Passport to your National Parks - Passport reviews & Program overview
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- Опубліковано 7 сер 2024
- Correction: The stamp program was introduced in 1986!
Update: The explorer edition is back with a $10 price increase to $70.
There are three different editions of National Park Passports- here I review all 3 (except the Junior Ranger edition) and give you my thoughts on all of them!
This video was recorded in July 2021. As of October 2021, the passports have gone through a price increase.
The Classic Edition is now $12.95- up $3
The Collector's Edition is now $29.95- up $5
the Explorer Edition is now $69.99- up $10
Buy them here: shop.americasnationalparks.or...
Try out coupon code ANP25 for 25% off
00:00 - Intro/What is the passport program?
01:07 - Where to buy them
03:34 - Expander Packs
04:01 - Passport Stamps
04:46 - Classic Edition review
06:10 - Collector's Edition review
08:38 - Explorer Edition review
15:17 - Value proposition & Alternative
I'm so glad you mentioned the cost of the passport books. I bought mine on Amazon for $30 last year and was shocked at the price! I was even more shocked when I actually visited my first parks and saw that they actually were only $10 in the gift shop. I was so dissapointed and definitely had a lesson learned.
Instead of buying Stamp sheets I decided to take a picture with me in the photo or a family photo. I actually like looking at the photos of all the places I been with the cancellation stamp
At the bottom.
Great idea! I wish I would have done that!
Wow this is a great idea
I bought the Collector's Edition and scanned them all into a high-resolution pdf... then I printed them out on 32lbs weight 8.5x11 printer paper in color. I use a heavy-duty 3 D-ring binder with dividers. The 8.5x11 gives me room to make more stamping areas, as well as the binder, which lets me collect maps of the sites. As we travel a lot, we tend to revisit the parks so we can just add-in more stamps on more papers. I also collect postcards from the site... writing in a memory and mail them to my home address from that site. There, I put those in the binder with a few good pictures of myself and my family. *****Don't forget that active military and veterans can get a pass card to visit all parks for free, plus allows 2 free visitors with you.*****
Thank you for this review, it was SO informative! The website offers so little in the way of photos and description I still had no sense of what the books actually entailed. And thank you for the explanation of stamps vs. cancellation stamps, that was also so confusing to understand when reading other reviews! You've convinced me not to buy any of these books but make my own instead. I would definitely be frustrated with the limited space and it bothered me just looking at the blank pages at the back of the book. I want all of my stamps together! Again, thank you for the time and money you spent to put this review together!
Glad you found it helpful! I really wanted to point out how expensive this is and the negatives, something I didn't see from any of the other UA-cam reviews. Its still fun but may be unexpected punches for people who didnt intend on spending more money. How fun that you'll be making your own! Happy stamping.
Awesome video. I'm going on a huge road trip and going through 5 states and a dozen or more National Parks along the way. I just ordered the deluxe size and got the newbie discount of 15% off. YES!!! Thanks.
Good deal! Have fun! If you like sending postcards, what I do is buy some and stamp those as well! So people can see when I bought them and where.
Another idea is buy a military ring binder, same size as your explorer edition. You can buy dividers, folders, paper, etc for it and make it yourself. That is what I did. My son bought me the book during his BMT with Air Force, it was a planner but now houses my National Park travels. I like it for my OCD because I can take out, move and add pages.
Another fantastic idea. I'm loving all your comments on alternatives.
I started with the classic edition because that was what was available at the park I was at. My trip to DC quickly filled up the capital region so I bought a second classic edition. When I got home, I bought an expander spiral ring off etsy and Frankensteined the 2 books together. But I used all the pages. Some blank printer paper cut to size and some double sided tape and now I have an almost 2" passport book that fits nicely in the door pocket of my car.
I'm at the smokey mountains right now and as we were driving through the park I was wondering if a program like this existed. I was reminded of the Jeeps I've worked on and how some of them had different badges for different trails they conquered, so I wondered if something similar was set in place for the national parks. I saw these passports at the Clingmans Dome and I decided to buy the collectors edition on whim without ever even hearing about them before. I had no service and I couldn't really consult the internet to make an informed decision, so I was just hoping I made the right choice. All in all, I do like the looks of the explorer edition, which they didn't have at the shop I was at, but I think the collectors editions will serve my purposes. I see they have a leather binding for it for sale as well, perhaps an investment I will make down the road if I really get into this hobby. For now the Clingmans Dome remains my sole cancellation in this behemoth of a book, although I am kinda bummed you can't really do the "cancellation" thing in the collectors edition since there is a sole designated square for each park. However I can't wait to see where this will take me! Thank you for making this video!
I’ve always wanted to visit the smokies, I think that’s next on my list. There are blank pages near the end of each region where you can use as an overflow. Personally I have found the explorer edition to be a rare sight. Even in the visitor centers (3) in the Tetons, I did not find them. If that 25% coupon code I have works, you’re better off buying it online at a discount. They also sometimes do 2 for 1 stamp sheet sales. You’d be surprised how easily the book can fill up. I was surprised to see so many sites operated by the NPS that aren’t parks. Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy stamping your passport!
Great information, thank you!
Thanks for watching, glad it helped! Enjoy your travels!
Thank you for sharing. I recently purchased the classic passport. I am enjoying going to see and learn more about national parks and monuments.
Good choice- Hope you have fun stamping and visiting the great outdoors!
OMG 😮 i had no idea there were other passport books than the small classic and larger size . I didnt know there was a collector edition or a binder one 😕 . I agree you charge so much they should have more sheets . I love using mine and AWESOME video thank u so much
Awesome review! I really appreciate you taking the time & funds to make this video with practical information. I agree with your thought process. I only just started my collection with Acadia National Park & was seeking this exact info.
I think I will probably repurpose an existing binder either with legal size 8.5x11 blank paper in sheet protectors or work the collection into scrapbook 12x12 pages which would also use sheet protectors. Either way I can organize it into regions myself allowing maximum flexibility with options to add my own photos 🎉
I would like to somehow incorporate the maps pf each region & the lists of the parks n each region. I bet I could print that info out somewhere though. We just have to get creative!
Thank you so much for this! The website... sucks (lol). It provides such little information in the way of pictures and comparisons between the three booklets.
Thanks for watching and I completely agree.
You said it all, I think. I'm just getting into this and spent a while deciding between editions. At first I assumed I'd want the Explorer edition since it's billed as the "best", but there were so many downsides -- smaller pages and not as pretty as the Collector's Edition, yet still not enough space really. Open format, but somehow not quite open format enough (lots of wasted space). The Collector's Edition looks great, but there's the least space for cancellations of all of them with just one slot.
In the end I settled on the Collector's Edition, and plan on using the one cancellation spot for the first visit to each park. (I even found someone on Ebay who can print stickers for past visit dates.)
Then for additional cancellations I'll add pages or use a second book. I'm thinking of using the national park "stickers" with the photo and text they sell as titles for the additional pages or book. So then every park will have two areas -- one for the stamp and first cancellation, and another for additional ones.
Maybe I should have just used my own book with blank pages to lay things out however I want, but I do like the way the Collector's Edition looks. *shrugs* I also got the leather cover, which is very nice.
Oh, one question I have: It looks like the additional pages have slits in them to make them easy to add into the book. I didn't realize this. Do you find they ever fall out? (Especially the collector's edition ones.) I've ordered some additional pages but they haven't arrived yet.
@@d_dave7200 Great choice. What's funny is that when I was at the Tetons, someone asked me what I thought about the Collector's and Explorer editions. So I steered them towards the collector edition. I just think it is a far superior passport book.
I have not tried attaching the expanders to the collector's edition book but I don't think it would be too different than the regular book. At some point it fills to the brim and it's hard to close but it stays in place. I would not recommend adding more than 2 expander packs. It's almost like it was an afterthought. They should have made the binding larger so the extra packs wouldn't pose an issue.
I'm wondering if the NPS will ever develop a digital version of their passport? I know they have an app but maybe adding QR codes at cancellation stamp locations would allow you to digitally record your visit.
That'd honestly be an awesome idea. Maybe in the future... they still make money off of passports and stamps.
Honestly I would prefer a physical book and stamps, something you can hold is always fun
Great minds think alike. I bought the Collector's Edition on my first park visit. Saw the stamps to be purchased at what it would cost if I were to buy them all. I decided to only buy the sticker set if I actually visited the park. Main park stamp goes with it in the marked spot. Extras go in their spot. I went to Walmart and picked up a hard covered sketch book the same size as the classic for under $5. I dont put any stickers in it only cancelations. If I hadn't bought the Collector's edition I would say this is a good economical way to collect Cancelations.
If you want to talk about something infuriating about the stickers. Check out the ones for Maine. There are 2 stickers for Acadia while they haven't issued ones for Katahdin Woods & Water or St Croix International Park. I also collect magnets and pins from Perks I visit so as you say it is not a cheap endeavor.
For things like park specific history books I always check Amazon. I have found great deals pick them up used for around 10% of the retail in the park store. (that was NOT a typo, 'of' not off) For instance I picked up 4 of the park books specific to Saratoga & the Revolutionary War for $10 total they would of cost over $70 at the park store.
Great Park by the way. If you ever get a chance to visit try for October 1-17. Great fall days to catch the color change on the trees with park events & reenactments leading up to Sword Surrender Day on the 17th. 3 stamps they may be working at adding a 4th. they recently added another site to the park. Lots of interesting stuff all around this area & history.
Great video. By the way, how do you get the discount code that you mentioned? Thanks.
The discount code is valid for first time customers. So it’s not exclusive / tied to a user account. At least it was when I posted it. I just looked for discount codes online and that worked. They do offer up 15% off codes from time to time. As well as free shipping if you spend over $50.
Glad you enjoyed the video!
REMEMBER...100% of proceeds from the Passport program support your national parks....don't cheap out and make your own booklets!!!!! Stop complaining about the price of the books and expander packs, it is still a HUGE bargain, it costs A LOT of money to maintain these parks. It is simple, SUPPORT THEM OR LOSE THEM!!!!
Yes because its not like some of our income tax goes to help support them or anything. If only the charged $15 to $30 for entrance fee for major parks. Or have gift shops with other various marked up prices. Or charge a fee for campsites... Yes overpriced notebooks is the major income of national parks. So we have no right to complain. Well said.
@@allseeinghamster6001You obviously have no clue how much it costs to maintain and manage the park areas and facilities. How do you think they pay for repairs when a storm, wildfire, earthquake, flood, rock slide or other natural disaster destroys the roads and habitat that the parks are responsible for? Daily management goes far beyond catering to tourists and making sure you have restrooms and trails.