Kurt Repanshek: Greetings, Scranton, Pennsylvania,

October is about the best time of year to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway down to Great Smoky Mountain because of the fall colors. Of course, this makes the route heavily traveled at this time of year and the most expensive in terms of lodging. And if you haven't already made lodging reservations, it might be too late.

As for lodging, I love the arts and craft influences in the Big Meadows Lodge in Shenandoah National Park near the northern end of the Parkway, and the Peaks of the Otter Lodge at milepost 86 on the Parkway is in a gorgeous setting and offers comfortable rooms, though I'm not sure how much "character" they exude.

As you get closer to Great Smoky Mountains, your best bets will be in the towns along the route.

Good luck and good travels!

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Mt. Laurel, NJ: We're going to Glacier NP the last week of August and wondering the best things to do for a couple who are into short hikes, but nothing too strenuous. Are the boat trips worth going on?

Kurt Repanshek: Hi Mount Laurel, New Jersey,

Glacier is one of my favorite parks. It's wonderfully scenic and definitely has a raw, wild side to it.

One of my favorite hikes is to Avalanche Lake. The trailhead is just a bit east of Lake McDonald and the trail itself is relatively short, just 2.3 miles from the trailhead to the lake, and not steep at all.

Along the way you cruise through a cedar and hemlock forest alongside Avalanche Creek, which crashes and roars on its way down towards Lake McDonald. The payoff is a beautiful lake surrounding on three sides by towering cliffs, down from which streams cascade (although in late August there might not be too much water in those streams). The lake is a perfect destination for a picnic.

Another favorite Glacier hike of mine is the walk to Hidden Lake. This trail heads out from the Logan Pass Visitor Center and runs 1.5 miles to an overlook of the lake. Again, this trail isn't too steep. It winds across alpine meadows that lure mountain goats to the grasses, forbs and wildflowers. The views in all directions are spectacular.

A third possibility is the St. Mary Falls Trail, which is less than two miles roundtrip. It runs from the Jackson Glacier Overlook to some falls on the St. Mary River.

As for the boat trips, if you like to spend a lazy hour or so cruising across one of the lakes while listening to a naturalist talk about the area, they can be enjoyable. I much prefer the Red Jammer tours. Cruising about the park in the open-air bus without having to worry about other motorists or parking while drinking in the scenery and learning some insights from the driver is wonderfully relaxing. There are half-day and full-day tours available.

Have a great visit!

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Honolulu: I am planning a trip to the Western Rockies and Yellowstone, etc in late September. Will this be a good time to go or will there be snow at that time? Living in Hawaii I do not relish seeing snow. Cool weather is OK ...

Kurt Repanshek: Greetings Honolulu,

September is a fantastic time to be in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Will you see snow? That's hard to say. When I first moved out West back in 1985 there were two incredible snowstorms in September that, if memory serves me right, dumped upwards of a foot of snow on the parks.

But I also recall a backpacking trip in late September in 1989 when a buddy and I caught some rays lying on the black sand beaches of Shoshone Lake in just our shorts.

That said, odds are that while it will be cooling off, you probably won't see any snow.

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Corning, NY: We want to wander from national park to national park camping in our 5th wheel. We don't want to be on a schedule so we could stay as short or long as we decided at the time. Are there national parks that we do not need reservations and what time of year?

Kurt Repanshek: Hi Corning, New York,

Not knowing when you plan to travel or in which direction, it's a bit hard to answer your question. That said, the shoulder seasons offer you the best bets for arriving in a national park and finding a site for your rig without an advance reservation.

Of course, shoulder seasons are getting shorter and shorter and they differ in different parts of the country. For instance, in Death Valley the summer months is the slow -- and incredibly hot -- season, while winter is busy. It's just the opposite in Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton.

You could simply follow the seasons, cruising through the South and Southwest during the fall and winter months and then head north for spring and summer. Your best bet would be to settle on a route to follow and check with each park's website for camping information to get a rough idea of what to expect.

Another thought is to avoid the "crown jewels" of the park system, the Yellowstones, Yosemite and Grand Canyons, and look to places such as Cape Lookout National Seashore, Great Basin National Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Point Reyes National Seashore, and Redwood National Park. They're just as scenic and relaxing, but without the crowds.

And with the online reservation system, you can see what's available and plan your next move as you work your way across the country.

Have a great trip. Sounds like a wonderful way to enjoy the park system.

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Pomona, CA: Which National Park in California is the kid friendliest or most fun?