Insider Tips for Visiting National Parks in 2009

Photos courtesy of ARAMARK
Story by: Olga Bas

When thinking of having a romantic getaway, a National Park will be furthest from your mind, but in the last couple of years they've become a bigger draw for gay travelers. A weekend in Paris may sound good (and who can resist its time-honored appeal), but it is not kind to your wallet. By stepping out of the urban environment and visiting a natural reserve, not only do you save on expenses, but you get to reacquaint yourselves with our green planet.

If you've never thought a National Park could be a great destination, imagine staying at The Joshua Tree Highlands Houses & Cabins, located minutes from the Joshua Tree National Park in California, and enjoying your honeymoon in an outdoor Jacuzzi, looking up at the stars. Or how about signing up with Alyson Adventures for a gay rafting trip through the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The possibilities are many and here are some tips to help you plan your perfect visit to a National Park:

1. Research event-themed packages:  whether it’s the Indian Arts & Culture Festival at Mesa Verde National Park in Southwestern Colorado or the Apple Butter Festival at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, many ARAMARK Parks and Destinations offer great steals on event-themed packages.

2. Book shoulder season travel: while traveling during off times may not sound that appealing, many national parks offer great deals on accommodations, tours, and services at the beginning or toward the last few weeks of the season.  You will see firsthand what the locals experience year-round; for example, the very best of fall foliage in Alaska.

3. Skip the hotel:  the best part about visiting national parks is the variety of unique lodging options. What better way to experience the great outdoors than to "rough it" with the family by camping or parking the RV at the campground. Better yet, check out great seasonal fuel offers to save on gas!

4. Get to know your region’s history: wherever you’re located, there’s probably a national park within the region that can represent an affordable and family-friendly travel option for last-minute travel.  Looking for a day trip, a romantic getaway, or a weekend trip with the family, national parks offer guided tours that showcase the unique history of the region and a great learning experience for all.

Read on for 3 more great tips.

5. Go Green: a number of ARAMARK Parks and Destinations are incorporating green initiatives and sustainable cuisine into their fine-dining menus that will help the environment and their local economies.  Alaska’s Denali National Park Resorts, for example, is leading the way with its new Articlean Ozone laundry system, award-winning recycling program, and addition of a hybrid bus to its tour fleet.

6. Join loyalty programs:  in light of the current economic crisis, company loyalty programs are on the rise to help keep loyal customers happy and coming back for more.  For example, Gordon Biersch Brewery’s Passport Program offers consumers great rewards through their point system.  Valued customers accumulate points to earn rewards like private Brewer’s dinners, gift cards, or fantasy vacation getaways.

7. Book accommodations online: when you book your hotel through the hotel's web site directly, rather than through the search engines, you are guaranteed to get the best rate.