by Tom Bastek
Last updated: 6:15 PM ET, Mon April 6, 2015
Photos courtesy of each property
National Parks are in the spotlight this year with the National Park Service celebrating their 100th birthday and the U.S. Government striking out on a big marketing campaign. Of course you can camp in most of the national parks and if you are not interested in roughing it, you can always grab a hotel somewhere close by.
But what if you want to go all out? Maybe it is a family get together that has been in the works for years or it is your grandmother's 80th birthday party? Here are a few places that spare no expense when it comes to next-to-national park accommodations.
Cowboy Manor - Big Sky, Montana
Located just a short drive from Yellowstone National Park, Cowboy Manor is the pie in the(Big) sky accommodations you have been dreaming of. Six bedrooms, six baths, 8,000 square feet, and all the amenities of a five-star resort. There is a billiard room, theater room, and even a ski room with four washer and dryer sets. There is a full, professional kitchen, fire pit, barbeque, hot tub, and Wi-Fi, too.
But the views are why you came, and boy are they gorgeous. If you are a skier, think about heading up here in the winter, where you can literally ski off the back deck right onto the mountain and then at the end of the day, ski back down to the property. The kids will absolutely love the two bunk rooms that are connected by a bridge. You can have it all for only $21,000 a week.
Buffalo House - Teton Village, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park is right around the corner from this awesome escape, and it has everything you need to get away. Seven bedrooms and eight and a half baths, the abode will sleep 14 people comfortably and the full size kitchen will feed an army.
The 6,363 square feet also includes a great room and a media room, as well as a private deck off the main master bedroom including a jetted soaking tub, steam room, and double-headed shower as well. The media/conference room can accommodate 30, and is equipped with internet service, fax and high-speed printer, teleconferencing, power point, and eight conference tables. All this can be yours to the tune of just under $40,000 a week.
Moose Hollow Lodge - Sevierville, Tennessee
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is less than five miles from the Moose Hollow Lodge - and these accommodations are pretty big. Up to this point you are looking at places that sleep the extended family of about 10-15 people. What if you needed to go slightly bigger?
The Moose Hollow Lodge has nine bedrooms which sleep an amazing 56 people. There is also an indoor swimming pool, a chapel/conference center as well as game room with five videogames, an air hockey table, pool table and 22-seat movie theater. Here is the best part: This rental is only $14,887 per week in the mid summer. That works out to about $265 per person per week. WOW!
"El Capitan" at the Redwoods in Yosemite - Wawona, California
You can't get much closer than six miles inside of Yosemite, and "El Capitan" is at the peak of luxury when it comes to cabin rentals in California. There are four bedrooms, four baths, and accommodations for up to 14 people at any one time. Whirlpool tubs, gas fireplaces, flat screen TV's, not to mention handcrafted log ceilings, a log staircase, and carved animals will get you in the mood for the wilderness.
A full size, professional kitchen complements a very large picnic table and a built-in gas grill. Fine dining and golf are located nearby and all the hiking you could want starts right outside. In the winter, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy as well. All this and more if the price is right: Just over $10,000 a week in the high season.
So if you were looking for luxury and wanted to keep it out in the woods of a national park, this is the way to go. Where do you like to live it up while keeping it au naturel? Let me know in the comments below.
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