One the great treasures of the United States is the chance to explore the vast array of National Parks that stretch from coast to coast. The summer road trip is a staple in American family history, with mom and dad piling all the kids into the station wagon or minivan or RV and heading out on the open road. These days, it’s kind of nice sometimes to mix the rustic with the luxurious. In a country that covers 3,718,711 square miles, it helps to have a bit of direction as to where to visit and where to stay.
In this two part story, we’re going to list our favorite luxury hotels that border the 10 most popular National Parks in the United States.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Ridge upon ridge of endless forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America’s most visited national park.
Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa
The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa is one of the American South’s oldest and most famous grand resorts. Built in 1913 overlooking the Asheville, NC, skyline and the Blue Ridge Mountains, the inn is a favorite year round destination for both leisure and business guests. Its splendid views, old-world charm, amenities, and a long tradition of exceptional service and hospitality make it a place to savor as one of the most enduring and original resorts of America.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is more than a great chasm carved over millennia through the rocks of the Colorado Plateau. It is more than an awe-inspiring view. It is more than a pleasuring ground for those who explore the roads, hike the trails, or float the currents of the turbulent Colorado River.
Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas
It is a place where the neon of the Strip is just a soft glow on the horizon at twilight. Where the mountains serve as a sweeping backdrop to Mediterranean-inspired villas, abundant foliage and majestic waters. At the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas, the world is your very own as you indulge your senses in our spa, perfect your serve on our tennis courts or enjoy a few rounds of golf on exceptional championship courses. A secluded garden of natural beauty awaits you at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas.
Yosemite National Park, Calif.
Not just a great valley but a shrine to human foresight, strength of granite, power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. Yosemite National Park, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.
Chateau du Sureau
Chateau du Sureau is a fairy tale Inn that has received some of the highest ratings granted a hotel. Since its opening in 1991, this magical destination has earned both the Mobil Five-Star and American Automobile Association’s Five-Diamond awards as well as membership in the prestigious Relais & Chateaux organization. Located just miles away from Yosemite National Park, Chateau du Sureau is a romantic haven wherein the classic traditions of old Europe live today.
Olympic National Park, Washington
Here you will find Pacific Ocean beaches, rainforest valleys, glacier-capped peaks and a stunning variety of plants and animals. Roads provide access to the outer edges of the park, but the heart of Olympic is wilderness; a primeval sanctuary for humans and wild creatures alike.
Willows Lodge, Woodinville, Washington
Rural and rustic in ambience, Willows Lodge is the latest entry into greater Seattle’s collection of luxury lodging facilities. This 86-room, northwest-style lodge is situated in Woodinville on five exquisitely landscaped acres that border the Sammamish River in the heart of Woodinville wine country.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming-Montana-Idaho
Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America’s first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world’s most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Triple Creek Ranch, Darby Montana
Triple Creek Ranch is a small, intimate resort designed for adults. Situated on 600 acres among the towering pines on the side of Trapper Peak, the highest mountain in Western Montana, this unforgettable retreat offers the merging of unmatched natural beauty with the height of comfort and personal service. From the beautiful, welcoming main lodge, a world-class restaurant and paramount wine cellar, to the deluxe private guest cabins nestled in the trees throughout the property, it’s the attention to the smallest details that make the Triple Creek Ranch experience so memorable. And it is a perfect jumping off place to explore Yellowstone.
Tomorrow we’ll add our 5 favorite luxury hotels in the second half of the 10 most popular American National Parks. Have fun in nature this summer!
