National park trip for total newb that is clueless

[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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

In the park itself, there are places like Cades Cove and various hikes to waterfalls. It’s also worth it to drive to the North Carolina side. The drive is very scenic and Oconaluftee visitor center has a ton of elk.

Gatlinburg itself has some nice sky parks (we did Anakeesta) and the mountain coasters are a lot of fun.

If you have a high tolerance for tacky, a dinner show can be great for evening entertainment.

Dollywood is also there, if amusement parks are your thing. They have some great roller coasters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

If they are not billed as whitewater, you will be fine. Both Yosemite and Tetons offer “flat water” / family rafting.

[Anonymous]

Another fun add-on to a Tetons trip, outside the park, is a covered wagon ride to a western BBQ. For younger kids.

[Anonymous]

Many of these parks people are suggesting are or might be snowed in in March. Certain roads may be open, but others are closed for the winter, often until late May or even June.

I would start with a Google search of national parks fully open in March.

You can find some nice (& $$$) lodging within some national parks, but you likely need to book way ahead (reservations usually open one year in advance). A car is helpful at virtually every national park we’ve visited.

Activities besides hiking, depending on the park, can include visiting historical sites, ranger-led programs, scenic overlooks, wildlife watching, swimming in lakes/rivers, rafting, and boating.

[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.

Sorry, I missed the March mention.

These recommendations require Warmer weather.