When it comes to choosing the honeymoon location, sundrenched resorts usually come to mind first. But couples with a love of the great outdoors couldn't find a better setting than one of America's legendary national park lodges. Moreover, these lodges are proof that exploring our national parks doesn't mean you have to rough it. Many lodges offer all the luxury and amenities of a resort, but with some of the country's most stunning scenery as the backdrop for newlyweds.

Top Ten Honeymoon Hotspots
The American Society of Travel Agents/Fodor’s Annual Honeymoon Hot Spots Survey for Winter 2001, listed its top 10 as "
	1. Tahiti 2. Paris 3. Caribbean 4. Jamaica 5. Italy 6. Greece 7. Bermuda 8. Bali 9. Fiji 10. Bora Bora

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Built in 1927, the impressive, granite- and-timber Ahwahnee in Northern California's Yosemite National Park is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and that makes it seem like an especially auspicious place to start a new marriage. Its location in the heart of Yosemite Valley also makes The Ahwahnee the ideal base from which to explore the park.

Accommodations are in 123 rooms, suites and cottages (complete with CD players and bathrobes). The hotel's public spaces feature Indian-inspired decor, massive stone fireplaces Ð perfect for a romantic nightcap Ð and the legendary Dining Room (it has a dress code in the evening, so remind the groom to bring a jacket and tie). Ask about the overnight "Diamond Anniversary Package," which includes accommodations, special keepsake gifts, a bottle of The Ahwahnee's private- label wine with a pair of commemorative wineglasses, an hour-long behind-the-scenes tour of the hotel and a copy of the book "The Ahwahnee, Yosemite's Classic Hotel." It's available throughout 2002 for $457.50 per couple. Regular room rates start at $326 per night.

Also on the National Register of Historic Places is the Wawona Hotel, located near the park's south entrance. The Wawona was established in 1856 as a stagecoach stop, and many rooms recently underwent an extensive renovation to enhance the hotel's Victorianera charm. Rooms are clustered in eight white Victorian-style buildings with expansive verandas. It's the perfect vantage point from which to watch the deer stroll up to nibble on the foliage. Rates at the Wawona start at $94 per night.

For more reservations and information about The Ahwahnee or Wawona Hotel, call 559-252-4848 or visit www.yosemitepark.com.

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Presiding over Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim in Arizona, the 78-room El Tovar is the elegant base for many park visitors. And it's been serving visitors for nearly a century Ð El Tovar opened for business in 1905 at what was the end of the Santa Fe Railroad line. The hotel has hosted many luminaries over the past century, including Teddy Roosevelt, Zane Grey and Albert Einstein. Rates at El Tovar start at $148 per night.

Another Grand Canyon landmark is the Bright Angel Lodge. Designed by architect Mary E.J. Colter in 1935, it's a rustic gem perched right on the South Rim. You can't get any closer to the canyon without venturing into its depths. Bright Angel Lodge also is the meeting point for visitors taking the famous overnight mule trip to the canyon floor. Cabins range from $76 to $236 per night.

For information about Grand Canyon lodging, call 303-297-2757 (29-PARKS) or visit www.grandcanyonlodges.com.