Yosemite Vacation

[MineeBaby]

My husband and I are looking to take a nice vacation with our then 4 year old, 3 year old, and 6 month old next spring. My husband is in the miltiary and we are leaving the West Coast next summer, so we wanted to make it out to Yosemite before we head back East! I am a bit overwhelmed by the number of lodging options available and was hoping you can lend a hand of experience. We are looking to stay in a cabiny type place with 2 bedrooms that has a hot tub and perhaps a game room. We stayed in a place like this when we were in Elijay, GA and had an absolute blast! I am really having a hard time sorting through what places are decent, what places are cheesy, and what places are actually close to "things to see" and good hikes in and around Yosemite.

Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Heidi

 

[devmer]

One thing to be aware of is that any lodging outside of the park is a 45 minute ride into the valley where most of the hikes are. My family has gone at the end of March the last 2 years and it is a great time to go. If you were to go more toward May you might catch all the wildflowers. It was still a little too cold for them when we were there. There are some private residences you can rent that are actually in the park. My family rented out a condo this time. That was nice since it had a kitchen which cut down on the food costs. The rentals down by Wawona are also a good drive to the valley. Bridal veil falls and Yosemite falls both have paved paths which are good for strollers. Mirror Lake an easier hike. You can ask the rangers at the entrance or at the visitor center and they can give you more information. Hope this helps a little bit. You won't regret going it's beautiful there!
Dawn

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I agree with the previous poster. Any cabin type places are a pretty good drive to the valley. We stayed in a house that we booked through Scenic Wonders in Yosemite West, kind of in between the valley and Mariposa Grove/Wawona area. It wasn't 45 minutes to the valley, but it took a little while. It was pretty nice, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. But it was around $500 per night. And I was particularly peeved that there were no TVs in the bedrooms That is what I get for waiting too long to book a place in the valley.

Next time we go we will be staying in the valley. As far as everything else, I love Yosemite and would like to go back next summer!

 

[DawnCt1]

We stayed at the Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal in 1999. It wasn't that far from Yosemite. Believe me, it was nothing fancy but we were there for the park. We almost stayed at Cedar Lodge in El Portal. This was the place that Cary Stayner worked. He had killed four women in that area in 1999. I will never forget it because it was right after we got home. Cary Stayner is the brother of Steven Stayner who was kidnapped by Kenneth Parnell and was missing for 7 years. He was only seven when he was taken. A made for tv movie was made about him. "I know my first name is Steven". He was killed in a motorcyle accident in 1989. What a tragic story for those parents. Off topic, but it brings back those memories.

 

[Disney Ella]

We stayed in a suite at the Cedar Lodge in El Portal last year. It was about 25 minutes to the Yosemite Valley parking lot and one of the closest places I could find. I really wanted to stay in the park but couldn't book one year out. I looked at house and condo rentals too, but they all involved more driving than I wanted and there is a already a lot of driving to get anywhere around Yosemite. Our suite at the Cedar Lodge had a kitchen, a separate bedroom with two beds and both a sofa bed and a Murphy bed in the living room. The Murphy bed was very comfortable. The lodge had an indoor and outdoor pool and a beach down by the river, the very cold river. If you want to book a place for next spring, I would do it soon. With limited accommodations in the area, the choice places can get booked pretty quickly.

 

[mamajoan]

We stayed at the Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal in 1999. It wasn't that far from Yosemite. Believe me, it was nothing fancy but we were there for the park. We almost stayed at Cedar Lodge in El Portal. This was the place that Cary Stayner worked. He had killed four women in that area in 1999. I will never forget it because it was right after we got home. Cary Stayner is the brother of Steven Stayner who was kidnapped by Kenneth Parnell and was missing for 7 years. He was only seven when he was taken. A made for tv movie was made about him. "I know my first name is Steven". He was killed in a motorcyle accident in 1989. What a tragic story for those parents. Off topic, but it brings back those memories.

Wow.. Dawn.. .. we stayed at Cedar Lodge.. while Cary Stayner was working there!! ... we found this out AFTER he was arrested later that year. .. yup.. that was a bit freaky... but my kids still kid me about it in a morbidly funny way.

OP Cedar lodge is a nice place. It is close to Yosemite and the small restaurant at the lodge was pretty decent when we were there. I like Yosemite in early spring.. .the waterfalls are running, the snow is melting, the park is not crowded.. all pretty awesome!

Check out Mariposa if you have time too. You may want to pan for gold.. .maybe cheesy.. but who cares.. LOL!! Hope you have a great time!

 

[MineeBaby]

Wow, great ideas! I had no idea that driving was a big part of trying to get around the national park. So, the valley seems to be the place where most things are happening? I have much research to do before we jump in, huh?

Dawn, that story is so crazy!! You too, Mamajoan! WOW! I would have been freaked out if I was that close to something so creepy!

Keep the ideas coming--you guys know a lot!

 

[Butwhyistherumgone?]

subbing to find in the future
we want to go next year

 

[jlima]

They are not kidding about booking one year in advance. We stayed at the Ahawanee in 2006; and I made the reservation the night before we left on our Disney Magic Mexican Rivera cruise in 2005. I felt completely silly making a reservation for one year away . . . the night before we left on our cruise . . . but it was so worth it. The Ahawanee is beautiful and to stay in the Valley is just . You can walk to some of the trails, but their bus system was very efficient. Plan, Plan Plan . . . it will be an awesome vacation.

Look on the Disneyland boards; there is a California & The West Board over there and there's several Yosemite threads.

 

[Claire L]

We went to Yosemite in 2006 and stayed at the Yosemite View Lodge, it was a great location, below is a link to my trip reports with loads of pictures.

Trip reports.

Claire

 

[Jynohn]

We went to Yosemite last year and stayed at the Tenaya Lodge. I can't recommend it highly enough. It was about a two minute drive from the Mariposa Grove entrance, but as others have stated, about 45 minutes from the main valley. It was a beautiful drive though, so we didn't mind.

The Tenaya was a little pricey at about $275/night during peak season, but our room was spotless, the decor was beautiful (reminded me a bit of the Wilderness Lodge), and the service was excellent. We would definitely stay there again if we ever go back.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[DawnCt1]

We went to Yosemite last year and stayed at the Tenaya Lodge. I can't recommend it highly enough. It was about a two minute drive from the Mariposa Grove entrance, but as others have stated, about 45 minutes from the main valley. It was a beautiful drive though, so we didn't mind.

The Tenaya was a little pricey at about $275/night during peak season, but our room was spotless, the decor was beautiful (reminded me a bit of the Wilderness Lodge), and the service was excellent. We would definitely stay there again if we ever go back.

Enjoy your trip!

Tenaya Lodge is beautiful. We passed it when we went to the Mariposa Grove of Tall Trees and on our way back towards the coast. It was quite far from the floor of the Valley however, where most of the activity is centered.

 

[MainStMandy]

I went to Yosemite for the first time last fall and it was AMAZING!!

We stayed here
http://www.yosemitewest.com/ywcondos.htm

It was nice and quiet!! It was wonderful to come back to the condo, cook our own dinner and have a fire!

Have a great time!

 

[DSNY4ever]

If you have your heart set on a cabin we like "The Redwoods" they are a large group of cabins for rent up near Mariposa/Wawona. The river is just a one minute walk from most of the cabins and Mariposa Grove and Wawona are fun to visit. It is about a 30 minute drive down to the valley. We love the Sentinel Dome hike (in upper yosemite) and obviously don't miss the waterfalls in the valley and if you want a longer hike, Vernal Falls is one of my favorite waterfalls.

Have fun! If you want to stay in the valley- book VERY early as others have mentioned.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I agree with the previous poster. Any cabin type places are a pretty good drive to the valley. We stayed in a house that we booked through Scenic Wonders in Yosemite West, kind of in between the valley and Mariposa Grove/Wawona area. It wasn't 45 minutes to the valley, but it took a little while. It was pretty nice, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. But it was around $500 per night. And I was particularly peeved that there were no TVs in the bedrooms That is what I get for waiting too long to book a place in the valley.

Next time we go we will be staying in the valley. As far as everything else, I love Yosemite and would like to go back next summer!

They also have studio and one BR apts . . . www.scenicwonders.com - not sure about hot tubs.

ETA - You might be able to find lodging in the valley this far ahead. Check the official park website.