Suggest a Marriott for us ( seems our holiday is in ruins )

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

http://news.yahoo.com/feds-let-state...--finance.html

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under pressure from governors, the Obama administration said Thursday it will allow some shuttered national parks to reopen — as long as states use their own money to pay for park operations.

Governors in at least four states have asked for authority to reopen national parks within their borders because of the economic impacts caused by the park closures. All 401 national park units — including such icons as the Grand Canyon and Yosemite and Zion national parks — have been closed since Oct. 1 because of the partial government shutdown. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees have been furloughed, and lawmakers from both parties have complained that park closures have wreaked havoc on nearby communities that depend on tourism.

[LisaH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LisaH]

It's about time! We are on Big Island this week. Driving by Place of Refuge and Volcano National Park to see them all deserted is so sad and frustrating. Luckily we have been to these places before...

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

All the Utah National Parks will be re-opening, as I understand it.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013...-shutdown?lite

By M. Alex Johnson, Staff Writer, NBC News

The National Park Service reached agreements late Friday to keep some of the U.S.'s most iconic national parks and landmarks open during the federal government shutdown, breaking a logjam that had blocked vital tourist revenue for several states.

Among the attractions that will reopen as early as Saturday are the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore and Rocky Mountain National Park.

All of the deals are structured similarly: States where the attractions are located will pay to recall National Park Service personnel from furlough, with either state funds or private donations.

The deals aren't cheap:
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement that New York would shell out $61,600 a day to keep Liberty Island National Park open beginning this weekend.
Arizona will be on the hook for $651,000 bill to reopen Grand Canyon National Park for just one week, NBC station KPNX of Phoenix reported after Gov. Jan Brewer tweeted the "Great News!"
Gov. Dennis Daugaard said in a statement that South Dakota would pay $15,200 a day from private donations to reopen Mount Rushmore beginning Monday.
And Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a statement that Colorado would fork over $362,700 to reopen its parks and monuments, notably Rocky Mountain National Park.



The federal shutdown last week closed all 401 national parks, resulting in furloughs for more than 20,000 Park Service employees.
The announcements come a day after Utah Gov. Gary Herbert's office announced that it had struck a deal with the Interior Department to reopen eight of the state's national parks and monuments.


Utah will pay $1.67 million to get people back in its national parks for up to 10 days. None of the payments will be reimbursed unless Congress passes a law to authorize refunds.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Also coming To post about the Grand Canyon, hope you are able to visit, it is a wonderful site to see.

[Ireland's Call Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ireland's Call]

Hello all
Had lost login details.
Meantime we are having a wonderful time having been to LA , San Diego , Grand Canyon at 3 locations including a free ( yes free helicopter ride ) on to Bryce , ( freezing!) Zion and now 2 days in Las Veg . On to Yosemite ( but think it is closed ) and then SF ...just an incredible vacation and thanks to all for assistance. We we're so lucky ... We were near Phoenix when Canyons opened ...talk soon. G

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

So glad Arizona opened the Canyon in time for you to see it. You may yet get to see Yosemite, too. I'm particularly happy that you are saying "wonderful time--" glad the vacation hasn't been in ruins.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Fabulous!! So glad to hear it's working out, you were meant to have a great trip!

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

The park re-opened on Wednesday so "G" may be in luck. I really hope so.

[Ireland's Call Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ireland's Call]

Thanks all...home a few hours ago . We had a fantastic time and got to visit everything on our planned list ...it was just amazing. Lots of highlights ..but helicopter into Grand Canyon shades all.
Will post more later ...now snzzz....

G

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

So glad for you that it worked out OK and you saw what you wanted to see. Was the helicopter allowed to fly that low in the canyon again? I was under the impression that it was discontinued after a few accidents had happened many years ago.

[BWolf Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BWolf]

You are one of the few top-notch folks around. Glad it worked out.

We were on Sanibel last week, and missed our bike ride thru Ding Darling. We did drive thru on Thursday, but it isn't the same.

It seems the US has become a banana republic.