If you're one of the lucky few who gets Martin Luther King, Jr. Day off work and you're not sure what you're going to do with that extra time, perhaps you should plan a visit to your favorite national park. After all, MLK Day is the first fee-free day of the year and we wouldn't want to squander any opportunity for a free visit to the parks.

Considering the day is dedicated to Dr. King, it should come as no surprise that we would recommend a visit to his national historic site in Atlanta and Memorial in Washington, D.C. And since 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, either location will make a fitting destination for those looking to honor his legacy.

Of course, the fee-free holiday is simply a good excuse to go to a national park, and there are obviously plenty of other things we can do to take advantage of the day. For instance, visitors to the Grand Canyon can go camping along the South Rim, while fans of winter weather will enjoy snowshoeing along one of the many trails in Glacier. If you're craving something a bit warmer then Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park may be more your speed, while water lovers will no doubt enjoy a paddle along one of the Everglades canoe trails.

If you're a fan of the national parks, and enjoy taking advantage of these fee-free days, then you'll definitely want make sure you visit your favorite park on Monday. The next free-entry days don't come until April 22-26 in celebration National Parks Week. That seems like an awfully long way off at this point.

[Photo Credit: National Park Service]

Filed under: History, North America, United States, Ecotourism