Yosemite--You've Got To Go

Just BEING there is an experience. Entering the valley and seeing the Half-Dome for the first time, (you'll recognize it from many famous photographs and paintings) is a memorable moment. The giant sequoias are, likewise, awe-inspiring. Yosemite Falls is just one of many tremendous waterfalls that spill into the valley from high, high up on the valley's rims. It is the tallest waterfall in North America and the base can be easily reached with a stroller and wheelchair accessible 1/2 mile walk. The Merced River, which runs into the park at the south entrance and winds its way through, can be easily viewed from turnouts along the road. Its raging rapids provided us with mesmerizing moments of viewing reverie from which we had difficulty walking away. Although not a natural wonder, the Ahwahnee Hotel is a Historical Landmark and, in my opinion, the most distinctive resort in North America--for its setting as well as its architecture. The meals available at the Ahwahnee Dining Room frequently provide editorial material for 'foodie' magazines.

Quick Tips:

Really make it a point to visit this place--its highlights are accessible to visitors of every description. Bring layered clothing and inexpensive rain ponchos to take on hikes. Some of the best hikes involve being sprayed with waterfall mist. Your shoes will probably get wet, so either bring waterproof shoes or more than one pair. Go in late spring to avoid crowds and see waterfalls and flowers at their best. Don't leave any food in your car--not even an apple core. We met several people who had left even a tiny bit of food in their cars and returned from a hike to find the door had been ripped right off its hinges by a bear. Those wanting to stay inside the park must reserve early or participate in a daily call-in to check for cancellations. We found several hotels just outside the park that we actually prefer to those inside. Nice nearby properties get booked almost as early as the inside park accommodations.

Best Way To Get Around:

You can reach most scenic areas by car, but, in the summer you might want to use the shuttle buses to reduce traffic in the park. Between November 1 and March 31 state law requires that you carry chains. It costs per car to enter Yosemite, but, ANNUAL park passes which cost from for senior citizens to for others, are a better deal if you are visiting at least two days. Strollers, wheelchairs and bikes can all be brought or rented.

This is one of my top two favorite places to stay when visiting Yosemite National Park. They are only 8 miles from the Arch Rock entrance to Yosemite. Highway 140 is a very scenic route that stays very close to the Merced River as it enters the park. This route into the park is a tourist attraction in itself. The hotel is just across this two lane highway from the river. A beautiful River Walk follows the river for about a hundred yards directly in front of the hotel. After a day of sightseeing it was very relaxing to walk along the river in the gently lit darkness, stopping at a picnic table to listen to the rapids roaring along. We stayed in the late spring last time and the river was quite wild and exciting. We could hear it from the hotel. Our kids enjoyed the indoor heated pool and we enjoyed the beautiful setting. You are wedged in a very narrow valley and have to almost crane your neck straight up to see the sky. Being down there in that valley with the river right beside you and the mountains tightly hugging you is cozy. I found photos of this property at several websites, one of them was www.yosemite-motels.com. Our suite had a kitchenette. It was not what I would call luxurious, but was very homey and provided ample room for the five of us to spread out. There is a diner on the property and a play area for children. The Badger Pass ski area is an hour away. There is a small grocery store that is quite fascinating and rustic--wooden floors, etc.--about two miles up the road toward the park.

This is one of my two favorite places to stay when going to Yosemite National Park. It gets booked up very early, even in spring when the park isn't that crowded. It is practically inside the park--I think about two miles from the Arch Rock Entrance. It is right alongside a stretch of the Merced River, with patios and balconies overlooking the water. It is on the same side of the highway as the Merced river. My other favorite, nearby motel, the Cedar Lodge, is actually just across the street from the Merced River. I like being able to see and hear the river rapids from the room. You can try to get a room with a fireplace or a family unit with a kitchenette. Really try to get one with a close river view. They have a restaurant on the property as well as a little store. A bigger, but still tiny, grocery store is just about two miles down the road. Find out more about this motel on the following website: www.yosemite-motels.com.

Located in the world-class Ahwahnee Hotel, this light-filled pub offers a chance to eat in the Ahwahnee without having to make reservations or get dressed up. While the more formal Ahwahnee Dining room exists in a vast expanse of space with soaring ceilings--this location is very intimate and cozy. Glass doors open onto a charming patio area and in the spring and summer squirrels, chipmunks and birds sometimes fly in. We brought our small children to eat lunch with us one afternoon and found that a tiny chipmunk was hiding under our table. This seems somewhat incongruous in the majestic hotel; but, we found that it provided such entertainment for our kids that were able to get through a three-course lunch without an incident. During dessert, much to our dismay, a waitress discovered the 'munk and shooed him out. She seemed annoyed that we hadn't reported it to her. This pub serves things like fajita salads, soups, sandwiches and a variety of sweets. The service wasn't terribly prompt; but, this a gracious hotel. I took our kids for a stroll out the patio door and along a trail toward the hotel's cottages. We picked out the cottage we would want if we were staying there. When we re-entered the pub, our food was just arriving.

We went to the Ahwahnee Hotel's Dining Room expecting to be dazzled and weren't disappointed. The tremendous picture windows frame magnificent, very close-up mountain peaks. While your eyes are drinking in this beauty your other senses will be savoring the award winning traditional, but imaginative cuisine. Reservations can be difficult to get at times; check as far ahead as possible. Consider going for lunch when reservations aren't necessary at all. Do not expect to be comfortable taking small children to eat here. We brought our 4 and 8 year old with us for lunch and changed our minds about it after talking to one of the hotel staff. We opted, instead, to dine in the Ahwahnee Bar with them.

For some, experiencing the beauty of Yosemite by horseback is the best way. Tell that to my 8-year-old son who took a two-hour ride with us leaving from the Wawona Stables last spring. The horses follow each other in a straight line during the trip and his horse was right behind 'old gassy the geezer,' or so our son name him. The rest of us had a very good time. We had to leave our 4-year-old daughter with her grandmother to play on the grounds of the Wawona Hotel because the lower age limit is 7 years. She was indignant but enjoyed playing around the hotel grounds with her grandmother. The rides cost $35 and depart several times daily. Longer rides are available--half-day at $46 and all-day at $70. If you're not an experienced rider and don't want to have a sore bottom don't take longer than a two-hour ride. Also available are multi-day trips into the backcountry. The website for more details about horseback riding in Yosemite is www.yosemitepark.com.