Our National Parks Offer Adventures For Your Family Vacation

by Staci Torgeson

Some parents may want to visit a National Park to enjoy all that nature has to offer, but are hesitant to do so with children because the thought of trying to "rough it" with the little ones may not sound terribly relaxing.

Many families may not realize that there are options for lodging in and around National Parks that will allow them to enjoy the best of both worlds - getting back to nature AND enjoying a nice hot shower in the morning! The following are a number of locations that can offer families some of the modern comforts that will help make their visit to the great outdoors with children a truly great experience.

In Kentucky, you'll find Mammoth Cave in Mammoth Cave National Park. The cave is the longest known cave in the world with more than 360 miles of explored passageways. Spend a day exploring the cave region and another discovering the beautiful and biologically diverse ecosystems of the park, which has been designated as an International Biosphere Reserve. For tour information call 800-967-2283. For lodging information, contact Mammoth Cave Hotel, 270-758-2225, www.MammothCaveHotel.com

Mormon Lake Lodge serves up the scenery, activities and tastes of the Old West in the Coconino National Forest en route to Northern Arizona's Grand Canyon region. Take a horseback ride past Old Town for a glimpse at the past, drop in at the 1880's style saloon for a cold sasaparilla or enjoy the quad rentals for a guided tour through the forest. Mormon Lake Lodge is one of the few authentic Arizona open-pit steakhouses still in operation, serving hearty portions of the best USDA choice beef and Western specialties. Contact Mormon Lake Lodge at 928-354-2227, www.mormonlakelodge.com Isle Royale National Park, located in northwestern Lake Superior is one of the most remote national parks in the country. This pristine island is located 50 miles from Michigan's Upper Peninsula and 18 miles from the nearest point in Minnesota and can only be reached by boat or seaplane. A Biosphere Reserve, the location provides visitors with an amazing opportunity to see flora, fauna and wildlife in a natural and un-compromised state. Contact Rock Harbor Lodge at Summer: 906-337-4993; Winter: 270-773-2191, www.IsleRoyaleResort.com

Visitors to Lake Mead find spectacular scenic vistas and striking backdrops including deep canyons, dry washes, sheer cliffs, distant mountain ranges, and colorful soils and rock formations and mosaics of different vegetation. With over 550 miles of shoreline, Lake Mead is one of the largest man made lakes in the world with over 157,000 acres of water (247 sq. mi.). It's a water skier's haven with glassy water conditions very common in the morning and late afternoon. If you'd like to be captain of your own houseboat and experience this up close and personal, make your reservation by calling 800-255-5561 or visiting www.CallvilleBay.com

During 2004 there were more than 2.4 million visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park. What draws this many people to visit this Colorado National Park? It is a uniquely scenic park whose activities includes world-class hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, wildlife watching and is home to one of the most unique shopping experiences in the U.S. A trip to the mountains wouldn't be complete without a night in the newly renovated Rocky Mountain Park Holiday Inn in the town of Estes Park, call 970-586-2332 or visit www.rockymountainparkinn.com. Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri is located close to Lake of the Ozarks State Park, the largest park in the state park system. With over 100 lakeside restaurants and numerous family activities of Ozarks, bring them along for a great lakeside adventure. Deck Cruisers are available for small groups or rent a luxury houseboat for the ultimate traveling feast! Contact Lake of the Ozarks Marina at 800-255-5561 or visit www.LakeOfTheOzarksMarina.com.

Badlands National Park in South Dakota is famous for its fantastically eroded landscapes. Fossils 37 to 23 million years old appear from eroding buttes and gullies. Buffalo, Pronghorn Antelope, Big Horn Sheep, Mule Deer and other small prairie animals may be seen throughout the Badlands. The National Park Service provides information, interpretive displays and Ranger-guided hikes. Many self-guided nature trails are also available. Stay in the park and take in all of the sites. Cedar Pass Lodge can be reached at 605-433-5460 or visit www.CedarPassLodge.com.

The Shasta-Trinity National Forest provides visitors with the best places to hike, backpack and vacation in Northern California. Snow-capped peaks frame this pristine mountain lake with eagles soaring above and swooping down to catch fish right out of the lake. Houseboats and personal watercraft make it possible to explore the beauty of this mountain top lake first hand or you can relax in a mountain side cabin from Trinity Lake Resort & Marina. Call 530-286-2225 or visit www.TrinityLakeResort.com.

In the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, just 50 minutes from Las Vegas, families can enjoy a motor-assisted raft tour through Colorado River's Black Canyon located just below the Hoover Dam. Rafters will take pleasure in the sweeping views of the 2,000 foot walls of the canyon, in seeing Desert Big Horn Sheep, Osprey, and Great Blue Heron in their natural setting and a view of the Hoover Dam you can't get anywhere else! Black Canyon Willow Beach River Adventures, 800-455-3490, www.BlackCanyonAdventures.com.