The specific promotions described in this article have now passed, but it remains online so that the resources named will be of future use to travelers.
Winter marks the "quiet season" at national parks, and that generally means seasonal activities like skating and skiing, lower rates, fewer people, more solitude, and lots of excuses to drink hot chocolate. While some parks stay open, it's a good idea to check ahead of time, as snowstorms sometimes knock roads out of service and close certain access points. Some places are offering incentives and packages for those looking for outdoorsy getaways. For an overview of all national parks by state, check out National Parks Service online (www.nps.gov), with links to all national parks, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (tel. 865/436-1200; www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm), reportedly the most visited national park in 2004.
At Death Valley National Park in California (tel. 760/786-3200; www.nps.gov/deva), winter is hugely popular. Weather is temperate and comfortable -- after all, this desert park boasts sweltering temperatures that climb well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summertime. The nearby Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort (www.furnacecreekinn.com) offers some golf packages that include 18 holes, an electric cart, club storage and one-night stay, based on double occupancy. The package price begins at $102 at the Furnace Creek Ranch, which is more family-oriented, whereas packages at the Furnace Creek Inn start at $166 per person. The ranch is open year round; the Inn is only open from mid-October to mid-May. Other special discounts are available for seniors (over age 60) for specific rooms. Death Valley National Park is the driest place in North America, receiving fewer than two inches of year of rainfall on average, and sits at 282 feet below sea level, all of which creates some interesting topography such as sand dunes. Hiking, camping, bird watching, horseback riding, swimming, and other activities are possible. The rates are good until February 16, 2006; from February 17-May 13, rates go up to $119-$124 for the ranch and $124-$197 for the Inn.
The Grand Canyon (tel. 928/638-7888; www.nps.gov/grca) in Arizona is reportedly the second most popular national park in the country, with room rates in summer that reflect the mythical draw. In winter, some lodging rates at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon drop by as much as 31 percent from their summertime highs. Maswik and Yavapai Lodges are offering "Winter Value rate" and these two lodges, located "off-rim," range from $72 to $83 plus tax for single or double occupancy, available from November 27 through March 9, 2006. (At the Maswik, rooms vary from rustic cabins to motel-like units; Yavapai is similarly utilitarian). There's a charge of $9 for each additional person in your room, and children 16 and under stay for free. Or opt to stay at the national historic landmark at the 100-year-old El Tovar Hotel, located just twenty feet from the edge of the park's south rim. The "El Tovar Romance Package" includes one night in a queen room, a bottle of California wine and fruit basket, and dinner for two with a bottle of El Tovar wine in the hotel's dining room. The package starts from $264 plus tax; mention the code "ROMA" when making reservations. Blackout dates include December 23, 2005-January 2, 2006. All accommodations can be booked by visiting Grand Canyon Lodges (tel. 888/297-2757; www.grandcanyonlodges.com). Winter can include snow, icy roads and trails and possible road closures, but the park at the South Rim is open every day of the year nevertheless. Popular wintertime activities include mule trips, and hikers often report that winter excursions are more pleasant than summer ones -- the floor of the canyon is a good 20 degrees warmer than the rim.
Like their other western park counterparts, the 229 miles of Zion National Park (tel. 435/772-3256; www.nps.gov/zion/) in Springdale, Utah boast dramatic canyons and rocky cliffs. The Zion Lodge (tel. 888-297-2757; 303/297-2757; www.zionlodge.com) has a few specials. The "Zion in Winter" special rate, which starts December 1 and runs through March 9, 2006, is good for $79 for a standard room, $89 for a western cabin, good on Sunday through Thursday nights. Friday and Saturday nights rate $89 for standard and $99 for a western cabin. All rates include breakfast and do not include taxes or gratuities and are not available December 31 or February 14. (The weekend rate, however, applies during December 22-30 and February 17-19, 2006.) Ask for the "WNTR" rate. The park's two visitor centers -- at Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyons -- are open all year round.
At Yellowstone National Park (tel. 307/344-7381; www.nps.gov/yell), which spans parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, the climactic eruption of Mt. St. Helens thousands of years ago formed geothermal events that created the geyser Old Faithful, evidence of a still-active volcanic environment. During winter, cross-country skiing is possible, and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge opens December 21; Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel opens two days later. Rates at Mammoth, a popular departure spot for park activities, start at $75 for a room with a shared bathroom. Rooms with a private bathroom start at $99. Rates at the national historic site Snow Lodge are $161 for a lodge room, $121 for Western cabin or $83 for frontier cabin; all have private bathrooms. The special runs until the lodges close on March 5 (Mammoth) and March 12 (Old Faithful.) There are packages, however, available. The "Nordic Heaven at Mammoth" includes a minimum of two nights of accommodations, two breakfasts per person, a welcome gift, full-day ski rental and one ski drop per person, a one-hour hot tub rental, and unlimited ice skating and skates. Rates for this package start at $119 per person based on double occupancy. All the aforementioned deals can be booked through Travel Yellowstone (tel. 307-344-7311; www.travelyellowstone.com).