As the big rampage of 2021 begins, sending travelers trapped by the pandemic back to the world, many are heading to Europe’s reopened borders, but others remain in the United States and head to the country’s national parks. , a trend that started last year but is reaching record numbers this year. The attractions are obvious: wide open spaces, spectacular nature, a variety of outdoor activities, especially for family outings. Given the proximity to hotel parks that would also be destinations in themselves, travelers don’t need to sacrifice comfort or luxury amenities to spend this time in nature. And they might need some pampering after avoiding the crowds entering or in the parks. (The official advice is to go on weekdays or after peak season.)

Sureau Castle near Yosemite National Park. This Relais & Chateaux member is 26 miles from the entrance to the 1,200 square mile park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Due to COVID regulations, visitors must have reservations to enter the park that the resort can arrange as well as activities such as renting boats for canoeing, fishing or just floating along Bass Lake, fishing. fly with a guide on the Merced River, treks on horseback and off-road adventures. After a day out, guests can unwind in the 10-room, nine-acre retreat designed with ornate European furnishings to resemble an inn in the French countryside. For more privacy, the separate 2,000 square foot Villa du Sureau is located behind a gated entrance. Classic European cuisine is available at the hotel’s Elderberry House restaurant, and treatments to relax muscles after an active day, such as hiker rest, are offered at Spa du Sureau.

Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain near Great Smoky Mountains National Park This 800 square mile park evenly split between Tennessee and North Carolina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich biodiversity, a showcase of Forested mountains, waterfalls and hiking trails. Within a 14 mile radius are two sister properties considered to be some of the best in the country. Blackberry Farm, the original property and another Relais & Chateaux member, is a large resort on 4,200 acres with sophisticated, refined decor and a foodie mecca with an esteemed culinary program and restaurant. Three kilometers away, Blackberry Mountain opened in 2018 on 5,200 acres of Great Smoky Mountains terrain, continuing the culinary focus and adding a range of outdoor adventures and wellness disciplines.

Amangani near Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. This Aman resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming is just 9 miles from the gateway to Grand Teton National Park, known for its alpine peaks, crystal-clear lakes and the Snake River for whitewater rafting and hiking. fly fishing. Yellowstone and its 3,500 square miles of famous canyons, forests, and geysers spread between Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho is a longer drive – 60 miles – but closer than the upscale Montana ranches. Typical of Amans, the design is clean, the environment serene, the well-being quotient extended and the views impressive.

Amangiri near Zion National Park Amangani’s sister property in Utah, 95 miles from the chiseled red sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park, inhabits 600 acres of the desert landscape of the Colorado Plateau. These striking formations are visible from the contemporary suites of the main lodge or its tented lodge, Camp Sarika. Both carry on the Aman tradition of a sense of place in dining with Southwestern specialties in restaurants and holistic Navajo healing traditions in the 25,000 square foot spa.

The Sedona Inn near Grand Canyon National Park There are views of the red rocks that surround Sedona, Arizona and the bubbling sounds of Oak Creek next to the cottages at this tranquil resort. 115 miles away are the even more spectacular views of this iconic 18-mile-wide expanse of layered rock canyons that are millions of years old; the hotel concierge will advise you on how best to experience it on a day trip and where to stop along the way. Back at the resort, outside of the cottages and lodge rooms that blend contemporary lines with traditional furnishings, L’Auberge offers sophisticated creek-side cuisine and transformative services using desert ingredients in the spa nestled in the forest. .

The Inn at Little Washington near Shenandoah National Park This Virginia National Park offers 200,000 acres of waterfalls, woods and wildlife. 18 miles away, The Inn at Little Washington, a member of Relais & Châteaux, has long been known as a gourmet haven under the leadership of chef / owner Patrick O’Connell. The decor isn’t for minimalists: it’s lush and traditional in the two separate cottages surrounding the Main Inn and in the Main Inn suites named after celebrity chefs from Julia Child to Daniel Boulud and the recently redesigned suite n ° 6 designed to resemble the Ritz Paris. Before heading to the park, you can relax in the gardens overlooking the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains or stroll through the colonial Washington village overlooked by and named after George.

Under Canvas Acadia near Acadia National Park This northeastern glamping business’s first location opened in May in Surry, Maine, 20 miles from the park’s 47,000 acres of mountain, trails hike through fir and spruce forests and rugged coastline. The park is visible from the 100-acre campground bordering Union River Bay and is made up of 63 luxury tents on raised decks, all with en-suite bathrooms and wood-burning stoves for those chilly Maine nights. The tents can accommodate two to seven people and the camp also includes a 24-hour front desk with attendants who can arrange other adventures and a cafe using local ingredients for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.