Kurt Repanshek: Greetings, Penny Farms, Florida,

If you're planning to visit the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone in one trip, I'd recommend a September trip. By then the height of the summer vacation season has passed, crowds are easing off, and the weather is moderating.

However, you might want to consider reversing your trip: Unless you have a reason to visit Denver, fly into Jackson, Wyoming, and rent a car there. Then visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton and head south with stops in Bryce Canyon and possibly Zion before continuing on to the Grand Canyon.

I suggest this as you'll be less likely to run into any early season snowstorms in Wyoming by visiting there first and heading south. Too, by the time you reach the Grand Canyon it won't be as hot as it would normally be earlier in the month.

Have a great time!

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Snohomish, Washington: My wife and two teenage daughters are planning a trip to Yellowstone & The Grand Teton's NP the last week of June. We already plan on seeing Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. But were wondering what other sites are a must see. Plus, are there any activities that would be better for teenagers? We see a lot for younger kids, but not teenagers.

Kurt Repanshek: Hi Snohomish,

There are plenty of activities for teens, depending on how ambitious they are.

At Grand Teton, for instance, you can enroll them in climbing school with an eye on possibly summiting the Grand Teton. Or as a family you could take a raft trip down the Snake River.

You also could rent kayaks or canoes at Dornan's in Moose Junction for some paddling on Jenny Lake or, if time allows, for a longer camping trip on Jackson Lake. You actually can circumnavigate Jackson Lake, with overnight stays at designated campsites, in three days if you're experienced paddlers. Of course, you do have to line up a backcountry permit for that, but that's not insurmountable.

There's lots of paddling possible in Yellowstone, as well, on Lewis, Shoshone and Yellowstone lakes, but you really need some experience before you embark on one of those adventures.

For a short backpacking trip, you can hike from the Old Faithful Inn down to a backcountry site near the Lone Star Geyser, spend the night, and then hike out via the trail from Lone Star to the main road a relatively short distance from the inn. Or, if you have more time, continue on down to Shoshone Lake for an overnight there.

There are plenty of day hikes in Yellowstone that are apropos for teens but not younger kids, such as the hike up onto Specimen Ridge and then over to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. If your kids like history, they might enjoy the Museum of the National Park Ranger housed at the Norris Ranger Station, or hiking down to Tower Fall to see where 19th century artist Thomas Moran painted the view.

Another great resource is the Yellowstone Association, which offers many field seminars for young and old. In late June, for example, they are offering programs on photography in Yellowstone, wildflowers, Yellowstone's "geoecosystem," field sketching, and learning how to navigate by map and compass. Check out their programs at yellowstoneassociation.org.

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Manhattan Beach, CA. : We're planning a trip to National Parks in Western states and we'd like your opinion on the best parks to find some outstanding fishing opportunities. We don't mind some hiking in order to get to pristine, off-the-grid areas of the park, if we can have a unique fishing adventure. We are planning our trip during the summer of 2007.

Thanks, Greg

Kurt Repanshek: Hi Greg,

Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are renowned for their trout fishing, and you really don't need to put a lot of hiking in to reach the streams. In fact, there are many places in both parks where you can simply park in a pullout and hike down to a river and begin casting.

In Yellowstone, the Madison River between the West Entrance and Madison Junction and the Yellowstone River north of Fishing Bridge, both are popular with anglers. Yellowstone Lake, meanwhile, has a sizeable lake trout population that park officials would like to eradicate because it's non-native, so if you have a boat or don't mind renting one that's a good place to try your luck. You also might hook into one of the lake's famous cutthroat trout.

If you want a good hike before fishing, head to the Lewis River Channel that ties together Shoshone and Lewis lakes and see what's biting. For a longer hike, consider the Bechler region in the park's southwestern corner. I'm told the cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing in the Falls River above Cave Falls, about 4 miles in from the Bechler Ranger Station is pretty respectable. One problem with this option, though, is the bugs are pretty notorious until August.

Yet one more option is to go to Tower Fall, head down to the Yellowstone River, and work your way along the stream away from the crowds for some angling.

In Grand Teton, you can hire a drift boat to float the Snake, work the waters along Oxbow Bend, or head onto Jackson Lake for lake trout. To work some hiking into the equation, head to Phelps Lake, which holds brook, cutthroat, and some lake trout. The roundtrip is only 4 miles.

Be sure, of course, to check the parks' fishing regulations and to pick up a Wyoming license.

Best of luck!

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Portland, OR: I'm going to Alaska for a little over a week and definately want to visit Denali National Park, what do you recommend doing at the park to get the best experience? We are two healthy 20/30s hikers. We would really like to camp out in the part but are nervous about the bears, any advice?

Thanks, Kellie

Kurt Repanshek: Hi Kellie,

The first couple times I backpacked in Yellowstone I dreaded calling it a night and crawling into my tent. I thought for sure I was going to have a bear experience. That was more than two decades ago. I'm happy to report that the only grizzly bears I've seen in Yellowstone have been more than a quarter-mile away from me, interested in everything but me.

The key to having a good time in bear country is keeping your head about you and paying attention to the basics. In Denali, as in other parks with bears, whether they're black or grizzlies, avoid surprise encounters. Don't go through thick, brushy areas if you can avoid it. Make some noise, whether that's talking loudly or even singing, if you're hiking through areas where you can't "see around the next bend." And pay attention for bear sign, whether that's fresh scat or tracks, both when you're hiking and when you're deciding where to camp. Obviously, you don't want to camp anywhere near a bear kill.

When you do choose your campsite, be sure to set up your kitchen at least 300 feet downwind of where you pitch your tent, and be sure to change the cloths you wore for cooking and eating before you call it a night. Also, keep your camp clean and store all food and scented items -- including toothpaste -- in bear-resistant containers at least 300 feet from your tent.

And before you head out into the park, check with rangers for areas where bear activity has been reported recently.

Don't let bears keep you out of the parks. Just accept that they're part of the landscape and that while you don't have to fear them, you surely must respect them, and preparing properly for hiking and camping in the landscape is part of that respect.