Get Outta The Kitchen: Your National Parks.

Appomattox Courthouse.  Photo taken by our resident national parks geek. ;)

I’m going to try a new series for the weekends, featuring festive and/or fun things LeeLee and I do in our area – and you can do, too, whether you’re our regional neighbors or not – that also help us keep our money in the bank.  Got a great idea?  Leave it for us in the comments!

I admit it – I’m a national parks geek.  Have been since I was a little girl.  I love the natural component as much as their history, love how each park is a piece of this crazy puzzle that is America.  From the big, well-known ones like Shenandoah to the little tiny ones like Fort Washington, whenever we’re near one, I try to visit.

And did I mention I’m a compulsive “Passport to Your National Parks” stamp collector?  Yeah.  Geek.  :)

So anyway, a couple of weekends ago, LeeLee and I ventured not too far from home to visit Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm, a national park just across the Potomac River from our fair city.  We had a lovely afternoon walking the grounds, admiring the farm animals (the park is still a working farm!), and futilely trying to gain admission to the house-turned-museum that was, sadly, closed (we presumed because of the sequester, though I suppose the real reason could be anything).  We also discovered some cool hiking trails that will be perfect when autumn rolls around (we had neither the footwear nor the inclination to begin our hike in mid-90s temperatures when we happened upon them!).  And, much to my excitement, we noticed at least a dozen picnic tables, some near the parking area and some further in the park – if there’s one thing I love, it’s a picnic, so we’ll be making good use of the amenities in short order!

But this blog post isn’t really focused just on Oxon Cove (though, really, if you live in the DC area, you should go; it’s great).  Rather, I simply wanted to take a minute to point out that our national parks really are ours; we pay for them in taxes, and sometimes in the form of a small entry fee, but they are ours, and we should make good use of them.  They’re an incredibly frugal way to spend a day, learn something new, and have a lot of fun in the process.  And if you find that you visit many over the course of a year, the $80 annual parks pass is a steal.  A few trips to the bigger-ticket parks, like Shenandoah or Yellowstone, and you’ve more than paid for your pass.  But be sure to calculate what’s the best deal for you before you buy!  If you don’t visit $80 worth of parks a year, then this is not a good deal.  For us, it is, because again: Geek.

What are your favorite national parks?  Sound off in the comments; I’m always looking for more places to visit!

:)