Travel Blog Planet

Let’s go BOGO. Who doesn’t love a buy one get one free lodging bargain? When it’s combined with free entrance to a U.S. National Park during the week of April 17- 25, your spring vacation is a budgetary winner. Sure, you could camp at Shenandoah or Yellowstone, but look at these bargains:

Far View Lodge

At Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado, explore the ancient cliff dwellings of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visits to Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House require a ticket on a ranger-led tour. Be sure to save some time for hiking one of the many trails or visiting the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum. From your room at Far View Lodge, high on the mesa’s shoulder, the view encompasses three states and all the stars you can count in the dark, night sky. Rooms are priced at $99 with a consecutive night free. This offer is valid from April 22 – 30, 2010. And, entrance to Mesa Verde National Park is free through the end of April.

Experience Virginia’s beautiful spring with a stay at Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park. The historic resort, built in 1886, offers inspiring views of the Shenandoah Valley. But don’t spend all of your time looking out the window from the highest point on Skyline Drive — take a hike, go biking or visit one of the local wineries. Book one night for $125 and receive the second consecutive night free. Offer valid from April 18 – 29, 2010.

Kalaloch Lodge

Olympic National Park in Washington encompasses rain forests, rugged beaches and mountain splendor. Confused about what to see first? Why not split your visit into two Olympic experiences? First take in the rugged Pacific coastline from your accommodations at Kalaloch Lodge. The bird-watching paradise includes hiking, biking and beach-combing opportunities. Next, head 12 miles into the heart of Olympic National Forest for a stay at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. Soak away tired muscles after an invigorating hike through an old growth rainforest. Both Kalaloch Lodge and Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort are offering accommodations priced at $157 with a second consecutive night free. This offer is valid from April 17 – 25, 2010.

Shenandoah, Mesa Verde, Olympic — I’m having a hard time deciding which National Park BOGO lodging adventure to choose. How about you?

Photos courtesy ARAMARK Parks and Destinations.

Review by Donna L. Hull, My Itchy Travel Feet.

The Cloudland Canyon State Park is one of the largest and most scenic parks in Georgia and was created in 1939 when the state of Georgia acquired the land from local owners.  

View over Cloudland Canyon, Georgia

The park has grown over the years and now covers 3485 acres with the deep canyon gorge cut through the flat topped plateau of Lookout mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek, creating stunning views from the canyon rim and waterfalls cascading down the sides into the gorge below, with elevations between 800 and 1980 feet. There is a great view over the Canyon from near the picnic and parking area as well as from the hiking trails that run through the park. The best time to visit is spring and fall when the leaf colours in the canyon are spectacular.

Hiking trails at Cloudland Canyon

Waterfall at Cloudland Canyon, Georgia

If you’d like to hike in the Cloudland Canyon National Park, there are several marked trails including one that’s wheelchair accessible, to allow you to take in some of the views over the Canyon and other highlights of the park. If you’re feeling fit, you could try the Waterfall trail which includes a 600 step section, taking in three waterfalls that cascade down the side of the canyon into small pools, with the flow of water dependant on the seasonal rainfall.  

The West Rim Loop Trail extends for nearly 8km, beginning at Daniels Creek Bridge and passing through woodland sections before climbing out of the canyon up to the plateau. The shorter 3 km Backcountry Loop Trail gives you access to the park’s walk-in campsites  and starts at the parking area for group camping, taking you through oaks, hickories and hemlock groves before returning back to the parking.  

Camping and lodging in Cloudland Canyon

If you’d like to go camping at Cloudland Canyon to make the most of its natural beauty there are several options. The East Rim campsite has 24 camping places, many of which can accommodate an RV, with water, electricity, shower and bathroom facilities and fire rings. The West Rim camp site is on the other side of the gorge set in thick forest with limited vehicle access and has 48 camping places with bathing facilities, picnic table and fire rings. If you want to get really close to nature, there are also a number of walk-in camping spots for backpackers, where everything including water must be carried in.  

Viewpoint at Cloudland Canyon, Georgia

If you’d like to try lodging options there are also 16 fully equiped cottages to rent close to the canyon edge with 2 or 3 bedrooms and the Cloudland group lodge for larger groups sleeping up to 40 people in bunk bed dorms. More details of camping and cottage accommodation may be found on the Georgia State Parks Website, where you may make on-line reservations. 

You’ll find picnic areas in the park including a group pavilion, tennis courts, a children’s playground and a disc golf course. There is an interpretive center as well as a gift shop near the main parking area, adjacent to the canyon. The park hosts regular events including guided wildflower walks and adventure activity weekends – check the website for dates and details.  

Photo credits: Waterfall by Jimmy Joe, Moultricreek on Flickr under Creative Commons

Cades Cove at Sunset

Like most gems you’ll find in the Great Smoky Mountains, Cades Cove is located quite a bit off the beaten path in a secluded area of Eastern Tennessee. The scenic Great Smoky Mountains attraction is miles from what many would call “civilization”, yet millions of tourists make the trek to take in the beauty the scenic valley and historic district offers.

Cades Cove is rich in history, dating back thousands of years. The Smoky Mountain valley was a major post of abolitionist activity during the Civil War. Years later, the Smokey Mountain attraction became notorious for its moonshining activity. Although not the most glamourous history, Cades Cove has left that behind to become one of the most beautiful areas of the Smokey Mountains and a landmark in and of itself. Although consisting of a much larger area, the valley is predominantly made up of a one-way, 11-mile loop around the cove. During peak times, it can take several hours to complete the loop.

Although there are many landmarks in the Cades Cove area, the loop still remains the primary attraction. On many winter days you can see snow-capped peaks rising above the valley. As beautiful as the winter is in Cades Cove, your best time to visit is during the middle of fall when the leaves are changing colors. This is also one of the best times of season to see wildlife. Animals you’ll find during a typical visit include black bear, deer, wild turkey and foxes.

If you’re making a day of your visit to Cades Cove, then you can find numerous historic landmarks along the way. The national park service maintains several of the landmarks, including a couple different homes from the mid-1800s, a renovated bard built in the early 1900s and two churches.

Admissions to Cades Cove is free and a campground with over 150 sites are available for tents and RVs, starting at $20 per night.

Photo from Ben_D on Flickr.

A Joshua Tree at sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park, lies between the Mojave and Colorado Deserts in southeast California. In the spring, beautiful wildflowers are everywhere in this dramatic park, and throughout the rest of the year, desert views, hiking trails and historic ranch houses provide visitors a peek into the history of the area. Many folks day-trip from nearby Los Angeles to hike and rock climb in Joshua Tree.

Famous for: The Joshua Trees, which are not actually trees, but giant Yucca plants, grow as high as 40 feet. They thrive in high desert terrain, at elevations above 3000 feet. A funny looking (or ugly, depending on your view!) tree, the plant starts with a single stalk, then branches out when the tree flowers in the spring. The trees are a valuable part of the ecosystem in Joshua Tree National Park, providing shelter and food to many of the desert animals.

Admission: Vehicle permit is $15 for 7 days. An individual entry permit is $5 for 7 days.

Families with young kids will like: When visiting National Parks, we always stop by the ranger station and pick up the Junior Ranger guidebooks. They help lead us through the park in a very child-friendly way, and by completing a number of activities as we explore the park. In Joshua Tree, the Junior Rangers are asked to identify plant species, draw pictures of the desert terrain, and pick up trash!

Families with teenagers will like: Rock climbing is very popular at Joshua Tree National Park. Take your own equipment, or hook up with one of the many climbing outfits in the area.

Easy site seeing: Join up with the Keys Ranch Guided Walking Tour, and hear about the history of the park as you visit this National Historic Register Site.

Best campground in the park: In addition to backcountry camping, the park also offers 9 campsites, including two where advanced reservations are possible. No matter where you camp, enjoy the wide-open celestial views in the evening and count stars to your hearts content.

Best months to visit for weather: Because Joshua Tree National Park is in the high desert, the weather is actually mild most of the year. In the winter, the temperatures can drop quite a bit, but the summers rarely get too hot, unlike nearby Death Valley. The best time to visit (IMHO) is the spring to view the wildflowers and witness the influx of transient and summer nesting birds.

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: September to February

Nearest major cities: Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree are nearby towns, and serve as the main entrances into the park. Palm Springs is a major city to the west, about one hour from Twentynine Palms. And Joshua Tree is about 3 hours from Los Angeles.

Visit the National Park Services site for more information about Joshua Tree National Park.

Related posts:

Wildflower Wanderings: Joshua Tree National Park

Eco Friendly Ace Hotel in Palm Springs

The Living Desert: Palm Desert, California

Photo courtesy of Jarek Tuszynski / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0 & GDFL

It stands like a beacon in the middle of the state of Washington, beckoning hikers and climbers from around the world. But Mount Rainier National Park has so much to offer besides the challenge of the mountain.

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington

The park was the fifth national park ever established, and was designated so in 1899. About 1 million people visit the park every year to see this active volcano – don’t worry, it’s been over 150 years since the last eruption. Of those, about 10,000 attempt to make the climb to the top of the 14,410-ft tall peak, with about a 25 percent success rate.

But even at the lower altitudes, the park offers an array of scenic vistas, from glaciers to fields of wildflowers in the spring. Emmons Glacier, on the north side of Mount Rainier, is the largest glacier in the continental United States and is one of twenty-six that ring the mountain. The forests that surround the mountain are said to be over 1,000 years old and are home to countless species of wildlife, from black bears to birds. And all of these offer countless great photo opportunities.

Nearest major city: Seattle and Tacoma, Washington (both about 55 miles northwest)

Famous for: Hiking; mountain climbing; glaciers

Park Hours: Open year-round. The Longmire Museum visitors center is open year round (with the exception of certain major holidays); the rest are open seasonally.

Admission: $5/person or motorcycle for a 7-day pass; $15/vehicle for a 7-day pass.

Families with young kids will like: Participating in the Junior Ranger program on summer weekends; hiking short trails like Trail of the Shadows

Families with teenagers will like: Flyfishing the Ohanapecosh River; visiting Christine Falls

Other park highlights: As mentioned previously, Mount Rainier is popular with mountain climbers, who feel compelled to take on the massive challenge of reaching the peak. Only those extremely experienced should even attempt the climb.

Easy site seeing: Take the scenic drive to the Sunrise Visitor Center, which on clear days, offers views of Mt. Rainier, Emmons glacier and many other peaks in the Cascade Mountain range from an elevation of 6,400 feet. The drive from Longmire to Paradise is also popular.

Best hotel in the park: There are two hotels within the park. The Paradise Inn is the better of the two due to its location, near to the main visitors center. If that is full, try the National Park Inn, which is older and about 10 minutes from the main visitors center. Both start at about $115/night per room.

Best campground in the park: There are four campgrounds in the park. Of them, only Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh are open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. The other two are only open July and August to handle the peak season overflow. Rates are $15/night

Other Lodging Options: Just outside the park, are a smattering of hotels, but if not staying inside the park, it’s best to seek accommodations back in Tacoma or Seattle and just make a day trip to the park.

Best months to visit for weather: Summer because the area is legendary for its deep snows that have been known to fall as early as late September.

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: Late May/early June or early September just after Labor Day.

Getting There:

• Flying – Most airlines service both Seattle and Tacoma
• Bus/Train – Greyhound and Amtrak service Seattle and Tacoma.

A personal vehicle is the only way to get to the park.

More info can be found at the always helpful NPS.gov site: Mount Rainier National Park

[Photo courtesy NPS]

Related posts:

• A Guide to North Cascades National Park in Washington

Often referred to as the “American Alps,” North Cascades National Park is full of mountainous peaks, rugged terrain and glaciers (over 300 of them). Early trappers and pioneers found the mountains so impassible at times that they gave them names like Damnation Peak, Mount Despair, Mount Fury, and Forbidden Peak. Even today, only one road completely bisects the park from east to west (Hwy 20) and that usually has closures during the winter months due to avalanche concerns.

North Cascades National Park

Summertime in North Cascades National Park is a different story, however. While the peaks are still snowcapped, the lower areas are full of wildflowers, animals and plenty of things to do for outdoor enthusiasts. And because the park boundaries also encompass the Ross Lake and Lake Chelen National Recreational Areas, visitors to the park have opportunities to enjoy numerous water activities, as well.

Nearest major city: Seattle and Tacoma, Washington (both about 90 miles southwest)

Famous for: Hiking; mountain climbing; glaciers; boating

Park Hours: Open year-round. The main visitors center headquarters is open year round, but the rest are only open seasonally during the warmer months.

Admission: There is no fee to visit the park.

Families with young kids will like: Participating in the Junior Ranger program; fishing the Skagit River

Families with teenagers will like: Kayaking/canoeing the lakes; hiking the numerous wilderness trails

Other park highlights: The North Cascades Institute offers a family getaway package during summer weekends ($225/adults; $155 ages 3-17) that includes 2 nights lodging, 7 meals per person and days filled with classes and programs that include hiking, arts/crafts and exploration. Think of it as summer camp for the entire family.

Easy site seeing: Take the Lady of the Lake tour ($39 – $59 roundtrip) up Lake Chelen, cruising past snowcapped mountain peaks, to the hidden town of Stehekin. There are plenty of things to do there, but be sure to leave time to take a bus tour ($7/person) to Rainbow Falls, where the air is so cold the water is already crystalized by the time it cascades to the pool below.

Best hotel in the park: Within the park, there are two options for hotels. Ross Lake Lodge, on Ross Lake (of course), and the resorts and other lodging in the town of Stehekin, which is only accessible by boat or seaplane.

Best campground in the park: There are several campgrounds within the park. Try the Newhalem Creek campground ($12/night), which has sites to accommodate even large RVs. The area has plenty of hiking trails, as well as fishing opportunities due to its closeness to the Skagit River.

Other Lodging Options: Just outside the park are a smattering of hotels, but if not staying inside the park, it’s best to seek accommodations back in Tacoma or Seattle and just make a day trip to the park.

Best months to visit for weather: Late-April/May for mild weather and wildflowers in bloom; September/early-October for cooler weather and fall foliage colors

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: Late May/early June or early September just after Labor Day.

Getting There:

• Flying – Most airlines service both Seattle and Tacoma
• Bus/Train – Greyhound and Amtrak service Seattle and Tacoma.

A personal vehicle is the only way to get to the park.

More info can be found at the always helpful NPS.gov site: North Cascades National Park

[Photo courtesy NPS]

Related posts:

• A Guide to Mount Rainier National Park in Washington

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, part of the Appalachian Mountains, straddles the state line between North Carolina and Tennessee.  It got its name from the low fog layers that made the park vistas appear smoky to early settlers, and is the most visited park in the U.S., with over 10 million people per year.

Entrance Sign to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The famed Appalachian Trail bisects the park from southwest to northeast, but there are also 900 miles of backcountry trail access to make any level of hiker happy. Largely undeveloped, the forests that line the mountains in the park are still the same as when America was first discovered, making for a thriving and diverse eco-system. When one thinks of “getting back to nature,” Great Smoky Mountains National Park is usually what they have in mind.

Nearest major city: Gatlinburg, Tennessee (6 miles northwest); Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (15 miles northwest); Asheville, North Carolina (60 miles east)

Famous for: Hiking; horseback riding; wildlife spotting; camping; backpacking

Park Hours: Open year-round.

Admission: There is no fee to visit the park.

Families with young kids will like: Participating in the Junior Ranger program and earning a badge; the 2-hour hayride tour that departs from the Cades Cove Riding Stables

Families with teenagers will like: The Cades Cove Trail for its great views and wide variety of wildlife. Guided horseback tours also are available in the Cades Cove area of the park.

Other park highlights: Hiking the Appalachian Trail segment within the park is popular with visitors.

For something different, old-fashioned carriage and wagon rides ($8/person) are a unique way to see the park and are available at the Cades Cove Riding Stables.

Easy site seeing: The park has numerous self-drive tour loops. The two most popular are the road from Sugarlands Visitor Center west to Cades Cove Visitor Center, and the main highway that bisects the park from its western entrance in Tennessee to its eastern in North Carolina.

Best hotel in the park: LeConte Lodge on Mount LeConte is the only non-campground lodging located in the park itself.

Best campground in the park: The park has 10 campgrounds. Cades Cove tends to be the most popular due to the large amount of wildlife that tends to live in the area. RV sites are available in most campgrounds, but there are no water/electrical hook-ups or shower facilities at any of them. Rates for all campgrounds range from $14 to $20/night per site.

Other Lodging Options: For non-park hotel options, try Gatlinburg, TN. Near the eastern entrance area to the park, Maggie Valley, NC, has some charming bed & breakfasts to choose from. There are also campgrounds lining the edges of the park in both states.

Best months to visit for weather: Late-April/May and September/early-October for cooler weather.

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: May before Memorial Day and September after Labor Day. Mid-summer is the most crowded.

Getting There:

• Flying – Knoxville, TN (30 miles west) and Asheville, NC are serviced by most U.S. airlines
• Bus – Greyhound services Knoxville and Asheville

More info can be found at the always helpful NPS.gov site: http://www.nps.gov/grsm/

[Photo courtesy NPS]

Related posts:

• Townsend, Tennessee – Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Zion National Park is located in the southwest corner of Utah, and is probably the best known of the national parks that dot this area of the state. Unlike the others, where visitors view the canyons from the top, Zion draws visitors to its floor. As a result, hiking Zion Canyon, with its steep carved walls and unexpected waterfalls, is the reason most people visit.

The Mormons who settled in this area gave the canyon its Biblical name, as well as several of massive sandstone cliffs that line the canyon, like Altar of Sacrifice, the Court of the Patriarchs, the Great White Throne and Angels Landing.

Zion National Park in Utah

Since the park receives over 2 million visitors annually, consider using the free Zion Canyon shuttle loop to get around. It stops at eight locations within the park, including the visitors center. A free connector shuttle leads to the nearby town of Springdale. During peak visitor periods, it’s best to park in Springdale and just ride the shuttle system to get around.

Nearest major city: St. George, Utah (35 miles to the southwest) or Las Vegas, Nevada (about 150 miles southwest)

Famous for: Hiking; birdwatching; photography

Park Hours: Open year-round. The visitors center is also open year round (with the exception of certain major holidays).

Admission: $12/person or motorcycle for a 7-day pass; $25/vehicle for a 7-day pass. Additionally, any RV or large vehicle that uses the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel on Hwy 9 at the eastern edge of the park will need to arrange for an escort as the tunnel is very narrow. This incurs an additional $15 fee.

Families with young kids will like: Participating in the Junior Ranger program. The Ride with Rangers free shuttle tours that depart twice daily from the visitors center are also popular with families.

Families with teenagers will like: Canyon trail rides via horseback (even novice riders are welcome); some of the moderate hikes, like the 1-mile long Lower Emerald Pools Trail

Other park highlights: In addition to all of those scenic vistas, Zion is home to over 200 species of birds, making this a birdwatcher’s paradise.

Bring a bike to tour the park – the Pa-rus Trail offers a paved riding area and all in-park shuttles are equipped with bike racks. It’s also worth noting several trails are also disabled accessible, including Pa’rus Trail and Riverside Walk.

Easy site seeing: Hop on board a shuttle and ride around the various loops, or take one of the Ride with Rangers tours mentioned above.

Best hotel in the park: There is one hotel within the park, the Zion Lodge. Rates start around $100/night.

Best campground in the park: There are three campgrounds in the park. Watchman Campground is the most popular and reservations are recommended as it fills up fast, especially in the summer. Tent only sites are $16/night; electric hook-up sites are $18/night; riverside locations with electric are $20/night. No sites have full hook-up.

Other Lodging Options: Just outside the park, the town of Springdale has several lodging options, including hotels, bed & breakfasts and a campground.

Best months to visit for weather: Fall days are usually clear and mild in temperature for the desert climate.

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: Spring between Easter and Memorial Day and early-September just after Labor Day. Summer months, especially July and August are the busiest and it may be difficult to even find parking.

Getting There:

• Flying – Delta services St. George, but cheaper flights are available via Las Vegas, NV.
• Bus – Greyhound services St. George.

A personal vehicle is the only way to get to the park.

More info can be found at the always helpful NPS.gov site: Zion National Park

Follow on Twitter: @zionnps

[Photo courtesy NPS]

Related posts:

• A Guide to Capitol Reef National Park in Utah
• At Bryce Canyon in Utah, Come for the Park, Not for the Lodging
• Canyonlands, One National Park, Four Choices
• Trip Planner for Arches National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is located in the southwest corner of the state of Utah, near the more well-known Bryce National Park. Dedicated in 1971, the park is home to the immense geological formation known as the Waterpocket Fold. This 100-mile long ridge of limestone once sat at the bottom of an inland ocean that existed millions of years ago and was thought to have been formed when the earth’s crust buckled upwards during seismic activity.

Capitol Reef National Park in Utah

Centuries later, the Mormons settled this area and the park still has preserved remnants of some of these pioneer communities. The park’s main scenic drive also follows alongside an old wagon trail called the Blue Dugway. According to legend, the Devil himself used to walk the trail until a pioneer farmer drove him off with the Book of Mormon.

Nearest major city: St. George, Utah (150 miles to the southwest) or Salt Lake City (about 250 miles north)

Famous for: Hiking; geology; rock climbing; Mormon historical sites

Park Hours: Open year-round. The visitors center is also open year round (with the exception of certain major holidays).

Admission: $3/person or $5/vehicle for a 7-day pass. Permits required for backcountry hiking and can be obtained at the visitors center for free.

Families with young kids will like: Participating in the Junior Ranger program and earning a badge or the ranger-led Junior Geologist program offered during summer months. The visitors center also has a Family Fun Pack which teaches kids how to navigate the areas of the park as the pioneers did in the pre-GPS days of exploration.

Families with teenagers will like: Hiking the trails; visiting Glass Mountain, a huge mound of selenite crystals that glitter in the sun like glass. The Ripple Rock Nature Center is also worth a visit as it has interactive lessons on settler activities like spinning wool and making cornmeal on a grindstone.

Other park highlights: Those wanting an close-up look at the Waterpocket Fold will want to take a drive along Notom-Bullfrog Road, a dirt road that runs along the eastern side of the geological wonder.

The Cathedral Valley loop tour is a 60-mile drive over various terrain that offers views of amazing rock formations and free-standing monoliths.

A high-clearance 4×4 vehicle is recommended for both of these driving tours.

Easy site seeing: The Fruita Scenic Drive is a century-old road that leads to the remnants of Fruita, a Mormon frontier settlement. Along the way visit preserved homesteads, a one-room school, a blacksmith shop and more

Best hotel in the park: There are no hotels within the park.

Best campground in the park: Fruita Campground tent/RV sites are $10/night and are first come, first served. There are no water, sewage or electrical hook-ups, but there is a dump station. No shower facilities are available.

Other Lodging Options: Just outside the park, the town of Torrey has several lodging options. Try the Choice Inn or the Skyridge Inn.

Best months to visit for weather: May and September when temperatures are in the upper-60s/low 70s.

Best months to visit to avoid crowds: There’s never really a crowd issue here. However, July and August tend to be the hottest and most uncomfortable for hiking.

Getting There:

• Flying – Delta services St. George, but cheaper flights are available via Salt Lake City.
• Bus – Greyhound services St. George.

A personal vehicle is the only way to get to the park. Be sure to get a 4×4 high-clearance rental to make maximum use of all the scenic drives.

More info can be found at the always helpful NPS.gov site: Capitol Reef National Park

[Photo courtesy NPS]

Related posts:

• A Guide to Zion National Park in Utah
• At Bryce Canyon in Utah, Come for the Park, Not for the Lodging
• Canyonlands, One National Park, Four Choices
• Trip Planner for Arches National Park

Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado is an archeological treasure trove, with more than 4,000 ancient sites that offer insight into the people who made their home here years ago. It’s also filled with amazing views of sandstone landscapes and majestic mesas.

Famous for: Fascinating cliff dwellings, abandoned by the Ancestral Puebloans (once known as the Anasazi Indians) who lived in the area for more than 700 years until 1300 A.D.

Admission: $15 for seven-day vehicle pass, which covers everyone in the car, from Memorial Day to Labor Day; $10 in the “off season.”

Excellent ranger-led tours at Mesa Verde National Park.

Families with young kids will like: The hour-long guided tour of the Cliff Palace, which requires climbing 5 eight- to ten-foot ladders. Even my two-year-old could get up the ladder himself (with Daddy close behind); don’t let the “climbs” frighten you from bringing young children.

Families with teenagers will like: The hour-long guided tour of Balcony House, which involves climbing a 32-foot ladder and crawling through a 12-foot tunnel.

All travelers will appreciate: The knowledgeable park rangers who lead excellent tours of the cliff dwellings.

Easy sightseeing: Drive the six-mile Mesa Top Loop Road with pull-outs to short, paved trails that lead to archeological sites and cliff dwelling overlooks.

Camping information: Morefield Campground has a whopping 435 tent, RV and trailer sites, so it’s likely there will be a spot for you when you visit. Reservations are accepted (required for group and full hook-up RV sites) via ARAMARK, which operates the campground. It’s open early May through October.

More nearby lodging: The Far View Lodge, also operated by ARAMARK, is the only other lodging option inside the park. Don’t expect the Ritz; these are very basic rooms in Southwest decor.

Best time to visit for ideal weather: June is a lovely time to visit Mesa Verde National Park — it’s typically well after spring snowfall, but before hot mid-summer temperatures hit.

Best time to visit to avoid crowds: Mesa Verde is open all year round, and the winter season is usually quiet. However, note that some roads are closed and some cliff dwellings are not open in the off season. Check this guide for operating hours and seasons for details.

Nearest major cities: Durango, Colorado, is 1.5 hours away and Cortez is about an hour away by car.

More info can be found at the always helpful Mesa Verde National Park Service site.

Read about other U.S. National Parks in Colorado:

• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Great Sand Dunes National Park

Photo by Kara Williams.