18-04-2025
National Park Week means free admission April 19. Here are 3 area sites worth exploring.
National Park Week starts April 19, and the National Park Service is kicking the week off with free admission to all parks throughout the entire country that day.
With more than 400 national parks throughout the country, the National Park Service is looking to not only celebrate the parks, but bring awareness, fun and involvement to these nature reserves.
If you're looking to explore some of these parks, to enjoy the warmer weather and learn about history, there are some parks in the South Jersey area and beyond that you can visit.
More: Pennsauken's Summer Kick Off was disrupted by unruly crowds in 2024. Changes are coming.
National Park Week is a "holiday" set up by the National Park Service to encourage residents to go out to the parks to enjoy the natural beauty and history of these preserved and protected spaces.
This year, the park put together a "playlist" for each day with ways and activities that people looking to participate in the week can do.
Each day has the following categories involved in how they can join in the celebration:
Playlist.
Visit.
Close to Home.
Discover.
Here are some of the parks in the area that you can explore.
Classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve in 1978, the Pinelands spans throughout seven different counties.
The Pinelands has plenty of things to offer with more than a million acres of farms, forests and wetlands. It's also home to more than a dozen rare plants and animals that roam throughout the vast forests.
You can find more information and how to plan your visit at the Pinelands National Reserve website.
Located within the Pinelands National Reserve System, this 129-mile river spans throughout 17 different tributaries as it connects to the Atlantic Ocean.
There are plenty of outdoor opportunities to engage in here, including hiking, backpacking, kayaking, camping and more. You can find directions and more things to do on the Great Egg Harbor River website.
This historic national park found in Philadelphia can take you back in time to the nation's beginnings.
In this area, you find less nature and more political history. This is the site to discover the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall — where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were signed — and the Ben Franklin Museum as you walk back in time.
You can find more information on the Independence National Historical Park website.
Nick Butler is an impact reporter for the Courier Post, the Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times covering community news in South Jersey. Have any tips or stories? Reach out to NButler@ Subscribe to stay in the loop.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: National Park Week runs from April 19-27 across America
