Memorial Day: Free admission to California state parks for veterans, military members

No charge at 134 California state park for vets, active duty and reserve service members
In an annual California tradition to honor the military, admission to 134 California state parks — from beaches to redwood forests, historical sites to sparkling lakes — will be free Monday to veterans, active duty and reserve military members to mark Memorial Day.
The policy, enacted in 2013 with a law signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown, allows free day use admission at state parks for veterans and personnel from the U.S. Armed Forces and the National Guard of any state if they show military ID or proof of discharge other than dishonorable or bad conduct, at the entrance gate.
“Thank you to the brave men and woman who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero in a statement. “In their honor, state parks is offering military individuals complimentary admission to some of the most amazing places within California’s state parks system.”
Civilian visitors who did not serve in the military still will be required to pay regular admission fees.

Among the free parks on May 31 for the military are some of California’s most noteworthy landmarks, see the list below.

The free offer does not include national parks, seashores or monuments like Yosemite, Point Reyes or Muir Woods. All national parks in the United State have six free days a year, including Veteran’s Day, which will be Nov. 11.
Admission at California state parks ranges in price, but is typically $10 per vehicle.
The state parks offering free admission to veterans and active duty and reserve military members on Memorial Day are: 
(Parks in Mother Lode Trails coverage area are in bold.)

• Anderson Marsh State Historic Park (SHP)
• Andrew Molera State Park (SP)
• Angel Island SP
• Annadel SP
• Año Nuevo SP
• Antelope Valley CA Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve (SNR)
• Anza-Borrego Desert SP
• Auburn State Recreation Area (SRA)
• Benbow Lake State SRA
• Benicia SRA
• Bethany Reservoir SRA
• Bidwell-Sacramento River SP
• Bolsa Chica State Beach (SB)
• Bothe-Napa Valley SP
• Brannan Island SRA
• Calaveras Big Trees SP
• California Citrus SHP
• California State Railroad Museum
• Cardiff SB
• Carlsbad SB
• Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA)
• Carpinteria SB
• Castle Crags SP
• Castle Rock SP
• Caswell Memorial SP
• China Camp SP
• Chino Hills SP
• Clay Pit SVRA
• Clear Lake SP
• Colonel Allensworth SHP
• Colusa-Sacramento River SRA
• Crystal Cove SP
• Cuyamaca Rancho SP
• Doheny SB
• Donner Memorial SP
• Eastern Kern County Onyx Ranch SVRA
• Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point SP
• El Capitan SB
• Emerald Bay SP
• Emma Wood SB
• Folsom Lake SRA
• Folsom Powerhouse SHP
• Fort Ross SHP
• Fort Tejon SHP
• Fremont Peak SP
• Gaviota SP
• George J. Hatfield SRA
• Grover Hot Springs SP
• Half Moon Bay SB
• Hendy Woods SP
• Henry Cowell Redwoods SP
• Henry W. Coe SP
• Hollister Hills SVRA
• Humboldt Redwoods SP
• Hungry Valley SVRA
• Huntington SB
• Indian Grinding Rock SHP
• Jack London SHP
• Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP
• Kenneth Hahn (Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook only)
• Kings Beach SRA
• La Purisima Mission SHP
• Lake Oroville SRA
• Lake Perris SRA
• Leo Carrillo SP
• Los Angeles SHP
• Malakoff Diggins SHP
• Malibu Creek SP
• Malibu Lagoon SB
• Manresa SB
• Marshall Gold Discovery SHP
• McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial SP
• McConnell SRA
• McGrath SB
• Millerton Lake SRA
• Mono Lake Tufa SNR
• Morro Bay SP
• Mount Diablo SP
• Mount San Jacinto SP
• Mount Tamalpais SP
• Natural Bridges SB
• New Brighton SB
• Oceano Dunes SVRA
• Olompali SHP
• Pacheco SP
• Palomar Mountain SP
• Patrick’s Point SP
• Pescadero SB
• Pfeiffer Big Sur SP
• Picacho SRA
• Pismo SB
• Point Lobos SNR
• Point Mugu SP
• Pomponio SB
• Portola Redwoods SP
• Prairie City SVRA
• Prairie Creek Redwoods SP
• Providence Mountains SRA
• Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
• Red Rock Canyon SP
• Refugio SB
• Richardson Grove SP
• Robert H. Meyer Memorial SB
• Russian Gulch SP
• Saddleback Butte SP
• Salt Point SP
• Salton Sea SRA
• Samuel P. Taylor SP
• San Buenaventura SB
• San Clemente SB
• San Elijo SB
• San Gregorio SB
• San Luis Reservoir SRA
• San Onofre SB
• Seacliff SB
• Silver Strand SB
• Silverwood Lake SRA
• Sinkyone Wilderness SP
• South Carlsbad SB
• South Yuba River SP
• Standish Hickey SRA
• Sugarloaf Ridge SP
• Sunset SB
• The Forest of Nisene Marks SP
• Tomales Bay SP
• Topanga SP
• Torrey Pines SB
• Torrey Pines SNR
• Tule Elk SNR
• Turlock Lake SRA
• Van Damme SP
• Wilder Ranch SP
• Will Rogers SHP
• William B. Ide Adobe SHP

To see the original article in The Mercury News CLICK HERE.