National park trip for total newb that is clueless

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to deviate from the suggestions here and recommend Acadia in Maine. There are lots of lodging options near the park. Although the park is very large, the popular areas are easily accessible by car. The hiking is mostly amateur, although there are some tricky trails.

My feeling is you want to see the national parks without the whole REI experience, 😂.

Acadia is great but not in March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on what you've said, I'm going to make a different recommendation.

I think you should consider staying at a resort in or near Santa Fe. From there you can do a day trip to Bandelier National Monument and Manhattan Project National Historic Park.

In addition to the two NPS sites, there is lots to see in the Santa Fe area.

It seems like you're choosing a national park, but a national park vacation just isn't your ideal way to use money and time. New Mexico still gives you what you like in a trip while getting some of the American historic/nature stuff.

This is a solid recommendation, though I would not choose for March for outdoor stuff in NM (could snow, but is typically warming up).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to deviate from the suggestions here and recommend Acadia in Maine. There are lots of lodging options near the park. Although the park is very large, the popular areas are easily accessible by car. The hiking is mostly amateur, although there are some tricky trails.

My feeling is you want to see the national parks without the whole REI experience, 😂.

Acadia is great but not in March.

As a counterpoint Great Smoky Mountains will have better weather in March and there are endless luxury cabins to rent. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are tourist traps and tacky by DCUM standards, though.

[Anonymous]

Zion (a few days, stay in Springdale), Moab, and Bryce (only need 1 day at Bryce). Moab has jeep tours, river tours, and mountain biking. Rent a car.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Zion and Bryce. We did this trip for spring break and didn’t find the parks too busy. And agree an overnight at Bryce is enough. However we stayed in properties—all really nice and that likely made things feel less crowded.

[Anonymous]

In park properties I meant!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for Zion and Bryce. We did this trip for spring break and didn’t find the parks too busy. And agree an overnight at Bryce is enough. However we stayed in properties—all really nice and that likely made things feel less crowded.

Do you think it’s too much to do Zion/Bryce and Page for Spring break?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to deviate from the suggestions here and recommend Acadia in Maine. There are lots of lodging options near the park. Although the park is very large, the popular areas are easily accessible by car. The hiking is mostly amateur, although there are some tricky trails.

My feeling is you want to see the national parks without the whole REI experience, 😂.

Acadia is great but not in March.

As a counterpoint Great Smoky Mountains will have better weather in March and there are endless luxury cabins to rent. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are tourist traps and tacky by DCUM standards, though.

Smoky Mountains are beautiful. Hard to know if OP can deal with fellow vacationers in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, but she is also going to have to deal with the hoi polloi at any national park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for Zion and Bryce. We did this trip for spring break and didn’t find the parks too busy. And agree an overnight at Bryce is enough. However we stayed in properties—all really nice and that likely made things feel less crowded.

Do you think it’s too much to do Zion/Bryce and Page for Spring break?

No. If you can drive a motorboat, I would highly recommend renting one and going out for at least day on Lake Powell. The tours are super cheesy and it's 100x more fun to explore on your own if you can.

[Anonymous]

I suggest Yosemite or Grand Tetons/Yellowstone. You will need to rent a car.

You can “hike” (stroll on a trail) one day. Attend ranger talks. Take a rafting trip.
Yosemite also has art classes. Book everything way ahead.

The hotels will not be as fancy as you might prefer, but you will be building memories with your children and enjoying stunning natural beauty.

With the right mindset, it is much better than man-made entertainment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to deviate from the suggestions here and recommend Acadia in Maine. There are lots of lodging options near the park. Although the park is very large, the popular areas are easily accessible by car. The hiking is mostly amateur, although there are some tricky trails.

My feeling is you want to see the national parks without the whole REI experience, 😂.

Acadia is great but not in March.

As a counterpoint Great Smoky Mountains will have better weather in March and there are endless luxury cabins to rent. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are tourist traps and tacky by DCUM standards, though.

Not op but are there enough interesting things to do there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suggest Yosemite or Grand Tetons/Yellowstone. You will need to rent a car.

You can “hike” (stroll on a trail) one day. Attend ranger talks. Take a rafting trip.
Yosemite also has art classes. Book everything way ahead.

The hotels will not be as fancy as you might prefer, but you will be building memories with your children and enjoying stunning natural beauty.

With the right mindset, it is much better than man-made entertainment.

Not op. How intensive is the hiking? I've read way too much about how crowded these very parks are. Is there ever a time when the weather is tolerable and the crowds aren't as bad? Is there more to do than hiking? I hate rafting trips unless they are exceptionally safe. I don't want to be dumped in a river.

[Anonymous]

Again not op. Are visits to our NPs going to be affected by the drastic cuts the current administration made? I'm trying to determine if it will be miserable with unmanaged crowds.

[Anonymous]

If you stay in the Yosemite Valley, you can use the free buses to explore the park. But you will need a car to get there and back to the airport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suggest Yosemite or Grand Tetons/Yellowstone. You will need to rent a car.

You can “hike” (stroll on a trail) one day. Attend ranger talks. Take a rafting trip.
Yosemite also has art classes. Book everything way ahead.

The hotels will not be as fancy as you might prefer, but you will be building memories with your children and enjoying stunning natural beauty.

With the right mindset, it is much better than man-made entertainment.

March isn’t the best time for either of these parks. There will be fewer people, but it will be COLD and some parts of the park will be closed for snow.