Do You Collect National Park Mementos?

Above, yours truly at a gift shop at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park/

Do you collect national park mementos from each park you visit?

That is the question in an article and poll posted at RV Travel.

I have a few things from some national parks such as a throw blanket from Yellowstone National Park and a wood napkin holder from Zion National Park. I tend to go for things that are useful whenever I do.

RV Travel begins with:

Wow! That was my reaction when I stumbled upon the National Parks online collectibles store. I had no idea there were so many different ways to remember our visits to the various National Parks throughout our country.

Available memorabilia

The collectibles range from figurines to drinking mugs and everything in between. You’ll find medallions, patches, pins, and decals. Trek on over to the NPS posters page and you’ll discover posters, playing cards, and even NPS jigsaw puzzles! Many posters and prints are great for framing and many other items make terrific gifts.

 To read more, go here.

Ahwahnee Hotel To Be Closed For Renovations In 2023

Above, one of the sitting rooms of the Ahwahnee Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who wish to stay at Yosemite National Park's historic Ahwahnee Hotel next year are going to be disappointed. It will be closed to visitors early next year.

On the other hand, the following is good news as the hotel will be undergoing extensive upgrades so that it will be around for a second hundred years.

CapRadio reported:

Yosemite National Park’s 95-year-old Ahwahnee Hotel is set to undergo some major upgrades.

Park spokesman Scott Gediman said the $31.5 million project includes bracing the chimneys and support walls, replacing window frames, dining room and solarium glass, as well as other infrastructure upgrades.

He also said the project will include the installation of new seismic protection infrastructure.

"With the San Andreas Fault on the east side of the Sierra, we certainly do get some earthquake activity,” he said. “In fact, over the weekend there was a small earthquake that I actually felt here in the park. And so, it's just one of those things with a hotel that is almost 100 years old, it just doesn't have the seismic features that are required."

To read more, go here. 

Where Do People Stay In National Parks

Above, Yosemite's Ahwahnee Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People who travel to visit our national parks have several choices on where to stay. Some are relatively cheap and some are pretty expensive. One must do some digging and advance planning to find what suits them.

USA Today posted an article on where people can stay while visiting national parks such as Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Yosemite. 

They begin with:

Travelers don't have to rough it staying at national parks, unless they want to.

When Vince Chi visited Yellowstone National Park in summer 2019, he spent two nights in a cabin and one night in a conical tent. While the cabin was more comfortable, he said the tent felt closer to nature, providing a more unique experience.

“It did rain, and (the tent) didn't keep out all the water,” he said. “I would consider that closer to traditional camping than the cabin.”

National park visitors can choose from a wide range of lodgings, from simple and luxury tents to cabins and trailers. While some options provide more comfort, others are less expensive and may offer more adventure. 

Here's a look at lodging options at three of America's most popular parks.

To read more, go here. 

Travel + Leisure: 8 Most Beautiful National Park Lodges

Above, Yosemite's Ahwahnee Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, the only times I've stayed at a national park lodge was Zion National Park (twice) and Bryce Canyon National Park. Each time we were lodged a cabin at the lodge. 

Travel + Leisure posted an article on the 8 most beautiful lodges in America's national parks. The article was posted last April (somehow I missed it).

They begin it with:

One hundred years ago, America's national park lodges were some of the country's finest architectural treasures — grand records of the moment when luxury and nature first met. They brought their lucky guests experiences they'd likely never had — and they still do just that. 

These historic spots, host to a century of presidents and visionaries, still remain some of the national parks' best lodges, but now they share space with remote resorts and modern retreats, each vying to rest among the country's most scenic destinations. Should you wish to stay in any of the lodges below, one thing is for certain: Plan well in advance.

Somehow, the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park didn't make the list, but the Ahwahnee in Yosemite National Park did. Go figure.

To see the lodges, go here.