The U.S. National Park Service is among the best resources for family boaters. After all, some of the best water in the world is found within the boundaries of our national parks (Lake Powell, Lake Mead, etc.), along with some of the best camping, hiking, stargazing, and, well, you get the picture. If you're a boater, the U.S. National Park System is just about tailor-made for you. And if yours is a boating family, it would be difficult to find a better way to spend a holiday than hanging out with Smokey the Bear.

The National Park Service (NPS) turns 90 on August 25, 2006, having been created in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Act of Congress creating the Park Service and System. But National Parks are actually older than that, dating all the way back to March 1, 1872, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed an act that established Yellowstone as the country's first National Park.

Today there are more than 390 "units" in the National Park System, including four National Lakeshores, five National Rivers, 10 National Seashores, 10 National Wild and Scenic Rivers & Riverways, 18 National Recreation Areas and 58 National Parks. In all, some 273 million people visited one of the National Park System's units in 2005 - just about equaling the population of the United States in 2005. Yeah, we love our National Parks.

To be fair, at least some of the National Parks' popularity is the result of the Parks' near omnipresence. No matter where you are, you're probably not too far from a National Park, Seashore, River, etc. Still, there's no getting around the fact that the NPS consistently provides boaters and their families with outstanding facilities, whether for a few hours, a few days, or even a week or more. And because the NPS facilities are owned and operated by the U.S. Government "for the benefit and enjoyment of the people," these facilities are, each and every one, completely and totally family friendly.

Passes And Programs
Even if you only visit one National Park one time each year, do yourself a favor and invest $50 in a National Parks Pass, and an additional $15 for a Golden Eagle sticker. The National Parks Pass is good for one year - and here's the good part - from the first time you use it. Not from the time you buy it, but from the first time you actually use it. That's important, because it gives you the ability to buy the Pass online ( www.nps.gov) or over the phone at your convenience, but the clock on the Pass' use doesn't start until you actually visit a National Park.

What's more, the pass is good for you and everyone in your family, as long as you're all in a single vehicle, regardless of whether the park you're visiting has a per-vehicle or per-person entrance fee policy. (Policies do vary.) And the $15 Golden Eagle sticker extends the pass so that in addition to all 390 NPS units, you get "free" (actually "prepaid", but it feels like it's free) admission to sites managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Considering how much access you get, it's probably the best $85 you'll spend on recreation all year. And it's worth noting that, according to the NPS, more than 80 percent of the pass fee goes directly to supporting priority projects in National Parks, so it's for a good cause as well as a good time.

Don't forget to check and see if the NPS unit you'll be visiting offers the Junior Ranger program for the kids. (Most do, but not all.) Generally speaking, when your kids sign up to be Junior Rangers at the park, they're given an activity book and asked to sign a pledge to help protect and preserve the area. By taking the pledge and completing the activities, the kids earn a special badge - often a different badge for each Park. It's a double bonus - the kids get to get involved with the parks and you get some help in coming up with activities to fend off boredom.

Reservation Policies
Although our National Parks are for everyone's benefit and enjoyment, there are regulations and restrictions in place to ensure the maximum benefit and enjoyment for the maximum number of visitors. This means that you need to check in advance to be sure that your boat - whether it's a houseboat, a runabout, a PWC, or a kayak - is allowed on the water on the day(s) you're planning to visit. Occasionally, the park has to limit the number of watercraft because of crowding, water level, high river current, or other outside factors. It's a major drag to be turned away at the gate, so call ahead and be sure.  

Some parks offer boat and watercraft rentals, so you may not have to trailer ol' Betsy all the way there and back if you don't want to. Some concessionaires also offer watersports equipment for rent, so if you get there and suddenly wish you'd brought that inflatable after all, you may be in luck. Again, a phone call ahead of time will get you all the information you need regarding rental availability and rates. Whether you're going to visit for a few hours or a few days, it's a good idea to check out the Park's reservation policy well in advance of your visit. For day use, almost all of the NPS units operate on a first-come, first-served basis, but the more popular ones (see sidebar) can fill up quickly during the busy season. If you're planning to stay overnight or longer, it's a good idea to contact the park and book in advance, if possible.

If you're the spontaneous type, you can relax - reservations aren't required. Still, it's a good idea to get to the park as early as possible, so you can beat the crowds.

Whether you're staying a few hours or a few days, with or without a booking, it's a good idea to stop by the Park Headquarters upon arrival. The Rangers there will be able to give you the most up-to-date information regarding water and weather conditions, campsite availability, on-site activities, and local rules and regulations.

Keeping It Clean
Considering the amount of visitors our National Parks receive each year, it's even more amazing that they're in such nearly pristine condition. To keep them this way, it's our responsibility as visitors to be stewards of the Parks. The rule is simple: Leave the park in better condition than you found it. It's your responsibility to take out of the park anything you bring into the park (unless you put it in a designated trash can). And take it a step further by making sure that everyone in the family picks up at least one piece of litter someone more careless has left behind. This will ensure that the park will be as beautiful - if not more so - when you return as it was when you arrived.

Boating World's Top 5 NPS Units For Boating

1. Glen Canyon National Recreational Area (Nevada/Utah): Lake Powell, the gleaming jewel set in the stones of Glen Canyon, is a boater's paradise. Coves for camping, glassy water for watersports, fantastic fishing, and some of the most spectacular cliffs you'll ever see. Go for an afternoon and you'll wind up staying a week. www.nps.gov/glca.
2. Lake Mead National Recreational Area (Nevada/Arizona): Just about a stone's throw from Las Vegas and created by the Hoover Dam (one of the world's engineering marvels), Lake Mead is a close second to Lake Powell for boating. www.nps.gov/lame.
3. Biscayne Bay National Park (Florida): Stretching from just south of Miami to the northernmost Florida Keys, Biscayne Bay is one of the premier boating destinations in the country. It's also bordered by the Florida Keys and Key Largo National Marine Sanctuaries, as well as the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. www.nps.gov/bisc.
4. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wisconsin): On the shores of Lake Superior, the ancestral home of the Ojibwe tribe is filled with history and great boating. The Apostle Islands are home to some of the most beautiful historic lighthouses in the United States, as well as some of the best fishing in the Midwest. www.nps.gov/apis.
5. San Juan Islands National Historic Park (Washington): In addition to being a great day trip from Seattle, the San Juans offer the rare opportunity to see both orcas and bald eagles in the wild - as well as Dahl's porpoises, dolphins, and almost innumerable other wildlife. www.nps.gov/sajh.