As I mentioned yesterday, I made my 2008 Yellowstone reservations too late in the season. (I never dreamed mid September 2007 was too late!)

I should have known better. We have gone several times in recent years. The first time we went with our son in 2001, I trusted the information from the Travel section of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and made late August/early September 2001 reservations in Dec. 2000. I could get all of our dates except one. I made the reservation anyway and booked a cabin across the park for the one problem date. Despite checking at the desk every day for a early cancellation (once we were there), I never caught it. We had to move for one night and then come back, which ate up at least an entire day. Argh.

The next time we went I reserved in October. No problem.

But now that our son is no longer homeschooled, we have to go during the more popular time of year and getting all the dates is tough.

So old so soon, so late so smart? The light bulb finally lit. I just made my summer 2009 reservations now. Starting May 1st, you can do that for the following year. For the first time ever, you can even reserve the actual cabin number if you know it. Pretty great.

If you are at all thinking of going to a National Park next summer, consider reserving now. They will bill your credit card for one night, but they will give you a full refund if you cancel within 48 hours of arrival. (This might vary with each park.)

The internet makes it very easy to reserve through Xanterra, however, not every National Park uses Xanterra. Other park concessioners have online reservations too. Check with the park website; they usually have a link to lodging.

Another thing to keep in mind is that these accommodations follow the 3 rules of real estate: Location, Location, Location! The rooms vary from quaint to I can't believe they can get $145 a night for this!  But the setting (location) cannot be beat.

Believe it or not, bathrooms are an option. Being cut from camping stock, we often opt for no bathroom. It saves about $30 - $40 a night. I was glad we decided on a bathroom in Yosemite though. There was a visiting bear outside our bathroom window two nights while we were there. I don't think I would have had the nerve to make the midnight trip outside to the little house with him or her around! 

Even though frugal is my middle name, there is something very special about staying right in the park. It makes a big difference in your total park experience. We enjoy attending the evening ranger programs in the parks, so adding sometimes 2 hours travel time to that is difficult. Park roads are usually very narrow, dark, and winding. So we tend to cut back in other areas (food is one) in order to afford staying in the park. Plus, it saves on travel time in and out and gas. 

If you are planning on going to a specific park, feel free to comment or email me. I have been to many National Parks and Monuments west of the Mississippi, plus Mammoth Cave, Smokey Mt. and Everglades. I am happy to share information.

Past Posting: Make Reservations Now For Summer 2008 Includes park websites and helpful book titles

Links:

Like most people, I am watching the gasoline prices rise and wondering how high they will go by summer travel time.

A temporary moratorium on the federal gas tax is now a topic of the presidential campaign. Obama is against, Clinton is for--if the oil companies pay for it via a wind fall profits tax (that just means they will pass it onto us), and I believe McCain is just for the moratorium with no charge to the oil companies.

This morning I caught a bit of Vicki McKenna's radio show and some callers thought the 18.5 cent/gallon tax moratorium would influence what their family did this summer. 

So far, the higher gasoline prices have not seemed to alter people's summer travel plans. At least it appears that way to me. We are planning another family pilgrimage to Yellowstone National Park this summer. I made the mistake of making reservations too late, however. (Who would think mid September of 2008 was too late?) I got all the days I wanted except ONE and have been trying to get that date at Old Faithful budget cabins ever since.

I call the reservation line almost every day and check the website. Nothing so far for my location and day. But today I noticed for the first time that there were 3 other locations listed as an alternative. Coincidence or are people starting to bail out on their plans because of gas prices?

Only time will tell.

(Another wrinkle might be that because of the low value of the dollar, foreigners are snatching up any American vacancies. There are a lot of Asians who come to west coast American National Parks on vacation.) 

Of course I am hoping that gas prices will level off by the time we leave. They did last year at this time when the price per gallon was an unprecedented $3.29/gal or so.

It is almost a tradition that we are on vacation during a gas crisis. I was out in Colorado in 1973 and never hit a shortage or line. My husband and I were on a 7,000 mile, 5 1/2 week National Park camping trip odyssey during 1979's gas crunch--no lines, high prices, or troubles then. We were in California during the Hurricane Katrina gas price spike too. I guess we aren't going to let, gulp, $4.00+/gal stop us this summer either*.

Will the price of gas or the moratorium change your plans this summer?

* I can rationalize the gas cost somewhat because we are there for a long enough time to justify the cost of getting there. The price per gallon is usually lower once out of Wisconsin. Plus, flying and renting a car is still much more expensive than driving to this location.
 

Links:

Although summer 2008 seems a long way off, it is already getting late in the season for making National Park lodging reservations! Popular parks fill up faster than the lesser known parks.

Yellowstone (our family favorite) is already showing no vacancy dates for various days throughout next summer. Don't let that discourage you, sometimes you can still work out your itinerary by staying in two locations. This happened to us our first trip in 2001--we had to move for one night in the middle of a 2 week stay. That was a huge waste of time though, and time is money when you are on vacation.

I recommend, if you are even just thinking of going, that you make your reservations now. It is easy to do. Most parks have online registration. They will charge your credit card the first night's rate but will refund it in whole if you cancel within a certain time frame (usually 48 hours prior to reserved date).

Our favorite place to be at Yellowstone is right on the geyser basin at Old Faithful Lodge cabins. We stay in the budget cabins (no bathroom--much like camping) but they do have other cabins with a bath. These accommodations are rather simple, but fit the three main rules of real estate: location, location, location! Last summer we must have seen Old Faithful erupt 100 time from this superb location. Can't beat that!

So mouse around on the National Park website and find the park of your choice. If the park has in-park lodging, there is usually a link to it. Park hotels and lodges are managed by a private company, not the National Park Service. These private companies usually manage several of the parks in a region. Yellowstone, for example, is managed by Xanterra.

Sometimes it is fun to stay in one of the more famous historic lodges, but they are too pricey for my budget. Their room rate did not prevent us from enjoying a meal, sitting by the fire in the lobby, or enjoying a tour though. There was a PBS series called Great Lodges of the National Parks, which gave detailed information about the famous lodges and their history. It is a wonderfully done production with a companion book that is a treat to page through. Our CAFE library system has both the book and the DVD.

I also own 2 very helpful books by David and Kay Scott. Their Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges book gives very practical advice on what each park accommodation is like and even includes their exact room or location preferences. I've found their suggestions helpful. Their other book, Guide to the National Park Areas gives a thumbnail sketch of each park, with map, and other helpful planning information. Our library system has both books. 

Just writing this post makes me want to start planning my next trip and packing my suitcase!

Again, if you have any questions or want any other information, just email me. I enjoyed hearing from you regarding my Mammoth Cave post--hope to hear from some of you again.

You can also reserve campground sites, mule rides or other special activities in advance too. Be sure to check the cancellation policy first.

PLEASE BE AWARE that as a rule, the cabins, hotels, lodges, etc. are NOT luxury accommodations. They usually do not have a TV or phone and often no air conditioning. In fact, hotel owners in the private sector would never get away with what they offer if it was in any other setting. The most we ever paid for a room--ever--was in Yosemite at Curry Village. The cabin was $145/night. OUCH--painful for a frugal girl like me. It had the worst, ratty bathroom I ever saw, but we were right in the valley with the granite bluffs just outside our cabin door. Can't beat that view--remember the 3 rules of real estate? It also had a black bear that visited at 2am. Staying on grounds in the park really does enhance the whole experience--after all, you aren't going there to spend time in the room! The lobbies and common areas of the lodges are usually quite charming.

OK, maybe we didn't go to the center, but it sure felt like it!  This is a travel piece.

My husband and I just returned from an impromptu get away to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. Mammoth is open every day except Christmas, so maybe a little get away could be in your future too? If you go soon, the fall colors are an extra bonus.

Many people are freaked out by caves and they think they are dangerous. This may be true of caves you explore on your own, but it is not true of Mammoth--they are very safe. Mammoth Cave, by the way, is the largest cave system in the world.

Some of the tours take you to very large, tall chambers-well over an acre in size--and are well lit. They are more like going down into a huge underground parking garage. Mammoth even has a subterranean dining room called the Snow Ball Room. Of course, other tours are more demanding--steep hill climbs and up to a total 670 stairs. Our favorites are the lantern tours where the tourists carry the provided kerosene or gas lantern.

Whatever your preference, Mammoth Cave National Park has a variety of tours  to suit most people's interests: beautiful formations, historic, and easy strolls to rigorous caving. There are things to do on the surface too.

The most difficult tour offered is the Wild Cave followed by Introduction to Caving. These require belly crawls through 9 - 10" spaces, stoop walking, canyon walking (astride a gap), butt slides, and fallen cave rock climbs. There is a girth maximum of 42 inches on those two tours, I have heard for good reason because there are some tight squeezes through roundish openings!

About two weeks ago, my husband and I decided to drive down to Mammoth Cave National Park for a mini vacation, joking we were practicing for retirement. It was familiar territory; we had been there 2 times before in 1977 and 1981 B.C. (before child). We always wanted to do the Wild Cave tour, but it was sold out on our previous visits (you need to book sometimes 6 months in advance to get in). Since this trip was spur-of-the-moment, Wild Cave was again sold out, but we decided to go to Mammoth anyway.

I first checked on availability of other cave tours online. FYI, once tours are booked, there is a $3.00 fee per ticket to cancel or change them. Sometimes no refund is available if cancellation is too close to tour time, so be sure of what you are committing to. You can also get tickets at the park, but I was not about to make a 9 hour drive there without knowing we could get on our desired tours.

I called the Mammoth Cave Hotel by phone 270-758-2225 to see if rooms were available. You may view their offerings at Mammothcavehotel.com. Prices vary from $50 - $80 something per night. I booked for 4 nights. As long as you cancel 48 hours prior to arrival, you can get a full refund.

I then booked 4 cave tours online : Violet City lantern tour, New Entrance , Great Onyx lantern tour , and Introduction to caving --a Wild Cave junior tour. Presto, all set!

Now to pack. Topside weather this time of year averages 72 degrees. It was 85 degrees last weekend. Cave temperatures are always the same regardless of season: 54 degrees. You will need long pants and a jacket and/or sweater. I like to wear a fleece headband too. Some wear a baseball cap. You don't need boots for the easy or moderate tours, but walking shoes with lugged soles are helpful for tours designated as difficult.

Over the ankle boots with lugged soles are mandatory for Intro to Caving and Wild Cave tours. This rule is enforced and they will not let you go without your boots! They also tell you to bring gloves and knee pads. They don't enforce this and even have some you can use. I say they are a must--they protect your hands and knees from jagged rocks when crawling. The bonus is they keep you dry--cave floors can be wet.  The age requirement is enforced too: 10 years and up for Intro. to Caving and 16 and up for Wild Cave. They provide the hard hat and miner lights. (Click on photo to see example of the crawl.)

I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive about the Intro to Caving tour. It's been 26 years since we were there last, which means I am 26 years older. I kept telling myself how bad can it be, they let 10 year olds do it! The tour was led by a former librarian now park ranger-early-50-something-woman. That made me feel a little better.

Once we descended the 260 stairs through the New Entrance, they made us each go through the test hole crawl, a 15 - 20" high opening you had to crawl through the best you could and squeeze through a jagged hole at the end. I did it and thought I can do this! The miner light always shed good light wherever you looked so it gave the illusion of the cave being well lit. I never felt overly confined. The remaining parts of the tour were designed to give you a taste of what you may encounter spelunking and to teach you safe caving practices.

I am glad I did it but would not do it again. It turned out to be providential that Wild Cave was sold out-I think that tour would have been too rigorous for me, although the guides told me there was a 72 year old woman who did it last summer.

Don't let the Intro to Caving scare you though. The Great Onyx Lantern tour is our favorite. It is conducted in a remote area of the cave system and is the most beautiful, I think. Onyx Cave used to be owned by Miss Lucy Cox, who was quite fussy about her cave. She made sure people did not touch the delicate formations or write their names all over. We had the pleasure of being guided by Ranger Ronnie Doyle, who worked for Miss Lucy in his youth (before the cave became part of the National Park). Talk about living history! His great uncle was also the owner of Sand Cave where the ill fated spelunker Floyd Collins  was entrapped in 1925.

So, if you are looking for a get away that is off the beaten track, Mammoth Cave National Park might just be your destination. Lots of history, great scenery, and just 485 miles away via I-94, I-294*, I-80 and I-65.

*PS We left home at 9:10am Wed. morning and missed ALL the rush hour traffic around Chicago and Gary. 

Please feel free to ask any questions if you are thinking of going. My husband and I love our National Parks and like to share information!