The park is hosting a photo contest now through June 30th. "Our Park Through Your Eyes" contest information can be found here.
Remember, you can find other park events by visiting the "Schedule of Events" page on any park's NPS web page.

We hope you enjoy the parks this season! 

Sincerely,
 
eParks.com
 
Eastern National
 
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Stone House at Manassas NBP
Stone House Manassas
nps.gov/ by Bill Fleitz
 
 
Steamtown National Historic Site
Steamtown
nps.gov/ by Ken Ganz