Counties celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month with special deals, programs, and new takes on area parks.

Road trip season is upon us, Mountain Maryland, Allegany County’s tourism twitter page, announces. And it is true. July marks the season of vacations, staycations, and very hot days in Maryland.

County parks and recreation departments offer a variety of educational, cultural, environmental and outdoors programming throughout Maryland. Many provide activities that the whole family may enjoy. Some are offering special events to celebrate July as National Parks and Recreation month.

In Anne Arundel County, County Executive Pittman is waiving park entrance fees from July 22 through July 28.

Caroline County is promoting its parks using the National Park’s #GameonJuly hashtag, summer camp programs for kids, and discounted tickets to area water parks.

St. Mary’s County Commissioners declared National Recreation and Parks month surrounded by colonial interpreters. The county is home to St. Clement’s Island, the site of the arrival of the first Maryland colonists in 1634.

Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is encouraging residents to enjoy a new facet of its parks network this month.

Each week in July, Montgomery Parks will highlight a theme to encourage people to experience some of the lesser known features and amenities within the parks. The weekly themes are Health and Wellness, Art in the Parks, History and Culture and Nature and New Adventures. A companion online calendar lists activities, places and programs that correspond to the different themes for people to explore each day.

For more information about activities of Maryland’s county parks and recreation, check in with your local department.