National Parks in Ken Burns Series Almost Free
Visit Places in PBS Shows with $10 Lifetime Senior Card
Sep 16, 2009
Boomers and seniors viewing the 6-part Ken Burns documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea on PBS TV have a great deal awaiting them if they are inspired to tour the magnificent parks coast to coast. For a one-time payment of $10, they get a Senior Pass that admits them to as many national parks and monuments as they wish to enjoy, for as many times as they like.
There is no expiration date on these passes, now labeled “America the Beautiful,” which have replaced those called “Golden Age.” (However, if you still own a Golden Age plastic card, it is still accepted.) The Senior Pass is also good at Federal recreation areas, as well as sites under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.
National Park Senior Card Valid for Car and Passengers
What’s more, the Senior Pass covers admission for not just the passholder but also two other adults, whether they are related or not, and a noncommercial vehicle, such as car, truck or RV.
The only way to get a Senior Pass is in person at an NPS-operated park or a participating federal recreation facility. There are dozens of these sites in every state, from world renowned locations such as the Grand Canyon to Denali in Alaska, to the Everglades in Florida, to Acadia in Maine.
Ken Burns National Parks PBS Shows Start with Yosemite
The 12-hour PBS documentary series by filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan that begins September 27, 2009 undoubtedly will motivate innumerable Americans and visitors from abroad to take a fresh look at the national parks.
The series tell of park history starting in 1851, with Californians spreading the word about the natural beauty of the Yosemite Valley. The documentary recounts how John Muir led those who wanted to keep the area pristine battle with others who wanted to exploit the scenery for commercial gain.
First Episode - Yellowstone Wonderland
The first episode tells how in 1872 a wonderland of geysers, waterfalls and sulfur pits in Wyoming was designated Yellowstone, the first national park. Subsequent episodes explain how President Theodore Roosevelt championed them, and how other political arguments over wild lands were fought and sometimes won but also lost during the subsequent 100-plus years.
The episodes of America's Best Idea that follow include fascinating stories such as:
- how the Grand Canyon was preserved despite a battle in Arizona;
- how the first NPS director, Stephen Mather, pushed to expand access to the country’s scenic wonders;
- how the automobile allowed American families, rather than just the wealthy, to see their country’s incredible landscapes;
- how the parks became a source of jobs during the Great Depression;
- and how the fight to conserve wild places continues in the present day.
Summary: Seniors can enjoy national parks featured in Ken Burns PBS documentary with a one-time $10 Senior Pass. A great time to see park fall colors is October.
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