Go Here Not There: Government Shutdown Alternatives

[wolfnowl]

Some ideas from Condé Nast Traveler.  A pretty short list, but people could add others. 

http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2013/10/government-shutdown-vacation-travel-washington-dc-grand-canyon-new-york-100113

Mike.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Another possibility: Go to Canada, where there are lots of great National Parks, and all of them are still open I believe. There are also great Provincial parks all over Canada. And, of course, there's Vancouver Island, which has as much gorgeous variety as most American or Canadian National Parks.

Bet you didn't know about those, huh, Mike?   

[wolfnowl]

Never would have thought of that, myself!  Great idea, though.  And BC Parks have free parking too!!

Mike.

[Colorado David]

I have asked this here before and never got a definitive answer.  I was told a few years ago that people in Canadian parks who were determined to be professionals, by virtue of the type of equipment they carried, had their gear impounded.  It was based on some regulation requiring permits and the authorities simply used the type of equipment as a the metric for who was a professional and who was not.  I'm not trying to spread any rumors, just trying to get an answer.  I've had to buy a work permit entering Canada several times because the customs and emigration people determined I was displacing a Canadian worker.

[Les Sparks]

I have asked this here before and never got a definitive answer.  I was told a few years ago that people in Canadian parks who were determined to be professionals, by virtue of the type of equipment they carried, had their gear impounded.  It was based on some regulation requiring permits and the authorities simply used the type of equipment as a the metric for who was a professional and who was not.  I'm not trying to spread any rumors, just trying to get an answer.  I've had to buy a work permit entering Canada several times because the customs and emigration people determined I was displacing a Canadian worker.

My wife and I just got back from the Banff/Jasper region and if the type of gear were a measure of  pros then lots of people would have had their gear impounded. Never saw so much high end gear in one place in my life. People either had iphones or top of line Canon and Nikon gear (multiple bodies and lenses) with high end tripods etc. No one was every questioned--then again the only official people we saw in any of the parks were stopping speeders on the Trans Canada Highway through the parks.
Les

[Msphoto]

I think what you are referring to are the regulations for doing a professioal movie production or commercial shoot in a Canadian national park. Here are the regulations.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/plan/reglements-regulations/filming-tournage.aspx

I'm sure the US national parks have something similar.
No issue with individuals shooting with their nice gear.

So as an alternative while the US parks are closed that's a great idea.
Come on up!