One of the most luxurious vacations you could take in the US was riding the rails to a national park grand lodge. Your options have expanded considerably, from historic log-and-stone icons to new safaris-inspired tented camps.
The very best have one thing in common. They have access to some of the greatest shows on earth, including spouting geysers, teeming wildlife and smoking calderas. There are twelve of our favorite cases here.
There are 10 national parks in the United States.
The Old Faithful Inn is located at the center of America's first national park. Since then, the lodge has become renowned for not only its geyser views, but also its debut of a distinctly American architectural style called "Parkitecture." Robert Reamer's design of the Old Faithful Inn was grand. One of the world's largest log structures, it goes big on everything from lobby height (nearly 80 feet) to fireplace materials (500 tons of rhyolite).
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The rooms range from cozy quarters to spacious suites. No one seems to mind that the room category doesn't include TV or AC. It's a good idea to book early for the May- October season at Old Faithful Inn.
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The Grand Teton National Park is just 30 miles from Yellowstone, and it is one of the best national parks in the country. Jenny Lake is the most famous example of the latter, as it is located at the foot of the Tetons.
Jenny Lake Lodge kits out its 37 old-timey cabins with everything from down comforters to heated floors, having evolved from a 1920s dude ranch to a four-diamond eco- resort. The Dining Room is famous for locally-sourced specialties, award-winning wine selections and stunning Teton views, as well as daily gourmet breakfast and guided horseback rides. Because of the lodge's small scale, outsized reputation and limited season, there is a chance of year-long waitlists.
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The Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole is located at the gateway to Grand Teton and has a lot of things to do in both the park and the surrounding area. The local wildlife-viewing ops have been amazing, but the resort is an adventure in September that is bucket-listy. An expert guide will show you the history and behavior of the gray wolves before you set out to find them on a flightseeing trip. In the 1920s and 90s, these amazing creatures were hunted down and eliminated from the park. The proceeds from each trip will go towards continued efforts to conserve the environment.
At any of the brand's outposts, you'll find the same level of luxury. Jackson Hole has everything from marble bathroom to celebrity chef partnerships. The local advantage of the resort is that it stays open year-round.
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The Union Pacific Railroad ordered the design of Zion's only in- park lodge in the late 1920s. Many of the surrounding cabins survived the 1966 fire that destroyed the main building.
The historic park lodge has 81 rooms and suites and 40 cabins, but screen time won't be a factor in your stay here. The grill and lodge are open throughout the year.
Utah has national parks.
One of Utah's crown jewels is located about an hour from Zion. On a plain with red rock and mountain views, there's a new outpost of Under Canvas. There is yoga in the morning, campfires, s'mores and live music at night at the camp, which is solar-powered. The resident experience couthing will help you plan your off-campus activities as you are surrounded by stunning excursion possibilities.
You can hike, ride an e-bike or drive through the park on your own, even if you don't have a guide. Also within easy driving distance are Red Canyon and the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. If you book a Stargazer tent at the end of the day, you can lie down on your bed and watch the show. It will be open through September 26, 2022.
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The Grand Canyon National Park's first new lodging in more than 50 years, Maswik Lodge South is a 120-room reimagining of a 1970s predecessor, but the aesthetic is reminiscent of an earlier time when the Fred Harvey Company and Santa Fe Railroad opened a motor lodge here. Though the new complex has modern interiors with everything from AC to satellite TV, the reintegrated original stone pillars lend a sense of history, while the surrounding ponderosa pine forest gives a sense of place.
The main Maswik Lodge is close to where you will find the transportation and activities desk. You should consider the full range of Grand Canyon options, from rafting to mule riding. The main lodge has a food court where you can get your fill of soups, salads and casseroles. The lodges are open year-round.
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Albert Einstein had a good night's sleep here. Teddy Roosevelt, Oprah and others did the same. The longest-standing hotel in the Grand Canyon is El Tovar, which opened in 1905. The placement of the hotel on the rim of the canyon clearly worked.
The Presidential Suite has been checked into by many visitors, but the Zane Grey Suite is still one of the favorites. This spread includes a balcony that looks out onto the historic Hopi House, which has a view of the Grand Canyon. El Tovar has 78 unique rooms and suites and a national park for a backyard. Don't go back to the hotel without making a reservation for the El Tovar Dining Room. Given the number of day-trippers who probably had the same idea, they are required at lunch and dinner. The restaurant and hotel are open throughout the year.
Human history can be found in Grand Canyon National Park.
The Many Glacier Hotel opened on the shores of Swift Current Lake in 1915 and quickly became known as the gem of the west. In the four-story, vaulted-ceilinged lobby with interior balconies and a replica of the original, the structure is grand. The location is far from the well-trodden Going-to-the- Sun Road.
There are so many things to see and do in this stunning swath of Glacier National Park that the absence of TVs and internet in the 214 guestrooms won't matter. Kayak trips, horseback rides, lake cruises, hikes to glaciers, and tours on the Red Buses are some of the local adventures. The Ptarmigan Dining Room is a great place to eat because of the craft cocktails and microbrews. The hotel's restaurant is open from June to late September.
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Ahwahnee is one of California's most important national parks. The lodge has hosted everyone from Queen Elizabeth to Barack Obama. The views from the dining room's large-than-life windows don't hurt either. You can spy Half Dome without leaving the hotel grounds.
There are 97 rooms in the main lodge, but you can also find cottages beyond that. You will find internet access that is unexpected in a national park hotel that is historic and secluded. While the hotel is usually open year-round, it will be closed in January and March for restoration.
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Initially opened in 1927 as the Furnace Creek Inn, this enclave hosted the Hollywood A- List from the beginning, first because the studios booked rooms here for desert film shoots, then because the stars returned for fun. Clark Gable and Carol Lombard honeymooned at the inn. The Ranch at Death Valley now includes a second hotel and the world's lowest elevation golf course.
After falling into disrepair, the complex has recently undergone an epic renovation and is now a Four Diamond Oasis. There is an actual Oasis in Death Valley National Park, where 80,000 gallons of water rise to the surface every day. You might not want to stray too far from the swimming pools in the summer. The biking, hiking and horseback riding trails call in the fall when the temperature drops into the 60s and 70s. When you return to the Oasis, hitting the new spa is a good bonus.
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One of the most dramatic icons of Parkitecture is the Crater Lake Lodge, which can be seen from the rim of the caldera. Though you may not be able to see all 1943 feet down to the bottom, the water is amazingly clear. The national park and lodge were established here in the late 19th and early 20th century.
There are rustic stone fireplaces and exposed beam ceilings in the lodge's great hall, and many of the lake views are better than on a screen. If you want to get a closer look at the water, you can take the Cleetwood Cove Trail down to the shore or take a boat and go for a swim. If you haven't warmed up by the time you reach the top of the trail, you can check out the lodge's restaurant, which is open from May to October.
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The street address of the historic caldera rim hotel is 1 Crater Rim Drive, which overlooks the summit of the youngest and most active shield volcano in the national park. The main geologic feature you can see if you book a Volcano Crater View orDeluxe Crater View room is the Halemaumau crater. The Rim Restaurant is where the tables by floor-to-ceiling windows are at their peak. The original Volcano House was purchased by George Lycurgus in 1895.
The lava rock fireplace is one of several historic touches you can find throughout the property, while modern additions include in-room wi fi and sound machines. The world's largest volcano is located within the national park and is one of the main attractions.
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