Looking for a scenic escape? Yosemite and other top parks are free this weekend | The Sacramento Bee

In honor of veterans, the National Parks Service has waived all entry fees this weekend.

The NPS Veterans Day special is not just for military; all visitors can take advantage of free admission.

NPS started the free days to celebrate veterans in 2006, according to The Mercury News.

SIGN UP

“More than 100 national parks have direct connections to American military history, including frontier forts and Cold War sites, battlefields and national cemeteries, memorials and patriotic shrines, “ said Acting National Park Service Director Michael T. Reynolds in a news release. “These special places pay tribute to our veterans and serve as reminders of their selfless service and sacrifice throughout the history of our nation.”

In fact, during World War II, Sequoia and Yosemite national parks were among those that hosted service members in need of rest and rehabilitation.

NPS says 5,813 veterans are employed at its more than 400 parks, which is equal to 28 percent of its workforce.

Many parks will have military-related events and outreach to mark the holiday.

View a list of the 27 NPS united in California that are free this weekend here.

In addition to the NPS’ free days, many of California’s state parks and sites – 143 out of 280 – have free admission for veterans and active-duty military on Saturday. (Military ID or discharge papers are required.)

“California State Parks is proud to offer free admission on Veterans Day to all active military personnel and veterans as gratitude for their service. We welcome veterans to the amazing natural and cultural resources of our state’s parks,” said California State Park’s Director Lisa Mangat in a news release.

Sacramento’s California Railroad Museum is one of the free State Parks sites, and it will offer steam locomotive excursions, according to the news release.

Other state sites with military significance that are offering veterans free admission include Angel Island State Park, Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park, El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, Fort Humboldt State Historic Park, Fort Ord Dunes State Park, Fort Tejon State Historic Park, Marconi Conference Center, Mount Diablo State Park, Point Sur State Historic Park, San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park and Sonoma State Historic Park.