Have you heard? The National Park Service is offering free entrance into hundreds of national parks this summer. As if I needed yet another reason to get out, go camping and hug a tree …

There are several popular national parks, but others could use a little love and attention from people who normally pass them by for Walt Disney World or another trip to the water park. I imagine camping is filling up quickly at many of the parks, but there is enough space for everyone to at least enjoy a day trip.

Take advantage of the free entrance on these weekends:

• June 20 – 21, 2009 (Father’s Day weekend)
• July 18 – 19, 2009
• August 15 – 16, 2009

Not sure where to start? Here are four of my favorite little-known national parks that deserve your attention:

Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park, Maryland

Harper’s Ferry isn’t so much a park as it is a small town. Take a bus into this historic city where women churn butter and make ice cream and men run the general store. Wander the streets pausing to marvel at the interesting museums and the views along the river. Take a short hike on the Appalachian Trail which runs through town. Side bonus: This year marks the sesquicentennial anniversary of the John Brown raid, and special events are taking place in Harper’s Ferry throughout 2009.

Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska

You have to want to get to Scotts Bluff, but the interesting geological features are worth the drive. Don’t expect a lot of activity — or people — but take a walk on the land and you’ll get an idea of what this huge open space must have looked like to pioneers making their way across the Midwest. Covered wagons and remnants of the Oregon Trail remind visitors of how open and undeveloped some of America’s land still is … and why it’s okay to keep it that way.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Often overshadowed by Badlands National Park in South Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park never receives the accolades it should. While many drive by the park with little else but a stop at an observation point for a photo, those who take the time to explore the park will find a treasure buried in this rather isolated Midwest state. The beautifully painted, otherwordly landscape is ideal for hiking and a lazy paddle down the Little Missouri River.

Death Valley National Park

Though breath-catching hot in the summer, Death Valley (located in California on the border of Nevada) is an expansive and impressive National Park worth visiting, even if you don’t go on one of the free weekends. The lowest, driest and hottest place in North America is home to an amazing array of terrain, ranging from dry salt beds and sand dunes to peaks that top out at 11,049 feet. Visitors can check out many of the park’s sites within easy driving distance, but to get a feel for all the park has to offer venture off grid with a hike into some of the country’s most unusual landscapes.

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