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Admission to National Parks is free today and all weekend

The National Park Service (NPS) turned 100 on Aug. 25, and visitors are getting an amazing gift in honor of the milestone.

Admission to all 58 national parks will be free Aug. 25-28. Admission fees will also be waived at 354 protected areas, including national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails and the White House.

The price of admission varies from one national park to another, and depends heavily on the location and season. For example, entrance to Yellowstone National Park costs $30 per car. At Mesa Verde National Park, cars have to pay $15 in the summer months and $10 during the rest of the year.

From Acadia to Zion, the best part about national parks is that there are so many options. Whether you like to hike, kayak or just gaze at a mountain, you’re bound to find one that sparks your interest. If you can decide what park to visit, search the hashtag #Findyourpark on Instagram, where park people have been sharing their outdoor experiences for other would-be visitors.

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We’ve also put together our list of can’t-miss national parks hosting special centennial celebrations this weekend.

1. Great Smoky Mountains

You might think that the Grand Canyon attracts the biggest crowds, but with 307 million visitors in 2015, Great Smoky Mountain National Park – which straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina – has proven to be more popular. Join a ranger on Aug. 26, for an evening campfire at the Elkmont campground to discuss what makes this national park so great.

2. Grand Canyon National Park

With the NPS waiving admission fees, you can guarantee that the Grand Canyon will get a lot of attention this weekend. In addition to the awe-inspiring natural beauty, the NPS will also be hosting the Grand Canyon Music Festival starting Aug. 25. Free concerts on Aug. 26 include the world premiere of Puhatawi, a new genre of Hopi music, and an evening with local students sharing their love of rock music. Concerts on other days cost $15 for adults and $8 for children.

3. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone will celebrate the National Park Service centennial on Aug. 25 with an “Evening at the Arch.” Tickets are sold out, but the event will be live streamed. If you’re able to visit the park this weekend, make some memories while gazing at the Grand Prismatic Spring or biking and camping in backcountry. But be on your guard, there are some fire restrictions in effect due to fire danger.

4. Everglades National Park

If you want to cover a lot of ground in a limited amount of time, hop on your huffy for a canal biking tour you won’t soon forget. On Aug. 27, the NPS will host a free, guided bike tour down the canal berm of Florida’s Everglades National Park. The ride starts at 7:30 am, making it a scenic and eye-opening way to break in a new day. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the park office.

4. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

The National Park System might be 100 years old, but it’s basically a toddler compared to the 2,000 year-old Sequoia trees in this California national park. Celebrate the centennial by watching the Mountain, Forest and Desert players put on a free performance of “Ersa of the Red Trees” from Aug. 26- 28. This classic Sequoia tale takes place in front of the historic General Sherman tree, and contains fairies, beasts, magic and poetry.

6. Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington has several events this weekend to celebrate the NPS centennial. Watch history come alive on Friday at the Paradise Inn Lobby, when rangers share stories about the breathtaking park and the people behind its success. The park is also hosting a Centennial Star Party on Saturday, where astronomy volunteers will point out constellations for visitors. Star gazing begins at the Visitor Center at 9:30 pm.

7. Yosemite National Park

President Obama and the first family visited Yosemite National Park – set within California’s Sierra Nevada mountains – this summer, and for good reason: It’s gorgeous! Known for its rock formations like El Capitan and its stunning views from Glacier Point, Yosemite’s beauty can easily be appreciated by even the moodiest of teenagers. If you can’t experience the park in real life, no worries. In celebration of the centennial, the White House has released a 360-degree virtual reality tour so you can experience the park just like the Obamas.

Brittany Jones-Cooper is a writer for Yahoo Finance.

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