November 19, 2003 -- Many travelers think of national park visits as essentially summer outings, with sightings of bears, geysers and babbling brooks to dip your toes in. Savvy travelers also know that winter in the parks means cross country skiing, snowshoeing and having the place practically all to yourself. Bearing that in mind, the operators of Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, the Wuksachi Lodge at Sequoia and three lodges at the Grand Canyon have winter rates on packages to lure you within their majestic confines.
Yosemite's Tenaya Lodge
- The "Weekend Snowshoe" package, available January 2 through March 27, Friday and Saturday nights only: $149 per night, including lodging for two, snowshoe rentals for two, and a bonfire with s'mores and hot beverages on the back lawn area.
- "Ski Yosemite" is the package name for a deal costing $159 per night, with one night at the lodge with two all-day lift tickets to the Badger Pass Ski Area. Stay any night, Sunday through Thursday and ski any day Monday through Friday, from January 11 to March 25, 2004. If you reserve the Ski Yosemite package, you can add full breakfast for two in the lodge's Sierra Restaurant for a total cost of $184 per night.
- The "Family Fun Pass" at Tenaya costs just $170 per night, including one night's lodging (double occupancy), plus two Family Fun Passes redeemable for as many of the following activities as you can pack into 24 hours: Lift Tickets to Badger Pass (Monday-Friday only); Snow Tubing at Badger Pass; Ice Skating Rentals/Session at Curry Village; Snowshoe Rentals at Tenaya Lodge; Snow Disc Rental ditto; Evening Interpretive Programs ditto.
To contact Tenaya Lodge, go to www.tenayalodge.com or phone them at 877/322-5492.
Sequoia's Wuksachi Lodge
You can save up to 61% of room rates here, seven days a week, from now through March, 2004. Their standard and deluxe room rates, usually $155 to $177 in peak season, drop to just $69 per night (for two persons), plus tax. This is available seven days a week, excluding holiday periods and pending space availability.
Amenities at or near the Wuksachi Lodge include cross-country ski in/ski out trail access from the lodge, as well as many forest trails ideal for snowshoe walks. Ski rental and snowshoe equipment is available at the lodge. For less active ways to spend time, you could visit the nearby Giant Forest Museum, open daily, and free of charge for self-guided interpretive displays and exhibits about the life of the towering sequoia trees. The lodge, opened in 1999, has a full-service restaurant and lounge, a retail shop, and fabulous views.You can make reservations at 888/252-5757. General information is available at the same number or by going to www.visitsequoia.comThe Grand Canyon
Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates three lodges in Grand Canyon National Park, and has special winter packages at all three, available from November 30 through December 18, 2003 and again from January 4 through March 11, 2004. Here they are.
- There's a "Winter Value Rate" costing just $68 per night per room (plus tax), at the Maswik or Yavapai lodges, good for single or double occupancy. The cost for each additional person in the room is only $9.25. Children 16 and under stay at no extra charge.
- "A Grand Value Package," available at both Maswik and Yavapai lodges, costs $99 for two nights, plus tax, single or double occupancy. Additional persons in the room cost $9.25 each, excepting children 16 and under, who stay free. In addition, you receive a discount at all gift shops operated by Xanterra in the park, ranging from ten percent on purchases of $50 to $99.99 and 20% on purchases of $100 or more.
- "A Romance Package" at the El Tovar Hotel here, itself a national historic landmark, costs $249 plus tax. The package gives you one night in a standard queen-bed room, a bottle of California sparking wine and fruit basket in the room, and dinner for two with a bottle of El Tovar wine in the hotel's dining room. You can upgrade to a deluxe room or suite, based upon availability, for an additional charge.
To book online, visit www.grandcanyonlodges.com or else phone 888/297-2757 or 303/297-2757.
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