Especially when you hear the word “resort.” So, what’s the best family-friendly resort for a national park vacation? Drumroll please. It is the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, right outside Rocky Mountain National Park. If you are like me and grew up on the East Coast, YMCA and resort do not belong in…
Taking your kids to the Grand Canyon is a bucket-list family vacation. It is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It is huge, it’s deep, and it’s something they will never forget. But as a parent, you worry about the heat, safety at the rim of the Canyon, and whether or not…
There is a hotel for every type of traveler in and around Zion National Park. From value to upscale. From inside the park to an hour outside. Value is harder to find in peak season (summer and spring break to a lesser extent). But if you know where to look and when to book, you…
Planning a trip to one National Park is exciting. Planning a road trip to visit five of them? That can feel overwhelming. There is so much to do in Utah and nearby Arizona that it can be really hard to choose what to do. The Mighty 5 in Utah get a lot of attention, but…
You open your laptop, expecting to plan a fun family vacation. Three hours later, you have 20 tabs open, a headache, and more questions than when you started. It should be easy. Go to the website, book a hotel, pick a trail. But the reality of modern National Park travel is a maze of timed-entry…
Most, but not all, national parks have lodging accommodations inside the park that can range from rustic camping to luxury lodges. There are advantages to both staying inside and outside of a national park. You often need to plan in advance to score a room inside the park, but it’s far from the only option,…
There’s a reason why the big hotel chains, including Marriott and Hyatt, are getting into glamping and outdoor accommodation options. It’s where people want to go. If you want to experience nature without roughing it, there are so many unique places to stay in national parks. From historic charm to luxury, these hotels and accommodation…