Ski, snowshoe, skate, snowboard, ride a snowmobile, take a dip in a hot tub, gaze at the stars above or just cuddle up by an open fireplace at one of these inviting snow-capped National Parks this winter season.
Wuksachi Lodge (tel. 866/336-5918; www.visitsequoia.com) in Sequoia National Park has the following special winter packages for stays from now until March 20, 2008. The Winter Family Fun package is priced from $119 and includes overnight accommodations at Wuksachi Lodge, snowshoe rentals and access to the sledding hill with a souvenir sled for each child. The Winter Ski Explorers package is priced from $111 per package and includes overnight accommodations and cross-country ski equipment rentals for two. The Bed and Breakfast package starts from $99 per couple and makes a perfect quick winter getaway with a night's accommodations at Wuksachi Lodge and breakfast for two in the morning.
Come "stay 'n play" at Yosemite National Park (tel. 559/253-5635; www.yosemitepark.com) by purchasing a Winter All-Access Pass for only $29 (children $19) when you book your Yosemite winter vacation. The components of the pass purchased separately would cost up to $123 ($91 for children). Explore all the fun things to do in Yosemite while staying in the most convenient locations inside the park. The Winter All-Access Pass includes one all-day lift ticket, all-day rentals (choose from skis, snowboard or cross-country skis), one group lesson, one tubing session, an ice skating session including skate rentals and a Valley Floor tour. This pass is valid for the length of your stay. Stay four or more nights and get up to four Winter All-Access Passes for free. This offer may be used with any lodging offer or package. Winter All-Access Passes are valid for stays Monday through Friday and additional Winter All-Access Passes may be purchased for $29 per adult and $19 per child. Valid through March 30, 2008 except holidays (Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Day).
Enjoy this Valentine's Day with a special couple's package at Zion Lodge (tel. 888/297-2757; www.zionlodge.com) at Utah's Zion National Park, available for stays on February 14, 2008. It includes overnight accommodations, chocolates, deluxe dinner and breakfast buffet for two. Rates are $136 for a standard room, $146 for a romantic cabin complete with gas log fireplace and $166 for a suite for two people. Taxes and gratuities are not included. Reservations must be made by telephone, using the promotion code VAL. Or how about a Zion winter photography package to experience the best locations to capture that special quality of light for which Zion has become famous? Learn tips on composition, equipment from your personal Zion Canyon Field Institute instructor. For optimum education purposes, this class is limited to four people and is available until March 13, 2008, excluding holidays. The photography package includes a standard room at Zion Lodge for two nights, breakfast buffet each morning, and a sack lunch to take with you on your full day of Zion photography. Bring your own equipment, tripod, batteries and your camera manual. Minimum age is 16. This package is priced from $457 for two people, plus taxes and gratuities and must be reserved at least three weeks in advance.
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge (tel. 866/439-7375, www.travelyellowstone.com), located within Yellowstone National Park, are offering a selection of Winter Getaway Value packages that can only be booked by phone. Package rates for Mammoth are valid until March 2, 2008 and rates for Snow Lodge are valid until March 9, 2008. The Frosty Fun package at Mammoth includes two nights' lodging, two breakfasts per person, a welcome gift per person, unlimited ice skating, one hour hot tub use per room, unlimited ice skate rental and ice skating and a Snow Card which is good for additional 10% discounts on certain gift shop items, additional meals and any equipment rental. The package starts at $109 per person double occupancy or $184 single occupancy. The same package at Old Faithful Snow Lodge with snow coach transportation is priced from $269 per person double occupancy or $410 single occupancy.
The Trail of the Wolf package provides a combination of guided snowmobile touring and wildlife watching with van transportation in the park's premier Northern Range. With Mammoth Hotel as a base, rates start at $359 plus tax per person double occupancy and include two nights accommodation at Mammoth Hotel, one night Old Faithful Snow Lodge, round-trip guided snowmobile tour to Old Faithful (snowmobile clothing included), a Wake Up to Wildlife tour with continental breakfast, two breakfasts (in the dining room), Snow Card discount card, a welcome gift, unlimited ice skating (skate rental included) and a one-hour hot tub rental. Staying at Old Faithful Snow Lodge as a base, rates start at $489 plus tax per person double occupancy and include all of the above plus round-trip snow coach transportation from gateway entrance to Old Faithful.
The Nordic Heaven package at Mammoth includes at two nights' lodging, breakfast daily, unlimited ice skating, a welcome gift, one hour hot tub use per room, unlimited ice skate rental and ice skating, one ski rental per person per day, unlimited ski drops per person and a Snow Card from $159 per person double occupancy or $234. At Old Faithful Snow Lodge, the package starts at $319 per person double occupancy or $460 single occupancy. The Guided Snowmo-Deal features two nights' lodging, breakfast each day, a welcome gift per person, unlimited ice skating, a Snow Card, any equipment rental, one hour hot tub use per room and a one day guided snowmobile tour to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or Old Faithful. This package is priced from $205.00 per person double occupancy at Mammoth or $365 at Old Faithful, $376 or $602 respectively for single occupancy. Keep in mind that although you can reach Mammoth Hotel by car, Old Faithful Snow Lodge is only accessible by in-park snow coach or snowmobile during the winter months.
Teton National Park is an ideal winter National Park getaway location for those interested in taking advantage of Wyoming's excellent skiing and winter recreational facilities. Cowboy Village Resort (tel. 800/483-8667; www.townsquareinns.com/cowboy-village) is a quaint log cabin style property set among Jackson Hole's restaurants, shopping, art galleries, and nightspots. One of four family owned hotels and located six blocks from the Town Square, Cowboy Village offers cozy cabins and easy accessibility to the area's activities including Grand Teton National Park (10 miles away), the National Elk Refuge (two miles) and Jackson Hole Ski Resort, only 15 minutes from the door. Jackson Hole Airport is only 10 minutes away and Yellowstone National Park is an hour's drive (55 miles) along the Teton Range. Room with kitchenettes start from $81 per night for two people and go up to $152 per night for up to four guests in a two bedroom deluxe cabin. These rates include continental breakfast during the winter months.
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