Looking for a vacation destination? The United States Mint might just have a locale or two (or fifty-six) in mind — many of which include some of the nation’s most scenic national parks.

Promoting it as "See America for a Quarter," the Mint is inviting all to travel around the nation as it releases new strikes of the America the Beautiful Quarters™. Those accepting the invite are sure to be treated to countless scenic opportunities and exposure to numerous historic national parks and sites. To get started, the Mint has provided the next three ceremonial quarter release dates and locations for 2010.

Under the U.S. Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarters Program, five new strikes will be released annually featuring reverses emblematic of a featured national site such as a national park or a national forest. One site was selected from each state, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories for a total of fifty-six new quarters issued over a twelve-year period.

Special release ceremonies for the first two quarters issued under the program have already been held by the US Mint earlier this year. Taking place at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas on April 20, 2010 and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming on June 3, 2010, the ceremonies marked the debut for the new series.

"When we launched the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, we embarked on a journey to reconnect Americans with our beautiful national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and other sites," stated United States Mint Director Ed Moy.  "We hope families across the country will join us on this journey."

Three more ceremonies are scheduled for the remainder of 2010 to coincide with the release of the quarters honoring those locations. According to the Mint, the ceremonies will occur at these sites on the dates shown:

• Thursday, July 29, 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) at the Valley Visitor’s Center, Yosemite Village Loop, Yosemite, California to celebrate the release of the Yosemite National Park Quarter.

• Tuesday, September 21, 1:00 p.m. (PT) on the grounds adjacent to El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon, Arizona to celebrate the release of the Grand Canyon National Park Quarter.

• Wednesday, November 17, 10:00 a.m. (PT) at the World Forestry Center, 4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, Oregon to celebrate the release of the Mount Hood National Forest Quarter.

Anyone who attends the ceremonies will have the chance to obtain new strikes honoring the featured site. Children will be given one quarter free to commemorate the event while adults are offered the opportunity to exchange cash for rolls of the new coins.