As bears jockey for hibernation spots and National Parks gear up for fall and winter campers, many deals become available for the early booker. So hitch your tent up to your SUV, put your hiking boots and wool socks on, and get ready to nuzzle up next to the fireplace in the cozy resort lodge of your choice. The fall outdoor camping season is upon us and the country's national and state parks are ready and waiting.
Reserve America (tel. 800/456-2267; www.reserveamerica.com) just announced a special promotion where you'll save $3 per night on a campsite for select New York State campgrounds from October 11 to November 17, 2005. Browsing through the list of individual parks at www.reserveamerica.com/jsp/search/name_search.jsp?index=0, you'll see a paragraph offering the deal at the state park's specific web page. The reduced deal does not affect cabin prices but you can extend current reservations to ensure the savings. For campers, the $3 off can mean up to a savings of 25 percent, as most reservations for campsites don't exceed $12 to $15 dollars per evening.
While national parks can be a far drive for outdoor-loving travelers, state parks with vast grounds, lakes, rivers, and scenic hiking trails can be just around the corner, sometimes not more than an hour from large cities. And don't think state parks are just wildlife preserves with barbecue grills and people pitching tents. Often they're the most scenic parts of the state filled with ski hills, fishing areas, lakes and inexpensive yet challenging golf courses.
Xanterra (tel. 303/600-3400; www.beautiful-places-on-earth.com/xanterra/default.asp), a hospitality company that manages resorts for national and state parks, offers savings to several parks. If you live in or around the Ohio Valley area, Xanterra has discounts to Ohio State Parks available at www.atapark.com or by calling 800/282-2267. The deals are for the seven state park resorts managed by Xanterra, all of which are located within an easy drive from most of the major cities in the region including Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Toledo. All offer a "Two-Night Buckeye Package" that includes two nights of lodging in a standard double room, two breakfasts for two, one dinner for two, a $25 dollar gift certificate for the gift shop, and all service and hotel taxes. Rates for this package range from $245 to $309 for a Sunday through Thursday stay from November 1, 2005 till April 30, 2006. A bed and breakfast package is also available. Available at selected Ohio Xanterra resorts, the B&B package includes one night of lodging and breakfast for two plus all taxes. Rates start at $88 for stays Sundays through Thursday until April 30, 2006.
Skiers will enjoy the Mohican Resort and Conference Center (tel. 419/938-5411; www.mohicanresort.com). Located in Central Ohio, the resort has a ski package available December 11, 2005 till February 28, 2006 that includes one-night accommodations, breakfast for two, and a pair of lift tickets at a nearby ski lift starting at $159 per night. See booking details at the www.atapark.com website.
At the national park level, Xanterra manages the Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch Resort (tel. 760/786-2345; www.furnacecreekresort.com) in Death Valley National Park. Only 120 miles northwest of Las Vegas and 275 miles northeast of Los Angeles, the resort is located in a desert oasis. Including two hotels -- one geared towards families; the other for couples -- the resort is complete with a gorgeous swimming pool, a golf course set amidst the mountains near the dunes of Zabriskie Point, and horseback riding trails that take you down into the infamous Death Valley desert plains. Rates at the more-family oriented Furnace Creek Ranch start at $108 per night through November 23, 2005 for weekend and mid-week stays.
For lovers of Yellowstone National Park who followed the collapse of the Beartooth Pass Highway last May due to mudslides (see www.frommers.com/articles/2880.html), you'll be pleased to know that the scenic roadway has reopened. In honor of the October 7, 2005 reopening of the Beartooth Pass, the Pollard Hotel (tel. 800/765-5273; www.thepollard.net) in Red Lodge, Montana is offering a special package. Available Wednesday through Sunday, the $175 package includes a double occupancy accommodations in a Queen Room, candlelight dinner for two in the hotel's dining room, breakfast for two, champagne and strawberries upon arrival, and free in-room movies and wireless Internet access. The hotel has much to celebrate after the closing of the Beartooth Pass hampered travelers' access to the area threatening the survival of local businesses. Built in 1893, the 39-room Pollard Hotel is located almost 6,000 feet above sea level. Buffalo Bill and Calamaty Jane laid their heads to rest there. Some of the rooms have mountain views, and the hotel invokes a feeling of Old West living with a large common area and proximity to Wild West historical sites such as the Little Bighorn Battlefield. The hotel's "Five Perfect Days" serves as a to-do list for first-time area visitors looking to fill their time in Montana with unforgettable local experiences. Yellowstone National Park is a 70-mile drive across the stupendously beautiful Beartooth Pass.
