Driving through the Funeral Mountains into the magnificent desolation of Death Valley, California, I found myself becoming thirsty just looking at the bone dry terrain. Then like a mirage appeared the historic Inn at Furnace Creek. I could almost taste the tall, cool welcome drink on the way.
The 66-room inn, a AAA Four Diamond-rated property, is part of Furnace Creek Resort, an oasis for the traveler seeking to explore the extremes of the 3.3 million acre national park. With its Spanish mission design, the glamorous inn is perfect for a relaxing sojourn or romantic getaway. Nearby is Furnace Creek Ranch, the inn's sister property, offering 224 value-priced rooms. The ranch is casual and well-suited to families.
Interestingly enough, the highest temperature ever recorded in Death Valley was logged near the resort. That high of 134 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded during the summer of 1913. So far it's the second highest temperature ever documented on Earth. But don't let that keep you away. Typically summer highs in Death Valley hover near the more tolerable 115 degrees.
By comparison temperatures average 65 degrees in December and January, one of the nicest times to visit. While the inn itself is only open from mid-October to mid-May, the ranch is open throughout the year. I visited the inn last spring and found the weather comfortable.
Highlights:
- Playing the resort's 18-hole golf course will give you bragging rights: the course is the lowest in the world, 214 feet below sea level at its lowest point.
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