Fee-Free Weekends at National Parks

What could be better on the budget than getting something for free? This summer the National Park Service is waiving admission fees on one weekend each month — July 18 & 19 and August 15 & 16 — to more than 100 parks nationwide. About.com's National and State Parks Guide, Lauren Himiak, has great overviews and planners on the Florida parks that are participating in the fee-free weekends:

• Canaveral National Seashore
• Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
• Dry Tortugas National Park
• Everglades National Park
• Gulf Islands National Seashore

Fee waiver includes entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Additional fees for camping, reservations, tours and use of concessions are still in effect.

Of course, some national parks never charge an entrance fee, so you can plan your fee-free visit any time to these Florida National Parks:

• Big Cypress National Preserve
• Fort Matanzas National Monument
• Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and Fort Caroline National Memorial