5 Things to Do with Your Family This Summer

From the USA.gov Blog:
Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, whether you stay close to home or take a quick trip nearby. Here are some ideas to help you stay active and healthy and spend some time with your family.
1. Visit a national park. There are more than 400 national parks to choose from, and each one has something special to offer. You can enjoy some time with Mother Nature or sign up for organized hikes, go fishing, horseback riding, or rock climbing. End the day camping and resting next to a campfire.
2. Cool off at the beach or community pools. If your family likes to spend time in the water, you can always plan a trip to the beach. Make sure to plan ahead and take what you need to build sand castles or play games on the beach. If you live far from the ocean and prefer to stay close to home, you can go to a public pool. Make sure to visit Poolsafely.gov to learn about how to keep your family safe while enjoying the water.
3. Take a bicycle ride. There are many options when it comes to riding your bicycle. You can go around your neighborhood or explore your local parks or beaches. Make it a family routine and teach your children the importance of exercising and staying active. Don’t forget to put your helmet and follow the basic safety rules of riding a bicycle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has many safety tips.
4. Attend local events. Many federal properties host community events where you can enjoy different activities with your family, including farmers markets, art galleries, concerts and other live shows. Check your local community calendar to see what’s coming up and learn more about how to use federal buildings as community spaces.
5. Organize activities in your home. You don’t need to spend money or get out of town to stay active. There are lots of things you can find in your own home to keep your family entertained. You don’t need much space to plant a garden, and you can learn what you can do to help the environment by visiting the citizen action page of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Is Your U.S. Passport Up to Date?

From the USA.Gov blog:
If you plan to travel outside the United States, be sure to check your passport long before your trip. Routine processing times for passport services are 4-6 weeks (expedited services take approximately 2-3 weeks).

Renew Your Passport - Check your passport’s expiration date. If your passport expires before you plan to return to the United States, then you’ll need to get a new passport before you leave the U.S.

Apply for a Passport - If you are eligible for a U.S. passport and plan to travel abroad, get application instructions.

Change or Correct Your Passport - If you need to makes changes or corrections (due to a name change, for example) or add visa pages to your passport, see which forms you need to submit.

Report Your Lost or Stolen Passport - If your passport has been lost or stolen, report it as soon as you can. Call 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793) in the U.S., or contact the nearest U.S. embassy if you’re overseas. 
Get Additional U.S. Passport Services - Look up passport fees, get the status of your passport application, find information about photo requirements, and more.

Find the Latest Airport Closures and Flight Delays

From the USA.gov Blog:

If you have holiday air travel plans, check this map for the latest airport closures and flight delay information.

Travel Tips for Your Holiday Season

From the USA.gov Blog:

As Thanksgiving approaches, more and more people will be traveling in the next few weeks for holidays and family vacations.
If you’re traveling by air this holiday season, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the best place to go for accurate flying information. Before you leave the house, confirm the proper type of ID that will get you through security, your options if randomly selected for a pat down, and any other travel questions you have.
TSA also provides options to speed up your travel time. TSA PreCheck is a new program used in some airports across the country to speed up your time through security checkpoints. Through TSA PreCheck you don’t have to remove your shoes or liquids, and children 12 or younger are automatically allowed through with you. TSA also offer an app, MyTSA, you can use to check real time operating statuses at U.S. airports.
If you’ll be spending a lot of time on the roads this holiday season, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has lots of information on proper child safety while driving, as well as specific information for Thanksgiving holiday travel and driving safely during pre-holiday festivities.
Before hitting the road, you can also find out about road closures and national traffic information from the Department of Transportation.
If you plan to travel abroad, the State Department provides a free service for U.S. citizens: the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP lets you enter your trip information before you travel, so in case of an emergency abroad, the State Department will be able to assist you faster and more easily.

Saturday is National Public Lands Day, Admission is Free to National Parks

From the USA.gov Blog:



Saturday is National Public Lands Day, Admission is Free to National Parks:

Saturday, September 29 is National Public Lands Day. This is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. Find a volunteer site if you want to help improve our public lands by planting trees and native plants, collecting trash, improving trails, and more.
In honor of National Public Lands Day, all national parks offer free admission. Plan your visit to a national park today.

Road Trip Tips to Save Money and Avoid Road Closures

From the USA.Gov Blog:

Road Trip Tips to Save Money and Avoid Road Closures:
Whether you’re driving locally or taking a road trip this summer, you can use these resources to help plan your trip, save money and avoid detours.

• Gas Mileage Tips — Find out how driving efficiently, keeping your car in good condition, and combining trips can help you save money.
• Traffic and Road Closures — Get resources to keep you informed about road and traffic conditions.
• Scenic Byways — Find scenic drives that you might enjoy while traveling on the road.

Wherever you’re driving, make safety a top priority and keep in mind that most states have banned texting while driving. Learn more about distracted driving.
Find more tips for your road trips.

Holiday Tip of the Day: Fly Through Airport Security

From the USA.gov Blog:

Holiday Tip of the Day: Fly Through Airport Security:
You can get through the airport security line faster by traveling with unwrapped gifts and following the 3-1-1 rule when carrying on liquids, including liquid food items like cranberry sauce and gravy. You can also use the My TSA app or mobile website if you’re at the airport and need last minute information about what you can and can’t bring through security. Learn more about flying with food or gifts.

Did you miss yesterday’s tip? Get more holiday tips.

Summer Travel Tips from TSA

Summer Travel Tips from TSA: From the USA.gov blog: 
By Blogger Bob, a member of the TSA blog team

"Summertime isn’t officially here yet, but with a heat index yesterday of 104°, you could have fooled me! The weather is definitely a reminder that summer is right around the corner. It’s time to figure out where you put all of your summer clothes and summery type outdoor thingamabobs. Now is also the time of year when your summer travel is quickly approaching and I’m guessing the last thing on your mind is spending an evening at TSA.gov researching your travel questions. So, we’ve taken all of our best travel tips and provided them here in one place in a handy dandy blog post.

Can I Bring My… : What can you bring in your carry-on? What needs to be checked and what has to stay at home? Find out using our Can I Bring My… tool or take a look at our prohibited items list.

Foods: Food items that are in the form of a liquid or gel are generally not permitted however, items such as cakes, bread, donuts, ham sammiches, etc. are all permitted. Here is a list of items that are prohibited at the checkpoint… Creamy dips and spreads (cheeses, peanut butter, salsa, jams and salad dressings, gravy (mmm gravy), jams, jellies, maple syrup, oils and vinegars, sauces, soups, wine, liquor and beer.

Family Lanes: Frequent flyers hate it when they’re in line behind a family, and guess what… families hate it when the frequent flyer is behind them tapping their foot and sighing. That’s why we created Family Lanes. They’re designed to let families take their time and ask questions without feeling rushed by the experienced frequent flyers who can zip through a checkpoint in no time. Also, as stated earlier, anybody carrying exemptible liquids, aerosols and gels in excess of 3.4 oz may be directed to a Family Lane.

How to Get Through the Line Faster: We put together some great tips on how to get through our lines faster. Click here to read tips about the right clothes to wear, which ID to use and many other helpful tips and videos. If you travel through an airport with Advanced Imaging Technology (Body Scanner), ensure you remove everything from your pockets whether it’s metal or paper to prevent you from having to undergo additional screening. Also wear easily removable shoes. For example, flip-flops or loafers would be easier to kick off than knee-high lace-up boots.

You can find more summer travel tips from Blogger Bob at the TSA blog.



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Summer Fun on a Budget

Summer Fun on a Budget: From USA.gov: "
Summer is almost here—and you probably have a list of things you want to do and places you want to see. These tips will help you save money while having fun.

• If you plan to take a summer road trip, make sure to check the cheapest gas prices while traveling.
• Visit one of the 394 parks in the National Park System, like the Grand Canyon or Yosemite. National parks are an economical way to explore since most are free. On June 21, 2011, all of the parks offer free admission.
• Find local events to save money. Search USA.gov for your city name and “summer” to find community events and programs in your area.

Get more tips on making travel easy this summer.
"

U.S. Department of State: Worldwide Travel Alert for U.S. Citizens

Worldwide Travel Alert for U.S. Citizens

The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan. Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations. U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. This Travel Alert expires August 1, 2011.

U.S. Embassy operations in affected areas will continue to the extent possible under the constraints of any evolving security situation. U.S. government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. Embassies and Consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Media coverage of local events may cause family and friends to become concerned for their loved ones traveling and residing abroad. We urge U.S. citizens to keep in regular contact with family and friends. U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), to receive the latest travel updates and information and to obtain updated information on travel and security issues. U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.

Travel information is also available at www.travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

Drive America's Byways

Drive America's Byways: From Gov Gab:
"The cardinal's spring song this morning told me that winter is finally losing its grip on my area. My thoughts begin turning toward fun driving trips.

The America's Byways program is a good place to start. The 151 routes across the U.S. offer something for everyone: local drives, as well as touring routes that take several days to experience.

America’s Byways are designated by the Federal Highway Administration for their archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, or scenic qualities. The routes represent natural and built panoramas, ancient and modern history, native arts and culture, and even neon landscapes.

Routes on the list include Historic Route 66, California's Big Sur Coast Highway, Colorado's Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway, Alabama's Coastal Connection, Minnesota's Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway, and the Las Vegas Strip.

Find an America's Byway near you, across the country, or somewhere in between. Or explore Byways by type of activity, including bird watching, cultural experience, shopping, and even college visits. Read other travelers' reviews and experiences of a route.

Which America's Byway interests you? Have you traveled on an America's Byway?"

Your Turn: Airport Screening

Your Turn: Airport Screening: From GovGab: "

Just in time for the holiday travel season, the Transportation Security Administration has come under fire about whether its Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machines store images, its pat-down procedures for toddlers are too harsh and many other concerns about airport screening.

In response, TSA's Administrator John S. Pistole has released a statement and TSA's Blogger Bob posted a blog debunking many of the myths and rumors. Public response to those posts and to TSA in general has not been positive. I am not going to list TSA's myths, again you can go here to see them, because I thought this week we could have a dialogue about your feelings regarding airport screening.

I am not a fan of airport screening. Anytime I go to the airport, I get nervous because I feel my personal boundaries are infringed upon by the basic screening. I don't like the rush to put my carry on items, shoes, coat and everything else through a conveyor belt. I dread walking through the metal detector. I have yet to be selected for an AIT machine screening, but watched in horror as my fiance was scanned by one. I was relieved when she lived to tell about it, her personal boundaries, though bruised, still intact.

As concerned as these reports of TSA mistakes make me, I am more concerned when I hear about security breaches on planes like the recent printer cartridge scare. I consider airport screening an unpleasant necessity and I hope that TSA learns from the recent mistakes and implements more customer friendly procedures.

That's my take, what's yours?

"

Stress-Free Holiday Travel

Stress-Free Holiday Travel: From GovGab: "With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, holiday travel season is upon us. That tends to make for a lot of stressed out travelers trying to get to and from their families' houses or vacation spots as quickly as possible.

Whether you're traveling by air or by car this holiday season, you can use these tips to make your trip a little less stressful.

• Plan ahead. Organize your flight times, figure out how early you need to get to the airport and leave plenty of time to get through security. If you're driving, plan to leave early in the morning or later in the evening to miss the bulk of the traffic.
• Save yourself a buck or two and find out where the cheapest gas is. Fill up before you leave town to save yourself a stop on the way.
• If you're flying with food or gifts, make sure you know what you can and can't take on board.
• Check TSA's other tips and tricks for getting through security lines quickly and hassle-free.
• Download the TSA mobile app to check for airport delays on the go.
• Pack entertainment. Give your kids an audio book to listen to or pack a couple of DVDs for them to watch on your laptop. You'll enjoy the peace while they are distracted.

What are your favorite tips for stress-free holiday travel?

"

"Secure Flight" Starts for Travelers

"Secure Flight" Starts for Travelers: From GovGab: "Last week, one of my loyal readers, emailed me about a call she received from her airline regarding travel plans she booked months ago. The call stated that if she did not provide her full name, birth date and some other information for her flight, she wouldn't get her boarding pass. By coincidence, I had recently booked some travel plans and noticed the online airline reservation system asked for more information than usual.
According to the TSA blog, travelers now have to include name, date of birth, and gender as it appears on a recognized government ID on their travel reservations or they will be denied their boarding pass at flight time. TSA then matches this information against government watch lists.

Here are three questions posed by people on the Talk to TSA comment form that may clarify some of the questions surounding this program:

Will passengers still be able to book a ticket within 72 hours of a flight?
Yes. TSA’s Secure Flight program can conduct watch list matching for passengers up until the time of the flight. Passengers will be prompted to provide Secure Flight information when booking travel. For reservations booked on short notice, or within 72 hours of the scheduled flight departure time, airlines must submit the required passenger information as soon as the reservation is made.

What happens if a passenger has an existing reservation for travel after November 1, 2010, and did not provide complete Secure Flight data when booking his or her flight?
TSA advises passengers to contact their airlines or booking sources prior to arriving at the airport to ensure they have provided their full name, date of birth, gender, and Redress number (if applicable) as part of their reservations. While TSA’s watch list matching takes a matter of seconds and can be completed up until the time of departure, passengers should be aware that a boarding pass will not be issued until the airline submits complete passenger data to Secure Flight.

What if a passenger’s boarding pass and ID do not match exactly?
Secure Flight and travel document checking are both critical security functions, yet they serve different purposes at different points in the security process. Secure Flight is a behind-the-scenes watch list matching process that takes place before checkpoint screening. Secure Flight asks that passengers enter their names as they appear on their government ID and passengers should strive to stay consistent between the name on their ID and the information they provide when booking their reservation. Once a passenger receives their boarding pass, the Secure Flight process is already complete.

What do you think of these new air reservation requirements?

"

Summer Travels

Summer Travels: From GovGab: "Government publications are more than just books. Guest blogger Kelly Seifert reminds us that maps and guides can be just as engrossing, especially at this time of year.
If you’re planning on doing some travel around the country this summer, you can start your planning with the National Parks System Map and Guide. It features a map of the United States, including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, showing the locations of parks, historic sites, and other properties operated by the National Park Service. On the reverse side, an alphabetical list of each National Park System property describes its activities, services, and facilities. If you’re planning on exploring any of the 391 destinations of the National Parks Service this summer, this is an essential take along. You can also easily access this publication by visiting your local Federal depository library. Locate a library in your area here.

To make your trip complete, check out these other great publications as well: 1) the National Trails System: Map and Guide, which includes descriptions of national historic and scenic trails, and 2) the National Wildlife Refuge System: A Visitor’s Guide, which contains a map showing national wildlife refuges that provide recreational and educational opportunities. The Visitor’s Guide also provides tips for visiting national wildlife refuges and lists refuges in all 50 States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, along with the best wildlife viewing season and the features of each refuge.

Why leave the country for a little R&R when there are so many national treasures right on your doorstep? Happy Travels!"

State Forest Campgrounds Offer Affordable Vacation Option

State Forest Campgrounds Offer Affordable Vacation Option: From the RedTape Blog: "Department of Natural Resources and Environment officials would like to remind everyone that camping is still an affordable way to tour Michigan, and state forest campgrounds (SFCG) provide a gateway to many of northern Michigan's recreational attractions and opportunities

There are 133 SFCGs throughout the Upper and Northern Lower Peninsula that are open for use this season. This includes Pickerel Lake SFCG in Otsego County, and Tomahawk Creek Flooding SFCG in Presque Isle County; both were closed for improvements last year. Information about SFCGs may be found on the DNRE Web site.


Questions concerning SFCGs or recreational opportunities in a specific area may be answered at the local Operations Service Center (OSC): Cadillac OSC at 231-775-9727, Gaylord OSC at 989 732-3541, Marquette OSC at 906-228-6561, Newberry OSC at 906 293 5131, or Roscommon OSC at 989-275-5151


Effective Oct. 1, 2010, the Recreation Passport will be available to Michigan residents for $10 per registered vehicle, or $5 per registered motorcycle. By checking 'Yes' on your vehicle registration form, Michigan residents will provide money to support Michigan's recreational facilities; including state parks, boating access sites, state forests campgrounds, state forest non-motorized trails, and grants for local parks. For more information about the Recreation Passport, please visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.


Source : Michigan Newswire, May 6, 2010."

Summer Vacations on a Budget

Summer Vacations on a Budget: From LifeHacker: "As we inch closer to summer, all I can think about is the awesome vacations I want to take. I picture myself spending weeks at the beach, lounging in the sun, listening to the waves roll in.

And then I'm yanked back to reality. I can't actually spend weeks and weeks relaxing at the beach. Hotels are expensive!

So instead, I'm going to make the best use of my weekends, and with some budget-minded travel tips, I won't break the bank.

I've been itching to get out to Great Falls National Park to hike the trails and enjoy the views of the waterfalls. National Parks are an extremely budget-friendly form of entertainment and can be a great way to get your family outside enjoying the weather. Check the National Parks website to look for different parks and activities in your area.

In my research for budget-friendly things to do this summer, I hadn't expected to add amusement parks to my list of possibilities, but because of the economy, some parks are offering really cheap tickets or other special deals. It's been way too long since a roller coaster has flipped me upside down, so that might be on the agenda too.

If you're looking to travel this summer, make sure to check out Fueleconomy.gov for a list of the cheapest gas prices in your area. With gas nearing $3 per gallon around here, I know it's something I'm going to pay extra attention to this summer.

What's your best tip for summer vacations on a budget?"

National Park Week

National Park Week: From GovGab:
"Now that it looks as if warm weather is really here, some of my friends have started to gather ideas for activities to do during the summer.

Some of the suggestions are right up my alley: baseball games (check), weekend down the shore (say no more), backyard barbeques (sold).

The one idea that is less than appealing to me was: camping. Mneh. I avoid all situations that require sleeping sans air conditioning.

But for those who do appreciate and enjoy nature, coming up is an ideal opportunity for you to take advantage of the great outdoors. (side note: I do enjoy "The Great Outdoors"- in the form of the 1988 John Candy comedy.)

April 17-25 is National Park Week. In celebration, the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees for the 100 parks that charge for admission - making all 392 of its parks free!

In addition, some parks are running specials on camping gear and souvenirs.

What national parks have you been to, or were looking to visit?"

$10 Access Fee for All State Parks

$10 Access Fee for All State Parks: From the RedTape Blog: "West Michigan tourism officials are pleased by passage of a plan that will allow Michigan motorists to visit state parks by paying a $10 fee when they renew their vehicle license plates each year.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm is expected to sign the plan into law.


Bills setting up a state parks passport system were finalized Thursday by the Michigan Legislature and are headed to Granholm's desk.


Voluntarily paying the fee would exempt state residents from having to buy $6 daily or $24 annual park passes to enter state parks. Paying the fee also would provide access to recreation areas, forests and boat ramps. The system would take effect Oct. 1, so it wouldn't affect park entrance this summer.


Those preferring not to pay the $10 could select an option on the vehicle registration renewal form not to use the state parks system.


Out-of-state visitors still would be required to buy daily or annual passes for Michigan parks.


For the full article, see 'Bills finalized for $10 fee to use state parks', Muskegon Chronicle, via MLive, March 26, 2010.
"

Passport Cost Increase

Passport Cost Increase: From GovGab:
"Now that the east coast has finally started to warm up, the sun is shining, birds are chirping...allow me to bring some gloom and doom to your day. It looks like the cost of obtaining / renewing a passport is going to go up.

The State Department is proposing a fee hike that would raise the cost of applying for a passport from $100 to $135, and renewal cost would increase to $110 from the current $75.

The reason? The State Department says that the costs of increased security and anti-fraud and terrorism measures aren't being covered by the current fees.

Besides this just seeming like yet another rising cost that is annoying to deal with, some lawmakers worry that overall it will hurt the tourism industry- particularly to neighboring countries of Canada and Mexico. They worry that the increased burden will deter Americans from traveling and in turn, continue to hurt the economy.

While the increase is not yet final, it could be in effect by April. The State Department suggests applying for your passport now if you are planning international travel, as a rush of applications are expected in the wake of this news.

Do you have an alternative idea to cover security costs? Do you mind paying the higher fee?
"