Passport Day In The U.S.A

Less than 50% of Americans have a passport. For the Travel section, this statistic causes a few moments of melancholic sadness and quicker paced breathing. Not everyone needs to have the travel bug, but without a passport you are cut off from so much. Passport holders get to experience language barriers whenever they please and discover that what they really ate was not what they'd thought.

Okay, so travel comes with inconveniences. But it also comes with unforgettable experiences, stories, and relationships made along the way that last a lifetime. The onerous process of getting a passport (especially for the whole family) can be reason enough to put it off. But this Saturday, April 9, is National Passport Day, which means one thing — no more excuses.

Passport agencies and approved facilities all across the country are opening their doors for a full no-appointment day filled with endless passport possibilities. Check here to find locations nearest you and think of all the destinations that await you. Here's what you need to plan ahead for Passport Day:

• Fill out your passport forms ahead of time.
• Calculate the fees that pertain to you (or your brood).
• Figure out how long it will take to get your passport in the mail.  
• Check out what you need if you lost your passport or need to renew it with special instructions.

Next time you wait in line at that facility, it will be to request more pages for ever more stamps.