What is the best area to stay at around Yosemite? I want to stay a couple of night and would like to find an area with someplace nice to eat and maybe something to do in the evenings. Is there someplace like that around there or is the area more rustic?

You don't say when you want to come. The Ahwanhee Hotel is lovely and very expensive. Not much going on at night anywhere. Ahwanhee is probably totally booked for this summer. If you want to be out of the park, try the Yosemite View Hotel or Cedar Lodge in El Portal. The area is very rustic--most guests stay in campgrounds and there is no night life to speak of.

www.tenayalodge.com

We've stayed there a number of times and truly love it.

Yes, Yosemite is rustic. There aren't any towns in the area with any nightlife to speak of, just small knock about places. Most people go to Yosemite to enjoy the wilderness anyway.

Tenaya Lodge is outside the park, about 10 miles or so from the south entrance. If I remember correctly, it's about an hours drive from the south entrance into the valley.

We stayed at Tenaya Lodge last fall and it was ok. Our room was comfortable and had the normal hotel room amenities. I didn't feel like I was in the woods though. The hotel room could have been in the middle of the Bay Area. There are a couple restaurants on site. The food was ok, but expensive. The lodge is about 30 minutes from the nearest town, so dinning options were limited. There are 2 pools, one indoor and 1 outdoor. The outdoor area looked really nice and the grounds are really well kept, but it was November and much too cold to swim outside. The indoor pool area had a fitness club and spa services.

Overall, I thought the Tenaya was nice but overpriced and it was a long drive into Yosemite Valley. If you are looking for nightlife though, it's probably your best bet.

DON'T stay at yosemite west condos.