America the Beautiful - National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass Price Increase

US citizens have a variety of options. There are passes for Military, Volunteers, 4th Graders, Access/ Disability, and Seniors to enjoy our 2,000 US Parks. Children under 15 are admitted free.

On August 28, 2017 the Lifetime Pass for US citizens or permanent residents 62 years or older will increase from $10 to $80. Golden Age Passports are no longer sold and will continue to be honored according to the provisions of the pass.

Each pass includes entry fees at national parks and wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle up to four adults at sites that charge per person OR one motorcycle OR pass holder up to four adults at sites that charge per person.

A new Annual Senior Pass is available for $20, valid for one full year from month of purchase (through last day of that month) in federally operated recreation sites across the country.

At many locations the Senior Pass provides the pass owner a discount on Expanded Amenity Fees (such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and guided tours). The pass program is managed by six Federal agencies that operate under different regulations and have different fees. Therefore, the discount program for the Senior Pass is not handled in the same way on all Federal recreation lands.

Photo identification will be required to verify ownership. Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. FREE Annual Pass for current US Military and their dependents, Volunteers who contribute 250 or more hours and US 4th Grade Students

100% of sale proceeds go back into improving and enhancing federal recreation sites. More details are available NPS.gov or Recreation.gov for state site locations. Be sure to check out the Share The Experience Photo Contest.

Thanks Canada and Happy 150th!

Researching our 8 day trip from Portland, Maine making a loop through Canada's Maritimes south eastern coast, I overlooked an important tidbit.

The 2017 Canadian 150 / Discovery Pass available to all visitors. This included free admission to all national parks, marine conservation areas and historic sites administered by Parks Canada through December 31, 2017.

With the small green hang tag one may enter Canada’s national treasures from the Prince Edward Islands to British Columbia's Pacific Rim National Park. Find out about Canada 150 events and activities on the Passport 2017 App or Canada.pch.gc.ca online.

We enjoyed this beautiful country and the friendly people from New Brunswick’s Saint John with reversing tides, on to photographing the Bay of Fundy Coast line's 47 feet tidal changes and Hopewell Rock formations.

Three days in Prince Edward Island staying in Charlottetown. The second morning one of the Rendez-vous Naval 2017 Tall Ships docked at the end of Queen Street just beyond our hotel. Over a hundred of sailors suspended from the ship’s masks sung French melodies.

PEI was everything we had read about, miles of bike trails though green meadows and along the beach. Our Canada 150 pass allowed free entry to these parks with red clay and white beaches. On the southern part of the island, Victoria’s artsy community glowed in the afternoon sun.

Next we traveled by ferry from the Wood’s Islands to Caribou, Nova Scotia and into Halifax for another three days. Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg, and the Halifax Maritime Museum gave us even more photo opportunities. The waterfront boardwalk was swamped as we meandered between restaurants and the Farmer’s Market.

An evening ferry took us from Digby back to Saint John as we returned to Portland. If you have some spare time, take advantage of our northern neighbor’s generous offer and help Canada celebrate 150!  

Avoiding Credit Card Surprises

Many times we have witnessed travelers with piles of merchandise at the checkout counter have their credit cards declined. They did not alert their card company prior to an international departure.

On a business trip to Venezuela several years ago I notified MasterCard of our plans. Two days after our return I had an odd cell call as the voice read off my full name. Stopped in my tracks this individual had my attention as I rarely share this tidbit with anyone.

Her position was with the MasterCard fraud department. She inquired if I had returned from Venezuela as scheduled. Yes, we did. Therefore I did not purchase $1800 at a men's store in Medellin, Colombia earlier today, correct?

I assured her I had not, but there was a brief layover in Medellin on our return flight to the states. I purchased a novelty pen for my father in an airport Khios. The retailer had difficulty with the transaction and I should have walked away. Instead I allowed her to printing my number on the store receipt.

Making a mental note to check my bill later, in retrospect I should have snapped a picture of the nice older lady. My credit card was canceled and a new one in route. The following months I was asked to review each statement and sign affidavits concerning the bogus charges.

Another issue, the individual has pin ready to with drawl a stash of local currency from the ATM but the financial institution prompts an alert of unusual activity in a foreign location. The ATM does not return the card holding it hostage until the bank reopens. 

This occurred before Smart Chip Technology. Today I login to MasterCard and Visa / Chase, Citi, Barclay, etc. to search for the travel notifications category. It's so convenient to use the calendar and type in the countries one plans to visit. I also double check each card for any mention of foreign transaction fees.

We usually speak to an American Express representative that assures us there is no need to inform them of our upcoming international plans. I will carry their card on this next trip, and hope not to experience an embarrassing declined card situation while purchasing numerous native knickknacks. If so, I’ll pull out my informed MasterCard. One does not wish to deprive friends and family a functional souvenir trinket like a pen.