California 4th graders can get into these 19 state parks for free
TRAVEL

California 4th-graders and their families can get into these 19 state parks for free

Genette Brookshire
The Record
Western Pacific Railroad locomotive 913 delights visitors to the California Railroad Museum.

Fourth-graders and their families can now explore some of the best parts of California for free with a California State Parks Adventure Pass.

The pass, which is good for a year, can be used at 19 select state parks, including the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento and Calaveras Big Trees State Park in Arnold. Other parks include beaches, museums, redwoods, off-highway vehicle recreation areas, hiking trails and important cultural history.

“The California State Park Adventure Pass is an incredible new program that will help promote a healthier, more equitable California for all — a California where every child has the opportunity to explore, learn and benefit from our state’s natural wonders,” First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said in a statement.

Families can apply for the pass online at ReserveCalifornia.com, at a State Parks Pass Sales Office, or by calling (800) 444-7275. For information about the program, visit parks.ca.gov/AdventurePass.

The program was established earlier this year to support the physical, mental and emotional well-being of children and help them and their families connect with nature and their communities. Assembly Bill 148, which established the three-year pilot, program, which was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in July. Senate Bill 129, which was signed earlier this year, included $5.6 million to fund the program.

Things to do:

The 19 state parks included in the California State Parks Adventure Pass:

Southern California

  • Silver Strand State Beach (Coronado)

Southern California desert

  • Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (Nearest cities – Borrego Springs and Julian)
  • Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (Julian)

Inland Empire

  • California Citrus State Historic Park (Riverside)
  • Chino Hills State Park (Chino Hills)

Central Coast

  • Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History   (Morro Bay)
  • Seacliff State Beach (Santa Cruz)

Central Valley

  • Millerton Lake State Recreation Area (Fresno)
  • Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park (Earlimart)

Sacramento

  • California State Railroad Museum (Sacramento)

Northern Buttes

  • Clear Lake State Park (Kelseyville)

Sierra

  • Empire Mine State Historic Park (Grass Valley)

Central Sierra

  • Calaveras Big Trees State Park (Arnold)

North Coast Redwood

  • Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park (Crescent City)
  • Patrick’s Point State Park (Trinidad)

Sonoma-Mendocino

  • Hendy Woods State Park (nearest city – Philo)

Bay Area

  • Jack London State Historic Park (Glen Ellen)
  • Samuel P. Taylor State Park (Lagunitas)
  • Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area (Gabilan Mountains, an hour drive from San Jose)

Contact Senior Content Strategist Genette Brookshire at gbrookshire@recordnet.com or on Twitter @record_genette. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.