America’s National Public Lands are more than just the 61 National Parks we all love so much. In fact, National Public Lands include wildlife refuges, conservation areas, national monuments, rivers and wilderness. The fourth Saturday of September is set aside annually to recognize these lands and there are many ways you can celebrate these spaces. Simply visiting them is one way, and getting involved with volunteer efforts at specific locations (nps.gov/subjects/volunteer/vip-events.htm) is another. FYI, any admission fees to these sites will be waived on the 28th. So, pick one of the sites below and head on over. And, if you can’t make it on September 28th, remember that any time spent outdoors in our beautiful National Public Lands is a day well spent.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: The site of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle, Gettysburg was designated as a National Military Park in 1895. Book a stay at Drummer Boy Campground and visit the Park whose mission is “to protect, preserve, and interpret the battle for visitors.” The Gettysburg Cyclorama, a light and sound depiction of Pickett’s Charge, is definitely something to see here. There is also the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War, the Gettysburg National Cemetery and the Jenny Wade House. Stop by the Visitor Center to get a guide to this massive, historic park.
Castillo de San Marcos: As the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, St. Augustine’s Castillo de San Marcos is a National Monument. Plan to stay at Florida’s Encore Bulow in nearby Flagler Beach and learn the history of this monument that was constructed in 1698 by the Spanish to defend Florida and the Atlantic Trade Route. Considered a “walk-in” park, self-guided walking tours are encouraged however Park Rangers do interpretative talks on the history and culture of the park daily.
Willapa Wildlife Refuge: If you’re planning a camping trip to Washington State’s Thousand Trails Long Beach, take some time to visit this more than 17,000-acre refuge which is made up of tidelands, a temperate rainforest and several ocean beaches. Hiking is an option here and is a great way to see some of the wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. Birding in fall is at its best here and you may spy songbirds, Bald Eagles, Great White Herons and the rare Western Snowy Plover.
Santee National Wildlife Refuge: South Carolina’s Santee Wildlife Refuge, which is about 73 miles from Thousand Trails The Oaks at Point South has more than 13 miles of hiking/biking trails, plus a 7.5-mile auto-route for those that prefer to drive the scenic area. The 1200-year-old Santee Indian Mound-Fort Watson historical site is here as well. The refuge is home to a variety of species, including 50 mammals (white-tailed deer, racoons, squirrels and bobcats), more than 250 birds including Bald Eagles, and the marshes here provide a home to alligators and turtles.
Scenic trails are also part of National Public Lands. If you’re camping in Wisconsin at our Milton locations (Blackhawk Campground and Lakeland Campground), note that access to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail can be found in the area and camping at Tennessee’s Thousand Trails Natchez Trace will put you in proximity to portions of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. The Florida Scenic Trail stretches over 1500 miles of the Sunshine State, so pick a Florida campground and find your access to this amazing trail.
And don’t forget, we have several campgrounds conveniently located near national parks including Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes and Yosemite RV Resort (Yosemite NP), Mt. Desert Narrows Campground, Narrows Too Campground, and Patten Pond Campground near Maine’s Acadia NP. There’s also Great Smoky Mountain National Park (near Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort) and Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (near Thousand Trails Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch.)
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- Explore the Thousand Trails Camping Pass and the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass
- Find more campgrounds at ThousandTrails.com.