Orange County Real Estate and Events Information.

The National Parks system is celebrating its 100 anniversary this year and what a better way to celebrate it by visiting one of the many National Parks we have around. Want to visit a national park, monument or national forest without paying to get in during 2016? Then go on one of the annual days when they don’t charge admission! (You still have to pay camping and other recreation fees.) Learn more at Nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

April 16-24: National Park Week. It’s the 100th anniversary of the national park system and they want you to enjoy this week for free.

June 13: National Get Outdoors Day, a day when federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and the recreation industry encourage healthy, outdoor activities.

Aug. 25 through 28: National Park Service Birthday. Celebrate the centennial with special events.

Sept. 24: National Public Lands Day. An annual day of service to our public lands.

Nov. 11: Veterans Day. It’s a thank you to veterans, but everyone gets free admission.

Here's our top 5 - must see -  National Parks in California

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite’s beauty is unlike any other; but, with a landscape 10 million years in the making, that should come as no surprise.

Tucked away in the Sierra Nevada Mountain’s, this national park, which doubles as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to a rich array of organisms.

Joshua Tree National Park

Located in Southern California, Joshua Tree is one park, with two separate desert ecosystems, and 800,000 acres of land.

In the eastern part of the park, you’ll find the Colorado Desert characterized by lower elevation and natural gardens of bush and cactus. As you head west, you’ll reach higher elevations and find a cooler climate typical of the Mojave Desert. This is also where you’ll find the Joshua Tree, after which the park was named.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Also residing in the Sierra Nevada region of California are Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Although technically two parks, their kissing boarders and single entry fee have them operating as a unit.

Big trees and lots of them. Located on the North Coast of California, this national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site houses towering trees that can grow for over 2,000 years to be up to 367 feet high and 22 feet wide at the base.

Channel Islands National Park

This National Park, located in Southern California, offers a unique experience. Comprised of a series of six islands, this coastal oasis is a beautiful mix of land and sea. With more than 2,000 species of plants and animals inhabiting the park, there’s plenty to see. Visitors can explore by hiking around the islands and by kayaking or diving in the surrounding waters.

There's many sites with useful information on where and when to go to each of these. Get your New Years resolutions on and get visiting!

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