Visit National Parks for FREE in 2017! :)

Yes, that's right, you read the heading to this post correctly!

This is amazing news all around, because I recently found out that this applies to not only the National Parks in Canada, but also in the USA! How awesome is that??

So here's the story: if you're planning to visit Canada this year, or you are a Canadian that would love to see some of the most beautiful landscapes this country has to offer inside of its National Parks, you now can -for FREE! YAY!!

Johnson Lake, Banff National Park, AB, Canada

Why? Well, thanks to the Canadian government, who has decided to present this gift in celebration of this great nation's 150 birthday, you can now visit all of the National Parks, Historic Sites and Marine Conservation Areas across the country for free, between January 1st, 2017 and December 31st, 2017!

How? All you have to do is order your 2017 Discovery Pass online and wait for your pass to arrive in your mailbox. Then just hang the pass on your rear view mirror, and you're set to go!

The cool thing is that you only need to order one pass for your group or family if you are all travelling together.

A 2017 Discovery Pass is valid for everyone arriving in the same vehicle at a national park, or arriving together at a marine conservation area or historic site.

Now, if you're planning to travel to the States, or you are an American looking for the least expensive way to visit a National Park, you can now visit all National Park sites across the USA for FREE! WOOHOO!!

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ, USA

Why? According to the U.S. National Parks Service's website, the National Park Service just turned 100 years old!

In order to help celebrate the start of their second century, the National Park Service is offering free admission for everyone to enter any National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee, during TEN specific days, out of the year!

Here are the Ten entrance fee–free dates in 2017:

January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 20: Presidents' Day
April 15-16 and 22-23: Weekends of National Park Week
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 30: National Public Lands Day
November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend

How? All you have to do is drive on up through the entrance gate of the park, and they will let you on through! No pass is needed.

On the road, Arizona, USA

And just so you know, this free admission offering only pertains to the 120 National Parks that DO charge an entrance fee (which normally runs between $3 and $30), out of over 400 National Parks across the country.

Which means that about 280 of these National Parks are free all the time! How amazing is that?

So if you've always wanted to visit a national park, but have held back in the past because of the expenses involved, this is the year to do it!

It's a great way to motivate your family to get out there and see the beautiful natural landscapes that God created for us to enjoy!