To Explore National Parks, Use a Luxury Vacation Rental as Base Camp
April 11, 2007. Planning a trip to one of a national park this summer? Consider using a luxury vacation rental as "base camp." The advantages are numerous. Mom can prepare a fancy picnic in the kitchen and Dad can cook dinner on the grill. A spacious cabin will give everyone in the family some room for down time. Best of all, rental rates are often equal to or less expensive than lodging inside the parks.
Acadia National Park, located in Maine, combines some of the most beautiful coastline in the country with mountainous terrain. Park Loop Road provides a nice introduction to the varied scenery. For big views, hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain. The best places to stay are on Bar Harbor or near Stockton Springs.
Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park might be the most spectacular scenic drive on the planet. Visitors will see rugged peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, blue lakes, mountain goats and maybe even some grizzly bears! The nearby mountain towns of Whitefish and Kalispell are worth the trip, too.
In California, three grand national parks lie within close proximity to one another in the High Sierra. The grand waterfalls and granite massifs of Yosemite National Park were the favorite subject of Ansel Adams, one of the finest outdoor photographers. The giant sequoia redwoods of Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Parks are also inspiring.
