Kurt Repanshek: Greetings, Pomona,

Kid-friendliest park?

They're all kid-friendly! Of course, different kids have fun doing different things.

Kids who like to be dwarfed by trees or like crawling through the trunks of trees have a great time in Sequoia. Too, the concessionaire also happens to have an incredibly kid-friendly BBQ at Wolverton during the summer.

Yosemite, of course, offers so many activities -- floating on rafts down the Merced, biking, hiking, outdoor pools, -- that it's almost like summer camp.

Point Reyes National Seashore isn't any less kid-friendly, but it relies a bit more on a kid's imagination and self-motivation. There's beach-combing, kayaking, bike riding, and self-guided trails that teach kids about earthquakes and wildlife.

I think the final answer comes down to what you think your children will enjoy the most.

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Wellsville, KS: Which national parks require an advance reservation to get into?

Kurt Repanshek: Hi Wellsville,

No park that I know of requires an advance reservation to enter. However, some parks do require you to make advance reservations for things like backcountry campsites, and in the case of the cave tours at Mammoth Cave National Park it's not a bad idea to book ahead.

In the case of backcountry campsites, parks typically reserve a number of slots for walk-up traffic

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Minster, Ohio: My husband Ken and I (55&54) are planning to visit friends in early September at Lake Powell. We'll be staying with them on their houseboat for several days, but in the area for a week or so. We would like to know what day trips we should definately do while we're there. We'd fly from Dayton, Ohio...is it best to fly into Vegas and drive from there or is another way more scenic. We've already done Red Rocks and Valley of Fire, we like hiking but are not mountain climbers. Highlights of the Lake Powell area? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Sarah

Kurt Repanshek: Hi Sarah,

Yes, your best bet probably is to fly into Vegas and rent a car from there. One option you might want to consider is a stop at Snow Canyon State Park just north of St. George, Utah. While this is a state park, I've told many friends that its scenery deserves national park status. It's gorgeous and there are some nice day hikes. (Movie trivia buffs will know that parts of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "Jeremiah Johnson" were filmed here.)

From there you can swing by Zion National Park on your way down to Lake Powell.

A great day hike in the general vicinity of Lake Powell if you've never done it is in Buckskin Gulch along the Utah-Arizona border. The gulch actually is a slot canyon with colorful, beautifully fluted walls. You can reach both the Buckskin and Wire Pass trail heads via a passable dirt road that heads south off U.S. 89 near milepost 26 east of Kanab. The Buckskin Trailhead is about 4 miles down this road, and the Wire Pass Trailhead about another 3.5 miles. The difference between the two is that the Wire Pass Trailhead gets you into the narrower sections of the canyon more quickly.

If you do consider this, it's paramount that you pay attention to the weather, as thunderstorms even 10 miles away can cause deadly flashfloods through the canyon.

Another interesting side-trip in the area is to the Paria movie set, where parts of Westerns such as "The Outlaw Josey Wales" starring Clint Eastwood and "Sergeants Three" with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. were filmed. A road leading to the set is about 45 minutes east of Kanab on the north side of U.S. 89.

Finally, have you ever visited the North Rim of the Grand Canyon? It's a relatively short distance from both Page, Arizona, and Kanab, Utah, and offers heavily treed forests, much cooler temperatures, and great views into the canyon.

Have a fantastic trip!

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Tampa, Florida: My husband and I are taking a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks in June with our energetic and adventurous 3-year-old son. What hikes and activities do you recommend?

Kurt Repanshek: Hello Tampa,

Yellowstone and Grand Teton offer great adventures for youngsters with energy to burn.

In Grand Teton you can take a boat across Jenny Lake -- or hike around the lake on a paved trail -- and hike a little way up the Cascade Canyon Trail to Hidden Falls. Climbing classes are held here throughout the summer because of the rock formations, and there are plenty of small bouldering areas where your son can work on his own moves, as long as you carefully spot for him.

String Lake and Leigh Lake, found just north of Jenny Lake, are popular for swimming because they're relatively shallow and so warm up a bit. String Lake is the shallower of the two.

In Yellowstone, the geyser basins no doubt will captivate your son. Just be careful to keep him under control, as the waters are dangerously hot. Hiking the entire boardwalk through the Upper Geyser Basin likely will tucker him out.
Another good hike is the one to Lone Star Geyser, as it's only 5 miles roundtrip, is paved, runs along the Firehole River, and culminates at the geyser. Before you head down this trail, though, check with the Old Faithful Visitor Center for the estimated time of Lone Star's next eruption so you can time your hike perfectly.

For some "western" fun, you and your son might consider one of the Chuckwagon cookouts operated out of Tower-Roosevelt.

Have a great trip!

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Raleigh, NC: Me and my fiance would like to plan a trip out west next year. There are so many beautiful National Parks out there, we don't know which to choose. The trip will be 2 weeks long and we would like to backpack through 3 Parks. Which would you recommend and when would be the best time to go?

Thanks

Kurt Repanshek: Hi Raleigh, North Carolina,

I'm partial to the Rocky Mountain parks, as they're in my backyard, but if you want to visit three national parks without getting in and out of your car I'd have to suggest Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite as Sequoia and Kings Canyon share a common border and Yosemite is just to the north.

Depending on how strong of hikers you are and how much time you want to spend on the trail, you could probably knock off the 211-mile-long John Muir Trail during your trek. It runs from the Yosemite Valley south to Mount Whitney on Sequoia's southeastern boundary. It's pretty hard to beat the alpine lakes and granite domes that highlight the High Sierra scenery.

Time-wise, I'd consider late-August or early September, as it will be cooler, less crowded and not so buggy. If you head south to north and book now, you can land a pretty nice room in the Yosemite Lodge at the end of your hike!

Sounds like a great escape!

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Charleston, WV: My husband and I will be staying at the Grand Canyon for two days the week of December 16 as part of a trip to Vegas. Would you recommend a room on the rim of the canyon to experience the great views, or should we stay at El Tovar? Also, what should we definitely plan to see and do during our visit? Thanks for your assistance.

Kurt Repanshek: Hi Charleston,

A benefit of visiting the Grand Canyon in December is that you'll avoid the bulk of the crowds. Landing a room won't be as hard as trying to reserve one, say, in June or September.

If price is of no concern, by all means stay at El Tovar. It's beautiful, historically significant, has great amenities, and a great dining room. At Bright Angel, though, you could save some money by reserving one of the cabins with a view of the canyon. They're not as upscale as El Tovar, but they're nice, clean, and reasonable. Plus, you can't beat the view. The Arizona Room, which also has a great chef, is a short walk away.

As for things to see, keep in mind that in December daylight is precious, so you'll have to get right after things in the morning. If you like to hike, head out to Yaki Point and head down the South Kaibab Trail. Now, you're certainly not going to make it all the way down to the Colorado River and back, but a nice three-mile-long roundtrip takes you to Cedar Ridge, which has some great views into the canyon. If the day is nice, it's also a great spot for a picnic.

Another nice hike can be accomplished simply by walking along the paved trail winding along the South Rim.

Though it's small, the Tusayan Museum and associated ruins shed some great light on how ancestral Puebloans lived on the South Rim.

If you're looking to capture the perfect photo of the canyon, sunset shots are best taken from Hopi, Mojave or Pima points, while sunrises are best viewed from Mather, Yaki, Yavapai or Lipan points.

If the weather isn't cooperating, the Kolb Studio usually has some great art exhibits, and at the recently renovated Yavapai Observation Station you can get a pretty thorough geologic primer on the canyon, as well as some great views.

Have a great time!

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Herndon, VA: What are your favorite or "secret" places to visit in Yosemite?

Kurt Repanshek: C'mon, Herndon, Virginia, travel writers don't divulge their secret places;-) But if you promise not to tell anyone else...

One of my favorite areas in the park is the landscape on either side of the Tioga Road running all the way to Tuolumne Meadows. Most of Yosemite's traffic stays in the valley, so most of the trails that peel off from the road don't see that much foot traffic, at least not compared to trails that start from the valley floor.

Also, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias near Wawona doesn't draw as many folks as does Sequoia National Park. There are a number of trails here that will lead you away from what crowds do show up and under the giant trees.

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Orlando, Florida: Can a family with a 5 year old enjoy Navajo loop trail and Queens Garden trail in Bryce National Park? or is it too strenuous? suggestions?

Kurt Repanshek: Hi Orlando,

This is a good news, bad news answer.

Yes, a 5-year-old should be able to handle the Queens Garden Trail at Bryce. It's actually the least difficult of all the trails that lead down into the canyon.

However, keep in mind that Bryce Canyon is at an elevation of 8,000 feet, quite a bit above sea level, and so it might take you and your 5-year-old a couple days to get used to the thin air. Too, there's a 320-foot elevation change from the trailhead down into the canyon, and you have to climb back out. Still, I would think the hike shouldn't be a problem if your family is in relatively good shape and you pace yourselves.

The bad news is that the Navajo Loop Trail is only partially open. A massive rock slide that came down one year ago tomorrow blocked a section of the trail, so you can't hike the entire loop.

If you visit the park's website, www.nps.gov/brca, you'll be able to find a hiking guide that lists all the trails and their degree of difficulty.

Enjoy your visit!

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Columbus, Ohio: Kurt,

I will be traveling this summer from 6/28-7/30 to National Parks, Sand Dunes (C0), Messa Verde, Arches and Yellowstone- North side. We are traveling by car. My kids are 14, 12 and 10. What hikes are your favorites in these NP? My kids just did a very difficult hike yesterday in S. Ohio- our high hills- 1240ft- 7 miles of ups and downs- 5 hours, to let you know their ability to do hard hikes.

Thanks, Suzanne

Kurt Repanshek: Hi Suzanne,

It sounds like you've lined up a fantastic roadtrip. You might want to toss Grand Teton into your itinerary, as you'll drive through it on the way to Yellowstone.

I'm afraid I haven't been to Great Sand Dunes National Park just yet, so I can't recommend anything there. At Mesa Verde, though, you'll definitely want to tour the cliff dwellings. The most challenging and one your kids will probably like the most is Balcony House, as you have to climb a series of ladders as you work through it. Cliff Palace isn't as challenging, but is impressive because of its size.

Long House is the second largest dwelling and also requires more of a hike and scampering around that is kid friendly.

In Arches, definitely head out to Landscape Arch and beyond to Double O, then return via the Primitive Trail, which runs through washes and along the backs of stone fines. Your kids will love it. Delicate Arch, of course, is mandatory!

In Yellowstone, hike up onto Specimen Ridge. The thin air might challenge you a bit, but the views are wonderful, as are the stone trees. Plus, you can go cross-country to the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Have a fantastic time!

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Kurt Repanshek: Well, I'm afraid my time is up. Thanks for all your great questions and interest in our national parks. They're wonderful places to experience.

If I wasn't able to get around to your specific question, contact the park it relates to and the staff should be able to help you out.

To stay atop of park issues and information year-round, visit my blog, nationalparkstraveler.com.