Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

National Get Outdoors Day – Free Admission

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America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.* This is part of the promotion to get families outdoors more often, so maybe this would be a good time for you to pack a picnic and go visit a park with your family or group of friends. National Get Outdoors Day takes place on June 9, 2012, you can visit some of our parks for free. 

Please check with each park for operating hours and event schedules.

South Carolina
Fort Sumter National Monument

Florida
Canaveral National Seashore
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Dry Tortugas National Park
Everglades National Park
Gulf Islands National Seashore

Georgia
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Fort Frederica National Monument
Fort Pulaski National Monument

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

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National Outdoors Day at Fort Pulaski in Savannah, GA

Free Weekend at National Parks on the Coast

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Visit one of our national parks on Saturday July 17th or Sunday July 18th without paying admission. The National Park Service offers a couple of free weekends every year, and one of those weekends is coming up in July.

It’s the perfect opportunity to take family and friends out to a state park for a visit. This weekend you can for example visit Fort Moultrie, the Castillo de San Marco or Fort Pulaski.

Below is a complete list of participating National Parks in our area:

SOUTH CAROLINA
Fort Moultrie National Monument – Charleston, South Carolina
The National Park Service’s fee-free weekends apply to Fort Moultrie, a unit of Fort Sumter National Monument. Fort Moultrie is a unit of Fort Sumter National Monument. The site is located on Sullivan’s Island and is accessible by car. Fort Sumter is always free – but there is a fee for the ferry boat ride to the fort.
For more information about Fort Sumter visit http://www.nps.gov/fosu

Fort Frederica georgia
Fort Frederica National Monument. Photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development

GEORGIA
Fort Frederica National Monument – St Simon’s Island, Georgia
Spanish and British forces clashed on St. Simons Island in 1792. Fort Frederica’s troops defeated the Spanish troops. Georgia remained a British colony.
For more information about Fort Frederica visit http://www.nps.gov/fofr

Fort Pulaski Savannah Georgia
Fort Pulaski National Monument. Georgia Department of Economic Development

Fort Pulaski National Monument – Savannah, Georgia
The Battle of Fort Pulaski in April 1862 featured the first significant use of rifled cannons in combat. The fort surrendered, which was a turning point, signaling the end of masonry fortifications.
For more information about Fort Pulaski http://www.nps.gov/fopu

Cumberland Island National Seashore – St Marys, Georgia
Cumberland Island is Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island.
For more information about Cumberland Island http://www.nps.gov/cuis

FLORIDA
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument – St Augustine, Florida
The Castillo was constructed to defend Spain’s claims in the New World. It was never defeated in battle. The Castillo witness to over 330 years of history and culture and is an impressive place to visit.
For more information about Castillo de San Marcos http://www.nps.gov/casa

Fort Pulaski
Fort Pulaski National Monument. Georgia Department of Economic Development