First Day of Summer: Free Entrance to National Parks & More
Tuesday, June 21st is the first official day of summer, and with that comes a long and (hopefully) sunny day of fun opportunities.
National Parks: While not a weekend day, those who can take advantage of this will save some money and enjoy lighter crowds. While the two National Park Service units closest to Los Angeles--Santa Monica Mountains and Channel Islands--are fee free year-round (you still have to pay for transit to the islands, however), many others parks in California that charge fees, save for several days throughout the yearlike Tuesday.
Public Lands: The Bureau of Land Management is also celebrating the first day of summer by waiving "recreation-related fees" to the National System of Public Lands. But even with California's plethora of public lands--they manage 15.2 million acres, nearly 15% of the state's land area, of public land--there are no fee areas, at least according to a list attached to BLM's announcement.
Just Get Out: It's the longest day of the year, so take advantage of the light wherever you go. Here are a couple ideas in Los Angeles:
- Secret Stairs: The Los Angeles Stairstreet Advocates, a group of residents that are "dedicated to the restoration, preservation and enjoyment of the many walk streets across Los Angeles," are hosting a Tomato Pie walk. It starts at the corner of Hyperion & Tracy in Silver Lake at 6:30 p.m. for a 90-minute stair hike in the neighborhood, followed by dinner at Tomato Pie.
- Griffith Park: L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge, whose district includes Griffith Park, tends to host solstice and equinox hikes a few times a year. This time around the hike to Mount Hollywood begins at 5:30 p.m. from the Griffith Observatory parking lot. Take note, however; the councilmember is combining this hike with his swearing in ceremony for his third term so this isn't intended to be a quick out-and-back (but no one is stopping you from ditching the ceremony).
- LA River: KCET's very own Departures has the ultimate guide to the Los Angeles River. Check out their Field Guide for tons of ideas.
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