NEW 2011 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK LODGING & LEARNING PACKAGES

For curious travelers who want to explore Yellowstone National Park by day and stay in comfortable hotels at night, Xanterra Parks & Resorts and the non-profit Yellowstone Association Institute announce their summer 2011 lineup of multi-day “Lodging & Learning” packages.

With the exception of the “Roosevelt Rendezvous” and “Yellowstone for Families” programs, all Lodging & Learning packages are designed for a maximum of 12 people and for participants who are a minimum of 12 years old. Members of the Yellowstone Association receive $10 off the price of each program. Rates do not include tax or utility fee. Reservations for all programs can be made by calling (1) 307-344-7311 or toll-free 866-GEYSERLAND (866-439-7375). Online information is available at www.YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com and www.yellowstoneassociation.org.

New this year is the Summer Wildlife Expedition, a four-day package offered beginning June 23, July 7 and 21 and August 4 and 18. This package is focused on wildlife viewing and features two nights of lodging at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, three nights at Lake Yellowstone Hotel, breakfast and box lunch daily, dinner on the last night, in-park bus transportation, expert instruction by an Institute wildlife biologist and optional evening programs. Activities include hikes of up to five miles per day with occasional elevation gains up to 500 feet in undulating terrain. Some off-trail hiking is possible. Rates are $1,299 per person for double occupancy and $1,745 per person for single occupancy.

“Yellowstone for Families” – named “Best Summer Family Camp in America” by “Good Morning America” and Family Fun — is designed for families with children between eight and 12. The package includes four nights at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Grant Village; age-appropriate field activities such as animal tracking, wildlife-watching, painting and hiking; breakfast and box lunches each day, in-park transportation, instruction and optional evening programs. Programs are offered Monday to Friday and Friday to Tuesday from June 6 to Aug. 19. Rates for programs at Mammoth are $2,148 for a family of two adults and two children. Rates for programs in Grant Village are $2,548 for a family of two adults and two children.

“Essential Yellowstone” is a four-day, five-night package offered starting May 20 and 27, June 3, Aug. 26 and September 2 and 16. The program includes expert instruction by an Institute naturalist/guide, five nights of accommodations at Lake Hotel, breakfast and box lunch daily, dinner on the last night, in-park transportation and optional evening programs. Rates per person are $1,119 for double occupancy and $1,667 for single occupancy.

“Old Times on the Grand Tour” is a five-day, six-night program offering visitors a chance to see Yellowstone from the perspective of the park’s early visitors. Participants stay two nights each at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the Lake Hotel. During the day they take the famous “Grand Tour” of Yellowstone in the luxury of a refurbished “Historic Yellow Bus.” The tour includes stops at cultural sites from the park’s past, walking tours of historic and thermal areas and stops to view wildlife. The five-day program is offered with start dates of May 22and 29, June 5, July 3, 17, 24 and 31, Aug. 14 and 28 and Sept. 4, 11 and 18. Rates are $1,529 per person for double occupancy and $1,973 per person for single occupancy.

The “Spring Wolf & Bear Discovery” is a three-day, four-night program offered several times during the months of May and June. This program includes lodging at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, breakfast and box lunch daily, dinner on the last night, in-park transportation, optional evening programs and expert instruction by an Institute naturalist. Field activities include optional sunrise and sunset trips to Yellowstone’s Northern Range to look for bears and wolves, short hikes in bear and wolf habitat and two classroom presentations focusing on the behavior of these famous predators. This program is priced at $639 per person for double occupancy and $857 for single occupancy.

The “Fall Wolf & Elk Discovery” is a four-night program offered starting August 25 and 31, Sept. 6, 12, 18 24 and 30 and Oct. 6. This program includes lodging at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, breakfast and box lunch daily, dinner on the last night, in-park van transportation, optional evening programs and expert instruction by an Institute naturalist. Field activities include optional sunrise and sunset trips to Yellowstone’s Northern Range to watch elk during their annual rutting season, to look for wolves in their natural habitat, short hikes and two classroom presentations. This program is priced at $619 per person for double occupancy and $837 for single occupancy.

“Trails Through Yellowstone” will be available Monday to Friday May 30 to Sept. 26.  This package includes daily four- to eight-mile hikes of moderate difficulty, expert instruction by an Institute naturalist/guide, two nights of lodging at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and two nights at Grant Village, breakfast and box lunch daily, in-park van transportation and optional evening programs. Carefully chosen hikes are designed to showcase the park’s natural beauty and wildlife, including hikes around the Old Faithful geyser basin and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The program includes an evening expedition to search for wildlife. This program is priced at $799 per person for double occupancy and $1,057 single occupancy.

The “Roosevelt Rendezvous” is a popular fall-season program that includes four nights of lodging in a private cabin with a shared bath at Roosevelt Lodge; expert instruction by Institute naturalist/guides and guest speakers; breakfast, lunch and dinner each day; in-park van transportation and optional evening programs. The “Roosevelt Rendezvous” is designed as a four-day educational experience for up to 52 participants who will have exclusive use of the Roosevelt Lodge. Participants can explore the park on their own or choose from a variety of small-group activities that suit their interests and physical abilities. Examples include vigorous guided hikes, easy geology strolls or searching for wolves with a wolf biologist. Each evening participants convene in the main lodge for buffet-style meals and evening programs. This program is priced at $729 per person for double occupancy and $859 for single occupancy. “Roosevelt Rendezvous” is offered Sept. 9, 13 and 17.

Lodging & Learning programs can be booked by calling (1) 307-344-7311 or toll-free 866-GEYSERLAND (1-866-439-7375). Yellowstone Association members receive a $10 discount on all courses, and family memberships begin at just $35 per year.

In addition to Summer Lodging & Learning Packages, Xanterra offers three Summer Adventure Packages.  Yellowstone Couples is offered beginning each Saturday June 4-Oct. 1, 2011. Classic Yellowstone is offered each Tuesday and Saturday June 14 – Sept. 3, 2011. Total Yellowstone is offered Sundays June 5 – Aug. 28, 2011.

For more information about accommodations, restaurants and activities in Yellowstone visit www.YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com or call toll-free (1) 866-GEYSERLAND (1-866-439-7375).