Our country's national parks, although spectacular, do not have the automatic kid appeal of Disneyland. Their attractions and spots can be as small as the rustle of a fast-moving snake or the deep purple of a spring-blooming violet. While a mirror-clear glacier lake might not dazzle your children, the parks have loads of thrilling outdoor activities and attractions, from trail rides to float trips, that will inevitably win them over. An eagle-eyed twelve-year-old can hunt for arrowheads in Utah's Canyon Country, ride cowboy style in Wyoming's Grand Tetons, or take up the challenge of learning to rock climb in the High Sierras.
If you are not entirely convinced, how about this: compared to other destinations, national parks have dirt-cheap lodgings, from rustic tent cabins and family hostels to mid-priced historic lodges. It's actually a challenge to spend money in some. There aren't many fancy places to eat, so you can save your money for outdoor sports and activities and attractions.
Camping is obviously the least expensive way to experience our national parks, as campsites cost only a few dollars per night. If your family thrives on spending time outdoors, nothing tops sleeping under an open sky. The sheer beauty of nature works wonders on alleviating the stress of everyday life. A helpful and inexpensive resource is the Complete Guide to America's National Parks, with camping and hiking information, climate charts, and state and regional maps; it is available from the National Park Foundation, 800—533—6478. Another informative book is National Parks: The Family Guide by Dave Robertson with first-hand descriptions of kids' activities and attractions, best bets, and recreational activities and attractions.
Some recommended pre-trip reading materials include Sharing Nature with Children and Sharing the joy of Nature, with activities and attractions and games designed to get you and your children in touch with the out-of-doors, by Joseph Cornell and The Young Naturalist by Andrew Mitchell. These books and many others designed for children are available from the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado 80517 (970—586—1258).
We list heare cabins, motels, inexpensive lodges, and family hostels either in or near national parks where families can enjoy a bit more comfort than camping in a tent provides. If you are planning a summer visit, be prepared: it is crowded out there. The biggest crush occurs in the middle of summer. To protect the quality of these treasured sites, development is closely controlled, and there aren't enough rooms to meet demand. It is wise to make reservations nine to twelve months in advance for the least expensive and most desirable rooms or cabins.
Yosemite National Park
Wawona Hotel
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge
White Wolf Lodge
Yosemite Lodge
Curry Village
Housekeeping Camp
High Sierra Camps
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake Lodge
Mazama Village Motor Inn
Olympic National Park
Kalaloch Lodge
Lake Quinault Lodge
Log Cabin Resort
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Volcano House
Namakani Paio Camping Cabins
Glacier National Park
Many Glacier Hotel
Lake McDonald Lodge
Glacier Park Lodge
Rising Sun Motor Inn
Village Inn
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn
Grand Teton National Park
Jackson Lake Lodge
Colter Bay Village Cabins
Colter Bay Tent Cabins
Signal Mountain Lodge
Elk Refuge Inn
Yellowstone National Park
Old Faithful Inn
Old Faithful Lodge and Cabins
Old Faithful Snow Lodge Cabins
Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins
Lake Lodge and Cabins
Grant Village
Canyon Lodge and Cabins
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins
Roosevelt Lodge and Cabins
Rocky Mountain National Park
Grand Lake Lodge
Valhalla Resort
H-Bar-G Ranch Hostel
Moab National Park
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Mountain Biking in Moab National Park
Entrada Ranch
Cedar Breaks Condos
Grand Canyon National Park
Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins
Thunderbird and Kachina Lodges
Maswik Lodge
Yavapai Lodge
Moqui Lodge
Phantom Ranch
Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim
Chisos Mountains Lodge in Big Bend National Park
Rock Harbor Lodge in Isle Royale National Park
Cedar Pass Lodge in Badlands
Everglades National Park
Flamingo Lodge Marina and Outpost Resort
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave Hotel
Sunset Point Motor Lodge
Woodland Cottages
Sheandoah National Park
Skyland Lodge
Big Meadows Lodge
Lewis Mountain
Acadia National Park-Mount Desert Island
Seaside Cottages
Hall Quarry Road House
Beech Hill Road House
Harbour Woods
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