June 12, 2009

Free Patio Boat Tours at Whiskeytown NRA

Whiskeytown, CA - Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, in partnership with Forever Resorts, will offer free patio boat tours of Whiskeytown Lake as part of the national Free Fee Weekend on June 20-21, 2009. The free patio boat tours will be offered every hour from 10am to 4pm during this free weekend.

"We want to reinforce that national parks are places for everyone to have fun, reconnect with nature and history, and build a sense of ownership and stewardship toward parks and environment", stated park superintendent, Jim Milestone.

This is the first of three summer weekends that the National Park Service will waive their entrance fees. Other weekends include July 20-21 and August 15-16, 2009. "We plan to also offer free patio boat tours during those weekends as well, and we want to thank Forever Resorts for their donation of the patio boat and providing a driver for these special tours," concluded Milestone. Call 530-242-3462 for more information or to make a reservation (space is limited to 10 people per tour).

The free patio boat tours mark the beginning of the various ranger-guided activities offered during the summer by the National Park Service. Activities will range from the ever popular daily and moonlight kayak tours, to the very fun filled and friendly Junior Ranger and Junior Fighter programs as well as the thought provoking walks through the Tower House Historic District. "This is a great time of year to enjoy all that Whiskeytown has to offer," stated park superintendent, Jim Milestone. "We encourage park visitors to join us for these special programs so they can learn about why Whiskeytown NRA is special enough to be included with Yosemite and the Lincoln Memorial as part of America's National Park system," concluded Milestone.

The visitor center has also extended its summer hours and will continue to be open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Monday, September 7, 2009. Located 8 miles west of Redding at the intersection of Highway 299 and Kennedy Memorial Drive, the visitor center offers exhibits on the history and development of the Whiskeytown area as well as information on summer interpretive programs, camping, and other local information. Annual and daily passes as well as books, maps, postcards and other publications can also be purchased at the center.

For more information contact the visitor center at (530) 246-1225 or visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/whis.

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