David and Kay Scott


Biography

The two of us have traveled the national parks for nearly forty years, many of which were in a series of four VW campers including a 1967, a 1971, a 1978, and a 1987. We devoted five summers to visiting and staying in as many national park lodges as possible. Each trip comprised 10,000 to 12,000 miles of driving and stays in 30 to 40 different lodges. We have stayed in each of the nine Yellowstone lodges, each of the four Olympic NP lodges, all four of the Death Valley NP lodges, all the Glacier National Park lodges, and all the lodges in Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. We have taken the boat to Rock Harbor Lodge in Isle Royale NP and the motorboats to Kettle Falls Hotel in Voyageurs National Park and Ross Lake Resort in North Cascades National Park Complex. Our book, "The Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges" was first published by the Globe Pequot Press in 1997 and is now in its sixth edition. We have resided in Valdosta, Georgia, since 1975.

We have authored travel articles for numerous magazines and newspapers including the Miami Herald, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Orlando Sentinel, Minneapolis Tribune, Milwaukee Journal, Oklahoman, and the San Diego Union. We were twice guests on NBC's Today, once from Yellowstone and again from the Grand Canyon. David is a retired professor of finance, who has authored two dozen books about personal finance and investing. His latest finance books, "The American Heritage Dictionary of Business Terms" and "Wall Street Words" are published by Houghton Mifflin. Kay was a teacher and administrator in several elementary schools.



David's Most Recent Comments (view all)
  • 5/14/2009 4:32 am - Looking For Lodging: the Blue Ridge Parkway : Perhaps you got some type of package deal at Pisgah. The listed price is $120 and the last time we stayed breakfast was not included in the room rate. Maybe they include breakfast in some specials. For example, a room at the Chateau at Oregon Caves now includes breakfast. Still, ...


David's Most Recent Articles (view all)
With the approach of Christmas and New Year's, some people remain undecided about what to do and where to go for the holidays. Here are a few suggestions for year-end national park vacations that are likely to result in some lasting memories.
Perched on a rise in the middle of one of the world’s driest and hottest deserts sits what is surely a mirage. At least, it must seem that to first-time Death Valley visitors who are unfamiliar with elegant Furnace Creek Inn. The inn, an AAA Four-Diamond resort, endures and continues to welcome visitors with luxurious accommodations in what can only be described as an unusual setting where summer temperatures average over 100 degrees and frequently soar above 120 degrees.
Even experienced travelers often are surprised to learn that some national park lodges still offer rooms without a private bathroom. In fact, in making a reservation at one of the lodges you might discover there is no choice other than a room that requires use of a community bathroom. While European visitors are not surprised and might even expect rooms without a private bathroom, many U.S. travelers don’t look kindly on the need to use a bathroom that is just down the hallway.
Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park is best known for Skyline Drive, the picturesque 105-mile-long road that winds the length of the park along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dotting that road are some charming lodgings that make great spots to spend the night.
In this summer of economic discontent, businesses that operate lodgings in the National Park System are coming up with their own strategies for luring visitors.
The Blue Ridge Parkway attracts more visitors than any other unit of the National Park System. Which makes this guide to lodging along the parkway so valuable.