May 20, 2014

Passport to the U.S. National Parks


Oh, the thrill of a new stamp in the passport.  It's a gratifying part of international travel that is sadly absent when touring domestically.  Yet when you take into account how large the United States is, it often feels that crossing into another state is like going into another country!

For you passport-stamp-hoarders out there, did you know that there is a passport for domestic travel in the United States?  Well, sort of.  The National Park Service has a "Passport to Your National Parks" program in which you can collect a stamp for every national park you visit!

(c) Thrifty Gypsy
The program originated in 1986, and I personally have participated (off and on) since 1995 when my parents purchased my first passport book.  The national park passport mimics a real passport book in shape and organizes the various U.S. national parks into nine different regions: North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, National Capital Region, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, Rocky Mountain, Western, and Pacific Northwest/Alaska.  At each national park you visit, you can get a stamp "cancellation" in the corresponding section for the region - similar to what you receive at passport control when entering another country!  These stamps are usually located at the visitor center of the park, although sometimes it's found within the attraction itself (like at Fort Sumter, SC).  You can also purchase commemorate stamps (like the one of Appomattox and Gettysburg as seen in my own passport book, right) as additional bling for your passport book!

So far I've taken my passport book up and down the East Coast, but sadly forgot to bring it with me when we visited the Alamo in 2011.  (If anyone feels up to going there, changing the stamp's date back to June 11, 2011, stamping a random piece of paper and mailing it to me, that would be AWESOME!)  Like stamps in an actual passport, these stamps represent far more than a little bit of ink placed strategically on a page - it evokes memories and experiences that you will treasure for a lifetime.

The program is a great way for kids and adults alike to get excited about all the wonderful national parks in the U.S.  Next time you're visiting one, you should pick up your own passport book and start collecting your own memories!

Do you have a U.S. National Parks Passport Book?  Had you heard of this program before?

   
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18 comments:

  1. I did NOT know about this! Well, phooey, I wish I had known about it when my husband and I trekked through so many of them out west a few months ago. If you find someone who lives back in time that can stamp your passport for the Alamo, pass along their info :)

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    1. Will do! Did you miss any on the east coast? They usually keep slips of paper near the stamp, so it's easy to turn the date back and stamp a piece of paper. We go to national parks fairly often, so maybe I could stamp one for you! :P

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  2. I wish I had known about this... going to have to keep my out for a place to purchase one now.

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    1. It's pretty cool! The passport book has about 106 pages and each of the 9 regional sections has about 2-3 pages of basic information about a prominent park (or two) in that region. You can buy them at any national park that has a gift shop!

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  3. Great to have you on #TravelTuesday! I wish I had a passport, just any! For my travels throughout Europe I only need my ID card and that's boring! I wish we had something similiar here. I love hiking and collecting stamps while doing that must be so cool! That way you never forget the name of the park you visited (I always forget things;))

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    1. It does help my memory! :) That's the one thing about the Schengen agreement that messes up my passport stamps. Even though I've visited the Czech Republic, I don't have a stamp because we first landed in Amsterdam. So I have a Netherlands stamp even though I was only there for a layover! And when we go to Italy this year, we'll get a stamp from Belgium because we first land in Brussels. My passport will be all confusing! :)

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  4. Why do they not promote this more? How did I not know about it?!!

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    1. It's been around since 1986 but only 1.3 million passport books have been sold. They really need to talk about it more!

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  5. Wow that is such a cool idea, I had no idea!!! I agree with Erin that they really should be promoting this more, especially in schools. Do you know where we can get one? I am trying to figure it out on the website but it's a little confusing.

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    1. I don't think they can be purchased online actually. Any national park that has a gift shop will sell them. They're usually near the cash register, but a park ranger should be able to point them out to you!

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  6. Like everyone else...I did NOT know about this! But I will have to look into it since we will be hitting up three national parks in June! I love this idea. THANKS!

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    1. I'm surprised that so many people hadn't heard of it, but glad to share! If any of those three national parks have a gift shop, they'll have the passport books!

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  7. I always enjoy a new stamp in the passport!!

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    1. Me too. :) It's better than any souvenir!

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  8. Had no idea about this. It is a neat little keep-sake...very cool.

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    1. It really is! One day I hope I'll be bringing my own kids to the parks and while they're starting their passports, I'll still be putting more stamps in mine!

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  9. That is soo cool! I love stamps, I feel validated in life when I get stamps - I blame elementary school... But yeah in North America you can travel so much, see so many differences and yet you're still in the same country. The idea of having a passport like booklet is awesome! :)

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    1. Oh, it is. :) I wish you could get stamps at more than just the national parks, but I'll take whatever I can get! Haha, and I think you're right about elementary school being to blame for getting stamps (and stickers!). I miss getting a smiley face sticker just for coloring within the lines and behaving myself! If jobs were to institute a smiley face sticker system, I think I could be more productive. ;)

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