The off season is a great time to visit our national parks. Not everything will be up and running, but the good news is that many parks offer off-season programming—and they don’t all involve hiking!

Yosemite National Park draws visitors in the slower season with culinary programming every winter.

At Yosemite’s Ahwahnee hotel, Bracebridge is an 80-year-old event that combines dining and theater.

Vintner’s Holiday features eight sessions of wine-paired dinners, and Chef’s Holiday includes cooking demonstrations, kitchen tours and a five-course dinner where each course is prepared by a different chef.

Both Joshua Tree National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park offer artist-in-residence programs, where on-site artists showcase their works in and around the parks.

At Lake Quinault Lodge in Olympic National Park, guests can participate in culinary weekends in January, March and May.

And in Shenandoah National Park, the Skyland Resort showcases a different Virginia winery every Thursday afternoon.

Of course, you ARE in a national park so don’t skip outdoor activities altogether.

Ask about off-season programs like winter hiking, snowshoeing, and stargazing—and you may even find that the low season is actually the “go” season.

For more, don’t miss our complete National Parks section.

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