TravelMusings

4 Posts tagged with the grand_canyon tag
Debbie K. Hardin
1

Think you have to “rough it” to enjoy the wild beauty of the national parks? Think again. Although every national park offers a number of options for camping, backpacking, and cabin dwelling, the parks offer luxury, too.

 

yosemiteluxpic.jpg

Lobby of Tenaya Lodge. Photo: Debbie K. Hardin

 

  • Yosemite has two opulent choices. The historic Awahnee Hotel, in the heart of Yosemite Valley, is the most luxurious and most expensive hotel in the national park system. Pampered guests can enjoy astonishing views of Yosemite Falls and the monumental granite cliffs that surround the valley, as well as niceties like daily tea in aptly named Grand Hall,  priceless Native American artwork scattered throughout the property, and five-star service.

 

  • Tenaya Lodge, located just two miles outside the southern park entrance of Yosemite, is a sprawling full-service resort, with an elegant spa, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, sparkling pool, supremely comfortable rooms, and numerous fine dining opportunities. (Don’t miss Embers, the newest upscale restaurant onsite.) Let the concierge arrange for myriad activities, from horse-back riding, to a chuck-wagon dinner, to fly-fishing expeditions.

 

  • The Grand Canyon scenery is impossible to improve on, so the fabulous El Tovar Hotel on the edge of the South Rim does its best to blend in, with low-slung architecture executed in desert-friendly hues. This registered National Landmark (a favorite of presidents and European royalty) has 78 rooms, the best with jaw-dropping views of the canyon, and books up 13 months in advance.

 

  • Yellowstone boasts one of the largest—and best appointed—log cabins in the world: The beloved Old Faithful Inn. Massive timbers stretch up 77 feet in the soaring lobby; look for the fanciful tree house cabin built amid the rafters. As the name suggests, the inn is a stone’s throw away from the most visited geyser in the park. Don’t miss the inn’s famous restaurant, which offers the most civilized meal in the park, with grand buffet breakfasts.

 

  • Sequoia National Park is all about the Big Trees, and the peaceful Wuksachi Lodge nestles among the groves unobtrusively. The cedar and stone lodge offers comfortable and spacious rooms and serene views of the mountaintops. It isn’t uncommon to find deer and bears roaming the grounds. Maximize your viewing opportunities—and up the stunning quotient—by booking a corner Superior Suite, with separate sitting room wrapped in windows.

1 Comments Permalink Tags: national_parks, luxury_travel, yosemite, grand_canyon, yellowstone, sequoia_national_park
Jessica Skelton
0

When I look back to the times I visited national parks (Yosemite and Denali come to mind), I’m always amazed at the impressions my experiences left on me. These trips were about more than sightseeing tours, dinners at classy restaurants or days spent tanning on beaches—they were about embracing the things in this world that truly are priceless and being thankful that the national parks have been preserved for everyone to enjoy.

yellowstone-anchor-castle-geyser-header.jpg

Photo: James Neeley

 

Re-awaken your appreciation for the national parks by watching documentary filmmaker Ken Burns’ six-part series, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, set to air Sept. 27 through Oct. 2 on PBS. The narrative of the national parks is outlined over the course of six two-hour long episodes, beginning with the genesis of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and tracing the growth and preservation of the national parks over the following 150 years. Burns profiles an assortment of people who’ve played key roles in the development of the national parks, from biologists to naturalists to park rangers, and parallels historical accounts with contemporary tales of people whose lives have been changed and inspired by the national parks.

 

Have you always dreamed of rafting down the Merced River in Yosemite National Park or hiking along the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon? Inspire yourself and your friends to plan a trip to a national park. TravelMuse has a wealth of information to help plan your perfect national park adventure: skim destination overviews to learn more about a particular national park; read articles to discover a national park’s activities, lodging and dinning options, and basic facts; browse sample national park itineraries; and plan your own trip to a national park. Read more information and explore trips to some of our favorite national parks:

 

Yosemite National Park
Located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range about three hours east of San Francisco, Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful natural environments in the world. [Read our full Yosemite National Park coverage.]

 

Plan a trip to Yosemite National Park.


Grand Canyon National Park
Visiting the Grand Canyon should be on anyone’s Top 10 vacation list. This awe-inspiring geological wonder offers sublime vistas across the shockingly beautiful one-mile deep, 18-mile wide and 277-mile long chasm. [Read our full Grand Canyon National Park coverage.]

 

Plan a trip to the Grand Canyon National Park.

 

Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park … is a 2.2 million acre natural wonderland, where for every question answered, a handful of new inquiries seem to arise. [Read our full Yellowstone National Park coverage.]

 

Plan a trip to Yellowstone National Park.

 

We are thrilled to have Debbie K. Hardin, an outdoors expert, as a guest blogger on TravelMusings. Be on the lookout for her blogs in the near future.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: yosemite, family_travel, grand_canyon, yellowstone, ken_burns, national_parks
Jessica Skelton
0

Although some of us have had a rough go of it in 2009 thus far, it’s uplifting to know that there are still reasons to celebrate. Some of the United States’ most beloved National Parks are commemorating significant anniversaries this year and invite you to join in the festivities—a monumental way to remember that some of the best things in life are, indeed, free. 

 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which overlaps the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, is ringing in its 75th anniversary with a yearlong series of activities and events. The anniversary weekend kicks off on June 13 at Cades Cove in Tennessee, with exhibits that explore the cultural history of the area, followed by an outdoor performance by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. The only thing you’ll need to pay for is the $25 vehicle pass, which allows you to bring up to 15 people in your (huge!) car.

 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NPS Photo)

 

The celebration continues June 14 at the Smoky Mountain Headquarters in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Be sure to check out the free open house that focuses on the park’s development, management and establishment in 1934. An exhibit, “Snapshots of 1934, the Establishment Year of GSMNP,” showcases both original and reproduction photos, drawings, datasheets, maps, artifacts and journal entries.

 

The weekend finishes up on June 15 in Oconaluftee, N.C., with a dose of history from the Cherokee perspective. A ceremony will symbolize the commencement of construction on the new Oconaluftee Visitor Center and history cultural museum. 

 

If you can’t make this amazing weekend of nature and history, there are plenty of events throughout the year to participate in, including a rededication of the park at the Rockefeller Memorial at Newfound Gap on Sept. 2, reminiscent of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s park dedication speech given in 1940. Other noteworthy events to attend include the Women’s Work Festival (June 20), the Mountain Life Festival (Sept. 19) and the Festival of Christmas Past (Dec. 12), all which boast arts, crafts and music.

 

Other National Park Anniversaries

 

Zion National Park in Utah is observing its 100th anniversary in a similar manner to Smoky Mountains

National Park, with a yearlong series of events, lectures, exhibits and

activities. Read more about the festivites in this week’s Zion National Park Centennial article.

 

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona celebrated its 90th anniversary with the opening of the Verkamp’s Visitor Center in February. For more information on the anniversary, visit www.nps.gov/grca.

 

For additional National Parks coverage, check out our special feature on 10 National Parks Treasures.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: united_states_national_parks, great_smoky_mountains_national_park, grand_canyon, zion_national_park
Lynn O'Rourke Hayes
0

For me, hiking is a great way to stay grounded during the hectic holiday season. Plus there’s the added benefit of strapping on those shoes and hitting the trails:  working off a few extra calories and the  stress. So in the sweet-filled and time-starved days ahead, take time to breathe the fresh air on a trail near you.   

 

In Arizona, we are fortunate to have scores of trails, canyons, ridgelines and tree-covered pathways on which to wander. And of course, we have the granddaddy of them all: Grand Canyon National Park.

 

You have to see it to believe it. Up to 18 miles wide and one mile deep, this wonder of the world is aptly named. Whether you are a hiker, a climber or a photographer, there is so much to do in and around the canyon for visitors of all ages and abilities.

 

 

A rafting trip through the Grand Canyon still ranks as the all-time favorite vacation for my boys. Here are a few ideas to inspire your  trip to an American treasure:

 

Raft the Colorado River:  277 river miles snake through this geologic wonder. Spend a day or several weeks exploring the canyon, floating deep within its storied walls. Hike the glorious side canyons. Revel in the thrilling adventure of North America’s ultimate river trip. You’ll have tales to last a lifetime.  Discuss trip types—motorized rafts, dories, rowing—and age-appropriate departures with your outfitter. Contacts: O.A.R.S, http://www.oars.com/,  tel. 800-346-6277; Hatch River Expeditions, http://www.hatchriverexpeditions.com/, tel. 800-856-8966.

 

Hike the Canyon: The South and West Rim trails are mostly paved and offer a stroller-friendly opportunity to view the astounding vistas. Begin at the South Rim Visitor Center.  Offering some shade and water along the way, the Bright Angel Trail is the best place to start for great views of the inner canyon. Choose day hikes to the Three-Mile Resthouse (3 miles one way) or to Indian Garden (4.6 miles one way).

 

Spend the Night in the Canyon:  Reserve a camp site at the Bright Angel campground (9.3 miles one way)  or bunks at Phantom Ranch (9.8 miles one way) for an historic and unforgettable experience. Plan well in advance.  Reservations for Phantom Ranch can be made only by mail, phone or fax. Tel. 888-29-PARKS, www.GrandCanyonLodges.com/phantom-ranch. For camping, visit http://www.recreation.gov/.

 

Sleep on the Rim:  Inside the park, there are five lodging options on the South Rim.  Choose from El Tovar, an historic and elegant hotel, to cabin and motel type accommodations. On the North Rim—which closes after the first heavy snowfall and reopens in the Spring—the only park option is the charming Grand Canyon Lodge. Extensive lodging also exists outside the park in nearby Tesayan, the gateway village. Reserve well in advance. Contact: tel. 303-297-2757, http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/.

 

Ride a Mule: Try this traditional transportation style for viewing the Canyon’s panoramic vistas. Hop on for a short ride or trek to the bottom of the canyon for an overnight stay. Some weight, height and age restrictions apply. Contact: Xanterra Parks & Resorts, tel. 888-297-2757, http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/. 

 

For more about a visit to the Grand Canyon visit the National Park Service Web site: www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: grand_canyon, family_travel

Popular Blog Posts

By Travel