California: Yosemite
Admit it: as beautiful as Yosemite National Park is during the summer and spring seasons, it’s fun to see what it looks like when its snowed over.
Although Yosemite is most commonly known for its waterfalls, it also has valleys, meadows, ancient giant sequoias and a immense area of wildlife. During the winter, however, it is most commonly known for its Badger Pass Ski Area which has both downhill and cross-country skiing. Lift ticket rates range from $30 to $42 depending upon whether you’re an adult or child and whether you are going for a full day or half day. Contact information can be found at www.yosemitepark.com/badgerpass.aspx.
There does tend to be a relative fluctuation of temperature from very cold to sunny and chilly, so layering is recommended. However, the Glacier Point and Badger Pass Road are not plowed until mid December through early April, so the resort will not be accessible till then. It is advised to have tire chains, which are required on park roads.
As far as lodging goes, the city of Joshua Tree (such an amazing place that U2 named an album after it) has some great lodging for the holiday season. Guide services for rock climbing are also available and there is also great hiking available.
Colorado: Estes Park
Aside from the gorgeous scenery and historic significance of Estes Park, families should come here because Pope John Paul II and the Emperor of Japan thought it worth a visit. And they don’t even live in the United States.
Estes Park is surrounded by Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest, so one can expect to see some wildlife, mountainous scenery and scenic drives. Downhill skiing, ice skating, sledding, hiking, cross-country skiing and wildlife watching are all activities available at Estes Park. An added bonus are the off season discounts available at the different varieties of lodging. The option of lodging there provides the opportunity to go skiing and rock climbing in Rocky Mountain National Park. It will be wise to stay away from areas where avalanches are a concern. To stay prepared, it is advised to either get a guide, not go to the potentially dangerous area, or learn protocol.
Maine: Appalachian Trail
If you want to take a classic hiking trip, the Appalachian Trail would be ideal. Hiking it would be feat: even though you’ll only hike (at most) a portion along two states, you can say you’ve hiked a trail that touches 14 states. If that’s not impressive I don’t know what is.
The Appalachian Trail in Maine spans approximately 281 miles, elevation ranging from 490: 5,267 feet. The difficulty varies upon the different portions of the trail, but families can hike any portion during winter. The northern sections tend to be need snow gear and camping equipment, but the southern portions need only warm clothing and normal hiking attire. The entirety of the trail spreads several thousand miles, so trips can vary from a day hike to a week-long excursion.
New York: Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack mountains is one of the oldest state parks in the country and was home to the 1932 and 1980 Olympics, both of which were held at Lake Placid. The word ‘vacation’ was also invented in the Adirondacks. In the early 1900s, people began realizing a correlation between the heat in the summertime and fevers so the upper-class decided to vacate the city for some fresher air. Hence the reason why we use the term ‘vacation’ unlike the Brits who say ‘holiday’.
Some activities available at the Adirondacks are downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, snow-shoeing and ice-climbing. Lodging is also available at the variety of options available and the Adirondack Mountain Club also provides lodging. The website has more information is necessary: www.visitadirondacks.com.
Arizona: Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
For families who do not prefer snowy holidays, there are some attractions in the heat of Arizona. Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is located in the desert of Southwest Arizona, marking a 25 by 40 mile area clear of roads and facilities. Ideal for photography, birding and desert hiking, the refuge’s most popular attraction is the Palm Canyon, appropriately named due to its existence as the last location where Arizona houses palm trees. If you are to go desert hiking, bring lots and lots of water.
Needless to say, the refuge is in a desert in Arizona, where temperatures can get up well into the hundreds in the summertime. The hiking trails are actually at a lower elevation, so they are located close to Yuma. Yuma and Ehrenberg are the best bets for finding lodging.
