Originally Posted by
almostmom
We started doing April National Park trips with our kids about 6 years ago. DH and I have worked for NPS (he still does), and we have been to many, but wanted to take the kids before they were too busy over school vacations or gone! Here is what we have done:
Texas trip: Big Bend, Carlsbad Caverns, Balmorea - this was our first one. It was affordable, easy, gorgeous. We like to do lots of driving on these trips, staying a different place most nights. Loved kayaking down the Rio Grande, going in a hot spring, horseback riding, hiking in Big Bend, the caves - all of it was great. Highly recommend staying in Big Bend for a few nights.
Utah/CO trip: Arches (could have done Canyonlands, but didn't) - stayed in a condo we rented for a few days, Mesa Verde (could have done Sand Dunes but didn't), visited a friend's ranch in Southern CO. Moab is a long drive from Denver, but it's a beautiful one. Lots to do. April was a great time to visit - summer would be too hot!
WA trip: Olympic (drove around the outside, stayed in a few different random places and hiked), Orcas Island (air bnb) - whale watch, chilled, then visited with a friend in Seattle.
CA trip: Yosemite for 3 days (stayed right in the Valley, which is possible in April, and wonderful to be right there), then to Santa Cruz for chilling and surfing, then to San Fran (we lived there and worked at Golden Gate for many years, so didn't do the Bay Area parks, but visited friends instead. Going to Point Reyes, Muir Woods, Golden Gate - would highly recommend! Very kid friendly.)
Yellowstone and Tetons - went last summer. Stayed in the park at a different park lodging most nights. The absolute best was staying at Old Faithful, setting our alarms for 2 in the morning, and walking out to the platform with warm blankets and hats and watching a meteor shower and also experiencing Old Faithful with no one else around! In the Tetons we stayed at a place in Jackson Hole, which is super fun. Tetons are better for older kids - spectacular. It was one of my cherished childhood trips. Unfortunately my DD doesn't like hiking, so by the time we got there at the end of our trip she was cranky with hiking. But still, amazing.
Arcadia - we live in the Northeast, so this is somewhere we've gone multiple times. We love going in early October. The colors are incredible, crowds are light, hiking is fabulous - not too long but the views are incredible. Lots of lodging options around.
We haven't gone as a family, but doing more of the Utah parks would be great. Also, southern CA parks like Sequoia and Kings Canyon, or Joshua Tree - all are wonderful, but we haven't done them with kids.