Get outside and enjoy some of the country’s most magical places – America’s national wildlife refuges will offer free admission on these days in 2015:

• January 19 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• February 14-16 – Presidents’ Day Weekend
• September 26 – National Public Lands Day
• October 11 – First Sunday of National Wildlife Refuge Week
• November 11 – Veterans Day

The fee holidays are scheduled each year to encourage Americans to visit their public lands and enjoy firsthand the natural and cultural experiences they have to offer. National wildlife refuges are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of the Interior.

“Our National Wildlife Refuges System is an unparalleled network of public lands dedicated to the conservation of native wildlife and their habitats. This national treasure provides Americans with places to hunt, fish, observe the natural world and experience the outdoors in many exciting ways,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “If you have never visited a national wildlife refuge before, one of these fee-free days would be the perfect opportunity to see what you’ve been missing.”

Consider planning a refuge visit around a bird festival, wildlife tour or other special event at a refuge near you. Or explore a refuge on your own, walking a refuge trail or driving a wildlife viewing route. Take in seasonal wonders, such as the bugling of elk during the fall rut or the sight of great flocks of migratory birds in spring and fall.

There’s at least one national wildlife refuge in every state…and one within an hour’s drive of most major metropolitan areas. Find one close to you here.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge by Howard Ignatius