Hopefully someone will be along soon with advice- we visited for a day in August but did not stay over there (I was on a business trip in Phoenix so I stayed there). It's beautiful and so scenic! Staying offsite seems like a good choice. We had lunch in one of the lodges and although I apprecaited its history, I don't think I would have liked staying there. Anyway, I'll be interested in the suggestions for the next time we visit...