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Early Birds Get the Rooms in Our National Parks

February 16, 2004 -- Although America's national parks didn't yet exceed pre 9/11 numbers last year, there were still plenty of times when would-be visitors couldn't find accommodations or other facilities available to them. Moral of story: it's simply never too early to begin planning for that spring or summer trip this year. With that in mind, you can expect us here at Frommers.com to keep you abreast of the best deals as they become available.

In the Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona, not appreciated enough for its marvelous sights, summer season room rates at the Thunderbird Lodge will be the same as for 2003. Winter rates are in effect until March 3 -- just $65 for a double, $71 for a triple and $77 for a quad. Suites also available from $90.50. Rates do not include taxes. But for the high season, from April 1 through November 15, 2004, their Adobe room with two queen beds is $102 per night for single occupancy and $4 for each additional guest. The DeChelly room with two double beds goes for $97 single, $4 each extra person. Suites go for $145 double occupancy. The Lodge has 74 rooms, with full bath, air-conditioning, Navajo paintings and cable TV.

The Canyon de Chelly monument consists of ruins of Native American Anasazi villages built in steep-walled canyons between 350 and 1300, plus pictographs and petroglyphs. Unless you're hiking, you must travel in the canyons with a park ranger or other authorized Navajo guide. You can take a tour, hike, ride horses or go in your own four-wheel drive vehicle, accompanied by a guide. Half-day tours are $39.95 for adults, $30.50 for children. Full-day tours cost $65.40 and include lunch. Contact Thunderbird Lodge at www.tbirdlodge.com or phone 800/679-2473. Our coverage of Canyon de Chelly begins at http://www.frommers.com/destinations/canyondechelly.

America's (and the world's) first national park, Yellowstone, has recently announced plans for spring and summer family programs, and they sound fascinating. Their "Spring Wolf & Bear Discovery" project is a four-day/three-night learning experience designed to study these animals and others at the time of year when they're most active.

You get three days in the company of a Yellowstone Association Institute wildlife biologist, along with breakfast and box lunch each day, in-park van transport, three nights of lodging with a private bath in the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and optional evening programs. The deal is offered Sundays to Wednesdays and Thursdays to Sundays from May 16 to June 9. The cost is $405 per person for double occupancy, $547.50 for single, plus tax. You must be at least 12 years old. The maximum group is expected to be 12 persons. You'll use spotting scopes to look for bears, among other activities.

A "Yellowstone for Families" program, co-sponsored by the Yellowstone Association Institute and Xanterra Parks & Resorts company, will have four sessions weekly in 2004, from June 7 through August 27. The program runs Mondays to Fridays and Fridays to Tuesdays, with two programs based at the Mammoth Hot Spring Hotel and two based at Grant Village each week. It's a four-day/four-night educational program led by a naturalist/guide from the Institute.

Guided by the naturalists, families can enjoy such activities as animal tracking, wildlife watching, photography, educational videos, painting and hiking. Parents will help their kids complete the requirements of the National Park Service's Junior Ranger Program, culminated on the last day by a ceremonial presentation of Junior Ranger patches by a park ranger. Themes to be covered will be geysers and hot springs, wildlife, canyons and waterfalls, and the National Park Idea. The maximum group size is 13. Designed for families with children aged 8 to 12, the program can accept children of other ages, too. The rate is $732 for a single adult or $1084 for a couple, plus $328 per child. Taxes not included.

Reservations for all programs mentioned above can be secured by phoning 307/344-5566. For more details, go to www.yellowstoneassociation.org or phone 307/344-2293. You can also read up on everything to see and do in our free online coverage starting at www.frommers.com/destinations/yellowstonenationalpark.


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