In my travels, it didn't take long to observe that anyplace that's so popular you need to make reservations months to a year in advance is probably someplace I don't want to be in the middle of. "Everyone" hits the attractions on holiday weekends and during summer and school breaks. That's the last place I want to be - somewhere there's no vacancy/wall to wall people, noise and competition for things and services. We travel during off-peak spring and fall, during the summer peak we'll take the dirt roads to the campgrounds with no hookups for serenity. Even off peak I'm asking myself I don't get it, what's the deal with some of these places, can't imagine being there with a crush of people, horrible parking and waiting on top of it. I guess I'm a fuddy duddy, I'm just not interested in "popular" attractions because they're so publicized and commercialized it takes all the uniqueness out of it. Stress is not a vacation, and juggling reservations and squeezing in to my allotted slot along with the throng takes the fun out for me. So the upshot of this post is if it's that hard to get in somewhere, it had better be worth all the peripheral BS.
Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM