Mention a national park vacation, and many of us imagine a family loading up the minivan for a multiweek adventure over the summer holidays. And while summer may be a lovely time to explore many of these national treasures, there are some parks that hold another sort of promise during winter. Parks with climates that are less than ideal in summer--such as the Everglades or Death Valley--are still warm enough in winter to cure cold-weather blues. Others plagued by high-season crowds, like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite, transform into sparsely populated wonderlands for outdoor activity. Here is one of Mother Nature's choicest winter hideaways--the Grand Canyon in Arizona. (For other great national parks to visit in winter, click on the following links: California's Death Valley and Yosemite, Hawaii's Volcanoes, Wyoming's Yellowstone, New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns, Florida's Everglades, and St. Thomas and St. John's US Virgin Islands.)

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK: To its immeasurable credit, the Grand Canyon dwarfs its tourists any time of year. Even so, summertime there is absolutely nuts, as thousands of chasm oglers jostle for glimpses over the South Rim. In winter, you'll get those overlooks almost to yourself--and the grandeur of this 277-mile-long, mile-deep canyon is hardly diminished. Even better, lodging prices plummet, and many activities in and around the park are still going strong. Helicopter rides, an IMAX theater, free ranger programs, visitors' centers and even mule trips are available and relatively uncrowded. Only the South Rim is open; the North Rim (1,000 feet higher in elevation) is closed down by snow. The grand El Tovar Hotel and many of the South Rim lodges remain open. Rooms ranging from $124-$286 are easy to find, and kids under age 16 stay free. Park entry is $20 per car. Call 928-638-7888 for information.

Daytime temperatures: 20s to 50s (about 15 to 25 degrees warmer in the canyon).
Best bet for family fun: Two-day overnight mule ride to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon (kids must be over 4 feet 7 inches tall). Call 928-638-3283.

Rani M. Arbo is a frequent contributor to FAMILYFUN.

For more information on this and other national parks, click here.

Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated July 2005.