Go Do

Camino Portugues from Tui

Mark B. — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 01:33:32 +0000

Plan for walk from Tui to Santiago

5/8/26 (F)	Fly from DC
5/9/26 (S)	Arrive in Vigo around 1PM. Bus or car to Tui Get hotel for 2 nights
5/10/26 (S)	Tour Tui and Valenca
5/11/16 (M)	Walk Tui to O Porrino Get hotel
5/12/26 (T)	Walk O Porrino to Arcade Get hotel
5/13/26 (W)	Walk Arcade to Pontevedra Get hotel
5/14/26 (TH)	Walk Ponteverda to Caldais De Reis Get hotel
5/15/26 (F)	Walk Caldais De Reis to Padron Get hotel
5/16/26 (S)	Walk Padron to O Moolliron Get hotel
5/17/26 (S)	Walk Om to Santiago Spend Day in Santiago Get hotel for 2 nights
5/18/26 (M)	Day 2 in Santiago Bus trip to Finnesterre?
5/19/26 (T)	Bus to Vigo EBike tour in evening? Get hotel in Vigo
5/20/26 (W)	Fly back 1:30 – Arrive 10:30pm

Free National Parks Days in 2026

Mark B. — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:15:47 +0000

In 2026 the National Park Service will waive their entrance fees on Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday), Memorial Day, Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday, Independence Day weekend, 110th Birthday of the National Park Service, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, Veterans Day.

Free is good… National Parks are good… therefore free National Parks must be great! And it is!

The number of free days has been expanded from six in 2025 to ten in 2026.

Also new for 2026… Free entrance only applies to U.S. citizens and residents. Nonresidents will still pay regular entrance fees.

There are over 400 sites available for public use managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service in the Department of the Interior, as well as the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture. 109 of these sites charge entrance fees.

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) of 2004 enables these agencies to waive fees on “days of celebration and commemoration”.

For these ten days in 2026 you can get into the National Parks for free.

February 16: Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
May 25: Memorial Day
June 14: Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday
July 3-5: Independence Day weekend
August 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
September 17: Constitution Day
October 27: Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday
November 11: Veterans Day

The free days changed from these 6 days in 2025.

January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
April 19: First Day of National Park Week
June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
August 4: Great American Outdoors Day
September 27: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day

Tips and Important Things to Know…

Less famous parks will be less crowded especially on free days.

Some parks require reservations to enter.

And don’t worry if you can’t make one of these six days, the National Park Service has over 300 sites that are always free to visit.

Virginia State Parks Trail Quest Challenge

Mark B. — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 05:47:10 +0000

Looking for a fun reason to visit all the state parks in Virginia? The Trail Quest Challenge gives you one! Learn all about the challenge and follow along as I visit the parks and earn my pins.

What is the VA State Parks Trail Quest?

The Trail Quest Challenge is a fun way to learn more about all about the state parks in Virginia. To complete the challenge you visit 40 of the 43 parks and log your visits on their website.

How does it work?

Create your account online
Visit a Virginia State Park
Log your visit
Once you hit a reward milestone you’ll receive an email

My Journey to Complete the Trail Quest

02/02/2023	Natural Bridge State Park
02/02/2023	Received an email that my first pin will be sent to me.
02/05/2023	Hungry Mother State Park
05/19/2023	Claytor Lake State Park
05/22/2023	Douthat State Park
06/29/2023	Stopped at York River State Park on the drive to the Outer Banks.
06/30/2023	Received an email that my second pin for visiting 5 parks will be sent to me.
07/30/2023	Went bike riding at the New River Trail State Park. Rode some of the trail and did the trails at the Hoover Mountain Bike Area.
01/01/2024	Did a First Day Hike at Mason Neck State Park

First Day Hikes (updated for 2025)

Mark B. — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 06:25:31 +0000

Shake off the New Years Eve celebration by getting out to a park near you for a First Day Hike!

First Day Hikes is a program designed to get people out doors and visiting parks during a time when they are less likely to. The idea started in 1992 at Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Massachusetts.

The idea spread and in 2012 was officially launched by the America’s State Parks alliance as a nationwide program. State parks in all 50 states held First Day Hike events that year.

Since then the concept has grown and now includes many National and local parks.

First Day Hikes include ranger led hikes as well as self-guided hikes. Most parks offer a variety of events such as sunrise hikes, trail rides, and scavenger hunts. And at many parks you may extend your First Day by camping or staying in a lodge or cabin.

Also as a bonus most parks offer free entrance and parking.

We love the idea of kicking off the new year with some time outside. So use our list below to find a hike and don’t let the winter weather scare you off.

Visit the National Park Service website to find First Day Hikes at their parks.