Death Valley is most popular in autumn and winter months when the rest of the country is shivering under the icy chill of winter and a blanket of snow. Death Valley beckons ‘snow-birds’ from across the upper latitudes of north America with her dry desert climate and her persuasively mild temperatures.

Death Valley covers more than 3 million acres, roughly 1 1/2 times the size of Delaware.  It is also an area of extreme, albeit unusual scenic beauty and adventure.

Death Valley is a popular destination throughout the year, but even more so in the winter months, and activities such as hiking, biking and horseback riding are all popular sports within the area. 

Death Valley and the Mojave Dessert is home to more than 56 species of mammal, 36 species of reptile, several types of amphibians and fish species, and more than 400 classifications of birds have been spotted within the park.

Mammals found inside the park include include bighorn sheep, foxes, coyotes, squirrels, rodents, jackrabbits, bats and more.  There are also many interesting types of reptiles in the park  such as the Chuckwalla, the second largest lizard found inside the United States. This interesting creature likes to hang out near rocky areas and will squeeze into rocky crevices and inflate itself when it feels threatened.  Another interesting reptile is the desert horned lizard a moderately sized lizard with pointed scales that protrude from it’s head and body in the shape of horns.  Only the ‘horns’ on it’s head are rigid, the rest of the horn-like scales are soft and feel more like normal reptile skin.  One interesting thing about the horned lizard is it’s ability to shoot a stream of blood from the corner of it’s eyes when it is threatened by a predator.  This creates a distraction and allows the lizard an opportunity to escape.

There are more than a half-dozen ghost towns in Death Valley.   Most of these ghost towns were mining towns that sprung up in the late 1800’s to mid 1900 when gold, silver and copper ore was found in the area. The largest of the ghost towns in Death Valley is the town of Rhyolite.  During it’s heyday, this town had a population of 5,000 to 10,000 residents.  The town consisted of two churches, fifty saloons, eighteen stores, nineteen lodging houses, a stock exchange, an operahouse and more.  Today, several ruins exist in Rhyolite including a Bottle house, the Rhyolite train depot, remains of a 3-story bank building and the jail.  Rhyolite is located approximately 4 miles west of the town of Beatty on the eastern edge of Death Valley National Park.

To learn more about Death Valley lodging, activities and tourist attractions, visit NationalParkReservations.com/deathvalley.htm  There you will find a complete listing of lodging options both inside the park as well as near the parks perimeter.  You can also learn more about Death Valley’s many ghost towns and other tourist attractions at the National Park Reservations site.

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vacation in yosemite

Every year, millions of people from all over the world flock to California to spend their summer vacation in Yosemite National Park.  Located in the heart of California, Yosemite National Park is easily accessible via highway or via Fresno International Airport, which lies a mere 61 miles from the south gate of the park.  During the summer season, there are many reasons why tourists choose to take their vacation in Yosemite National Park.

A vacation in Yosemite  holds something for everyone.  Each summer, dozens of campgrounds in the park are reserved months in advance, so that visitors can take advantage of the natural beauty while on vacation in Yosemite.  In addition to camping, hiking is another reason that people often choose to take their vacation in Yosemite.  There are endless miles of hiking trails within the park which showcase it’s natural beauty.  For the more adventurous types, rock climbing is another popular allure, where climbers can try their skills on harder routes such as El Capitan.  If photography is a hobby, there are endless beautifully composed scenes just waiting to be captured on film.

Though the summer season is the most popular, it is not the only time to take a vacation in Yosemite.  The winter season is equally as beautiful, and much more peaceful in the park.  Most hotels in Yosemite are open through the winter, and some offer special events, such as the Bracebridge Dinner, Vintner’s Holidays, and Chef’s Holidays at the Ahwahnee Hotel.  In addition to these special events, visitors can also test their skills on the ski hill at Badger Pass during a winter vacation in Yosemite.  Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular on the trails near the Tenaya Lodge, where there is also an ice skating rink for visitors to enjoy.  And just as during the summer season, Yosemite in winter is a photographer’s paradise.

Whether guests choose to take their vacation in Yosemite National Park during the summer or winter season, one thing is for sure:  there are endless ways to enjoy this beautiful park!

To learn more about the lodging and activity options available for your vacation in Yosemite Park visit NationalParkReservations.com or call 866-875-8456.