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From Remote Alaska to an Urban Escape, These Lodges Elevate Your National Park Adventure

A visit to one of these lodges can change your vacation from good to unforgettable

Sunset
1 /10 Photo courtesy of Alaska Wildland Adventures

Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge

Best wilderness escape Why we love it: Think of Kenai Fjords as the best of Alaska compressed into 1,046 square miles (roughly a quarter of the size of L.A. County). Icy blue fjords? Check. Glaciers? Check. Whales, bears, sea otters? Check, check, and check. A few years ago, Alaska Wildland Adventures added the only thing Kenai was missing: a nice place to stay. The lodge’s woodsy main building and 16 boardwalk-linked cabins sit on the shore of Pedersen Lagoon, off Aialik Bay. Getting there requires a four-hour boat trip from Seward, which doubles as a whale-watching trip. Once there, options include guided hikes, canoeing, or simply relaxing on the porch, waiting for dinner—menu standouts include olive oil–poached halibut and caribou medallions—and admiring how Alaska has made itself so comfortable for you. Don’t miss: Spotting otters, seals, and calving glaciers on guided kayak trips. A 2-day/1-night stay is $850, including Seward boat, meals, and activities. kenaifjordsglacierlodge.com
2 /10 Photo by Thomas J. Story; written by Peter Fish

Farley Bar at Cavallo Point Lodge

Best place for a drink Why we love it: Cozy, convivial Farley Bar, in one of Cavallo Point Lodge’s old army buildings, knows its way around a negroni. Food runs from ceviche to house-baked breads, and the Golden Gate Bridge view from some window tables will lift your heart. Don’t miss: On the walls, the framed comic strips by San Francisco Chronicle cartoonist Phil Frank, whose reporter hero Farley gives the Sausalito bar its name. cavallopoint.com
3 /10 Written by Peter Fish

Wuksachi Lodge, Sequoia

Best place for comfort food Why we love it: Wuksachi Lodge's Peaks Restaurant dining room is a Certified Green Restaurant® by the Green Restaurant Association. Along with serving fresh, local and sustainable cuisine daily, the lodge has no shortage of gorgeous views of Sequoia National Park. Don't miss: Depending on the season you visit the park, be sure to dine at the Wuksachi Pizza Deck. Enjoy pizzas with a wide variety of topping options while sipping draft and/or bottled beer. visitsequoia.com
4 /10 Written by Peter Fish

Kalaloch Lodge, Olympic

Most romantic Why we love it: Long beach strolls, skies that veer from sun-splashed to stormy, and tempestuous waves—that’s right, Washington’s Kalaloch is like a college romance. Except here you can take a break from it all with a (legal) drink at the sweet main lodge. The rustic 1920s Bluff Cabins, where weathered fir abounds, hold heart-stopping views of the Pacific. Don’t miss: If, for you, romance equals vampires, the Twilight package includes a map to nearby vampire-capital Forks and a special Twilight dessert. From $149. olympicnationalparks.com
5 /10 Photo courtesy of Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Roosevelt Lodge, Yellowstone

Best for families Why we love it: Tucked away near the park’s northern boundary, Roosevelt is what summer camp should be, with Lincoln Log cabins and Wild West activities like horseback and stagecoach rides. Don’t miss: The Old West Dinner Cookout’s sizzling steaks and cowboy serenades. Cabins from $91 (without bath) and $145 (with). yellowstonenationalparklodges.com.
6 /10 Photo by Andrea M. Gómez; written by Peter Fish

Wawona Hotel, Yosemite

Best lawn party Why we love it: Have a Saturday night barbecue on the lawn of Yosemite's Wawona Hotel (formerly known as the Big Trees Lodge). Enjoy the buffet style meal with live music surrounded by the natural beauty of Yosemite $27.25. Don't miss: Take time to wind down in the evening around the piano for a musical performance in the lounge. yosemitepark.com.
7 /10 Xanterra Travel Collection

Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon

Best use of mules Why we love it: The only way to get to the ranch, an oasis at the bottom of the canyon, is by river raft, a steep 9.6-mile trek, or a mule ride. Mules can also haul your duffel if you hike. Mail? Delivered by mule. Don’t miss: The adorable Mary Colter–designed cabins. From $174. grandcanyonlodges.com
8 /10 Photo by Thomas J. Story; written by Peter Fish

Majestic Yosemite Hotel, Yosemite

Best place to have a meal Why we love it: Yes, the Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly known as the Ahwahnee) typically books up a year in advance. Too hard to get a room? Fine. But you can still visit the dining room, which, with its lofty beamed ceiling and views of the valley, is one of the most beautiful public spaces in the world. Don’t miss: The regular breakfast, which is less of a production than Sunday Brunch. Get here early, say 7 a.m., and enjoy the room in blissful calm. yosemitepark.com
9 /10 Photo by Audrey Hall; written by Peter Fish

Granite Park Chalet, Glacier

Biggest pain and gain Why we love it: You hike six hours along the top of the Rockies to get to this 1914 Montana chalet, but they’re awe-inducing hours. Life is simple here: You cook your own food in the kitchen, but you get a private bedroom and can rent linen and blankets if you don’t want to lug your sleeping bag. Don’t miss: Wildflower, grizzly bear, and geology workshops ($60 each). Rooms $115 for first person, $82 for every additional guest. graniteparkchalet.com.
10 /10 Photo courtesy of Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Lake Yellowstone Hotel

Best time warp Why we love it: Georgian architecture, string quartets in the lobby—the Lake Yellowstone Hotel is like Jane Austen in the Rockies. In 2014 the hotel went through an extensive interior renovation to restore it to its full Colonial Revival grandeur and continued improvements to the facilities will take place in the summer of 2020. From $157. Don't miss: The Yellowstone Lake Butte Sunset Tour offers stunning views of the lake's north shore. Though the route, time and potential wildlife sightings vary from week to week, this tour won't fail to take your breath away. $42 (adults); $21 (children 3-11). yellowstonenationalparklodges.com.