Death Valley: Winter’s Warm and Affordable Wonderland

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Death Valley: Winter’s Warm and Affordable Wonderland

If your ideal winter holiday includes bikinis over blizzards, golf clubs over ski clubs, and a suntan over a wind burn–not to mention savings over spending–consider California’s Death Valley National Park where hiking, swimming, golfing, and affordable fun are backed by temperate days and gorgeous eves.

ONE HOT DESTINATION
Located on the California/Nevada border, approximately 120 miles from Las Vegas and 300 miles from Los Angeles, Death Valley is the hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America, with annual rainfall of about 2.5 inches. The reason for Death Valley’s extreme climate is found in its geography. There are four major mountain ranges between the Pacific Ocean and Death Valley. When winter storms move east from the Pacific Ocean, they must pass over these mountain ranges to continue east. When the rising clouds cool they produce rain or snow on the western side of these mountains. When those clouds reach the eastern side of the mountains, however, they no longer have as much moisture.

Death Valley is also one of the hottest places on earth, so break out the bathing suit and sunscreen! The highest recorded air temperature was 134 degrees–at the Furnace Creek Ranch in July 1913. The summer of 1996 had 40 days with temperatures over 120 degrees and 105 days over 110 degrees. The park’s depth, shape and minimal plant cover all contribute to the park’s extreme temperatures. Death Valley’s famous spring wildflower show can begin as early as late February, when much of the country is still frosty.

With warm, but not overly hot, climes and gorgeous vistis, it’s no surprise that the winter months are prime for travelers to explore the continental U.S.’s largest national park, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be mashed in with a crowd. With 3.3 million acres and a surprisingly low visitor rate, there is plenty of park to explore.

WHERE TO STAY

The park’s four lodges, two RV parks, and nine campgrounds provide overnight accommodations for Death Valley visitors. Concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates three lodges –Furnace Creek Inn (pictured at the top of the story), Furnace Creek Ranch (above), and Stovepipe Wells – as well as an RV Park. Campgrounds are managed by the National Park Service.

WHAT TO DO

At Furnace Creek Inn, guests can swim, relax, or linger in front of an outdoor fireplace at the tranquil, garden-flanked pool, which is kept at a comfortable 82 degrees by a warm spring.

More sporty types can tee off at the Furnace Creek Golf Course; At 214 feet below sea level, the course is the lowest in the world. Because the golf ball does not fly as far as it does at sea level and higher elevation courses, players must adjust their club selections as well as their mental approaches. The course also features small greens, strategically placed Palm and Tamarisk trees and water on nine holes.

Nature nuggets will love the hiking opportunities. Although there are no formal trails, paths carved out by past travelers are easy to follow. The National Park Service conducts interpretive programs daily including guided walks and naturalist talks. The programs begin at the National Park Service Visitor Center next to the Furnace Creek Ranch.

Most park visitors make the 55-mile drive from Furnace Creek to Scotty’s Castle to take a tour of the park’s Moorish-style structure and to learn the convoluted, entertaining tale of how the castle came to be built. The story involves a secret gold mine; a millionaire and his religious, musical wife; and an utterly charming con artist.

Scotty’s Castle