|
Ken Burns called the U.S. National Parks system "America's Best Idea." Having visited quite a few of them, I can understand the sentiment. I've managed to visit 16 of 63 so far, so there's still a lot of ground to cover.
These public spaces preserve some of the most majestic landscapes on the continent and offer memorable experiences to travelers of all ages. Photographs of these iconic vistas do not do them justice. I can still remember catching my breath the first time I saw the Grand Canyon and Yosemite Valley in person.
To best enjoy these treasures, I strongly recommend staying inside the parks for the best locations and most authentic atmosphere. There is simply nothing like sleeping in these historic and perfectly located accommodations. It's also great to have an experienced park visitor (like me) plan your itinerary, to minimize driving and maximize scenery.
Not surprisingly, demand is always high for these properties–well, let's just say crazy–and they need to be booked 12 to 18 months in advance. Considering that it's almost Memorial Day already, it is critical to make arrangements for next summer as soon as possible.
I will be jumping on 2022 Yellowstone and Grand Teton reservations the minute they open, to be sure my clients have the optimal experience when they travel there next summer.
I may still be able to secure Yosemite accommodations in a secret location for 2021 but availability is extremely limited.
One of my favorite times to visit any national park is during the Perseid meteor shower in mid-August. Yosemite actually hosts astronomy clubs from the surrounding regions most summer weekends at Glacier Point. Please enjoy this short video about Yosemite's Star Parties!
|
