Yosemite lodging and timing questions
 

We are two 50 year olds who like to hike. We are planning a trip for next spring. How many days would you suggest for a relaxing, but active trip to Yosemite?<BR><BR>Also - has anyone stayed at yosemite lodge? Would you suggest cabins or rooms? Is it better to stay in the valley to avoid a lot of driving? Thanks!!!

SueOz; Congratulations on picking Yosemite. You should love it. You didn't say how long you have, or if you had been there before, but if you want to do day hiking, may I make a suggestion or two. Definately stay at Yosemite Lodge, or even Ahwanhee for a little more $. Camp Curry features tent cabins. The Lodge is sort of like a "motel" with private baths, etc., very comfortable. Very nice, my wife and I have stayed there frequently. The racoons will come to your patio (sliding glass door) in the evening for a handout - but be careful, they are not pets! For Breakfast and lunch, there is a cafeteria, and for dinner, the cafeteria or a very nice sit down restaurant. Try to eat at least one dinner or lunch at the famous Ahwanhee Hotel.<BR>Days hikes could include Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Mirror Lake Meadow, Glacier Point, and a dozen other trails. A good book on the Valley will give you many alternatives for different energy levels. Remember, you are at an altitude. Also, don't forget the sunscreen.<BR>Another idea is the "High Sierra Camp" located at Tuolomne Meadow, in the high country. Tent cabins and family style dinning by Ahwanhee chefs. A fantastic experience. Many "high country" hikes available.<BR>We used to spend a week on the valley floor, and felt we hadn't seen it all when we left. For foliage and water falls, May and June are stunning, and the crowds have not yet arrived. The weather, while mostly good, is still a little unpredictible.<BR>I think it is the best to stay in the Valley. In the evening and early morning, before the day trippers, is the most peaceful, beautiful of this magical place. I'll try to answer any specific q's you may have.

Thanks, Bill, for all the info and ideas. We are shooting for end of April next Spring, have never been there. We have 7 to 8 days and have been trying to decide how much of that to spend at Yosemite - whole week or just part. Have been thinking of driving Monterey, Big Sur for a couple of days or should we spend whole time at Yosemite?? At Yosemite Lodge - are the cabins better - any suggestions on what to request, if they allow that? Thanks!!

Definitely stay in the Valley. We stayed 3 nights at Curry Village in July and didn't have enough time to do everything we wanted. Also enjoyed Monterey and Big Sur but beware it is a long drive from Yosemite to Monterey. If you are an avid hiker you could easily spend a week in Yosemite with plenty to keep you busy.<BR>Can't resist commenting on the above post about the raccoons. My husband and I could not believe the idiocy of people who cannot read the info. about not feeding the wildlife. Tourists have made squirrels, jays, raccoons, etc. into big rats. You won't believe the size of some of the squirrels. They come and beg at you like dogs. Maybe others think it's cute but I find it really sad. I think they would be better off eating the diet God intended for them. That annoyance aside, you will love it. I would definitely echo the above about getting out early. We were out before 8:00AM and there was hardly anyone about.

SueOz, glad to help. If you are talking about this April, you should get cracking on your reservations. check out www.yosemitepark.com. You'll get a great description of the accomodations available, and a phone #. They are very accomodating and helpful and have a liberal refund policy. IMHO, Yosemte Lodge would be the choice, in the Lodge section as opposed to the tent cabins. Personal preference. We like the ammenities. or the Ahwanhee hotel if you want to spend a few extra $. We've stayed in both, Ahwanhee is a "special occassion" kinda place for us. Definately have dinner or lunch at the Ahwanhee. Sit out on their terrace in the late afternoon for "tea" or cocktails. Exhilarating! The falls will be roaring, and you cannot imagine the shades of green you will see.<BR>(Wawona is not in the Valley, and we would not stay there.)<BR>From Monterey its about 5 hours driving to Yosemite through Merced. From Monterey (or SF, or north) do not go through Fresno. Too long. If you want specific driving instrux, I can provide. We grew up in Merced, have spent many occassions in both Monterrey and Yosemite. Two of our favorite places in the whole world.<BR>As for splitting time, well, that would be your choice. You could see a lot of Monterrey/Carmel in a couple of days. Big Sur? Well, IMHO, not that big a deal. You could drive down Highway 1 about 10 miles and get the flavor of the stunning coastal drive. Wouldn't have to go all the way to Big Sur. But that comment could start an arguement from the Big Sur fans out there. Its a beautiful area, for sure, but we'd take Yosemite if we had to choose. IMO. I'll try to answer any other q's. Keep em coming.

Thanks again, Bill. I read someplace on here that we should enter Yosemite by the South entrance through the tunnel. Do you agree with this? Will this make a big difference in our route from Monterey area?<BR><BR>Any great places you can recommend to stay in the Monterey/Pacific Grove area? I'm looking for the $100 to $150 range. Thanks again for any tips.

SueOz: I have submitted this route from SF Bay Area and Monterrey to Yosemite before on this board, and am glad to provide it again. For some unexplixible reason, TA's, route planners, etc. recommend the South entrance, through Fresno. This is absurd, since if you look at a California map, you will see that Yosemite is significantly north of Fresno, and actually north of Monterrey. The route through Merced requires a little more navigation perhaps, but you will be rewarded by a 1-2 hour shorter drive, and (IMO) a much more scenic drive through the awesome Merced River Canyon. If you are staying at Wawona or anywhere along Hiway 41, then use the south entrance. But coming from SF or Monterrey, use Merced. It is awesome.<BR>Here goes. From Monterrey, take Hiway 1 north out of town to Castroville. (You will pass through Artichoke country with many roadside stands.) Take 156 east to 101. Take 101 north to Hiway 25, then east to Hiway 156 then to 152. Follow 152 directio Los Banos, through the Sierra Madre mountains, through a pass known as Pacheco Pass. One or two miles east of the 152 / 156 junction is Casa De Fruita, a great rest stop. Coming down out of the mountains you will skirt San Luis Reservoir. Continue on 152 through the town of Los Banos to Hiway 59. Turn left there to the town of Merced. Monterrey to Merced, about 2 - 2.5 hours.<BR>You will enter Merced on Martin Luther King Expressway and soon come to Hiway 99. Get on Hiway 99 south, for about a mile, exit Hiway 140 direction Mariposa and Yosemite. There are some fast food joints at this junction. Another hour or so will put you in Mariposa, in the foothills. A gold mining town from the 49er days, there are lots of restaurants etc here. Another 1.5 to 2 hours and you are in Yosemite.<BR>Merced to Yosemite - 2 to 2.5 hours.<BR>Get a good map of California, its not as complicated as it may sound.

The tunnel you are talking about is up from the valley floor a mile or two on Hiway 41. It is easily accessible from the Valley by car, or by tram. The parking lot on the Valley side of the tunnel presents one of the most photographed scenes of Yosemite. You can easily take the 10 minutes or so to drive up there from the Valley floor for your pictures. This is also the road up to Glacier Point. so if one of your jaunts is to Glacier Point, you will go through the tunnel going up, and coming back down.

we spent about 4 full days at yosemite and felt it was plenty of time.....hiked a few trails; drove to the mariposa groves; drove over tioga pass to mono lake and bodie,CA (a ghost town). yosemite lodge is a good choice...clean, comfortable and the price was right. the cafeteria next door was very good....<BR><BR>the big sur area is great and is a trip in itself. we stayed in Carmel and took day trips south down rt1. theres a great park there...."pt. lobos" I think...

SueOz: The Tioga Pass road, which takes one through beautiful high country, Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows, and over to Lee Vining, will probably still be closed in late April. But, there will still be plenty to do in the Valley. And late April should find the falls in roaring splendor.<BR>I also share the emotions of the other posters re: wild(?) life in the Valley. They can be a pest, and even downright dangerous, all because they are used to human food, and see us and our cars as a food source. In the high country I have seen the result of a bear ripping the door off a car, climb in, tear open a cool chest, then push out the other door to exit the car (he didn't back out, thereby saving the car owner one of the doors). The bears recognize the shape and (some say) color of the cool chest. They are smarter than your average type bear, these bears. So leave the cool chests in the trunk.<BR>It is my advice to all who visit Yosemite to stay in the Valley, to fully experience the splendor of that magical place. The mist shrouded meadows in the early morning and the shadows of the setting sun with the onset of the crisp night air are an experience in their own right. I hope all of you enjoy Yosemite. I've been going there for 50 years or so, so please excuse my enthusiasm, or if I sound a little proprietary about it.

Thanks so much Bill and Rob. There's nothing like advice for people who have done it! I appreciate all your tips. If anyone thinks of anything else or has something to add, I'd love it, but your tips have answered the main questions - for now anyway!

Yosemite is probably the most beautiful place on Earth! You will love it, especially if you're a hiker. The Valley is where most of the famous landmarks and waterfalls are located. My husband and I hiked to the top of Vernal Falls, which I considered to be an exhilerating, life-enriching experience. We also hiked through the Mirror Lake area. Other "must see" areas are Glacier Point and the huge Sequoias in the Mariposa Grove-Wawona Hotel area. I don't have the expertise of the above posters since I was only there once. However, we stayed at a lovely B&B called Yosemite Falls Bed & Breakfast. It was in a community called Yosemite West about a half hour drive from the valley. If we ever get back to Yosemite I would definitely stay there again.<BR><BR>Regrading the weather, April will probably be chilly. We were there in mid June and they had snow just 12 days prior to our arrival. There were still small patches of snow in the Tuolomne Meadows area. <BR><BR>Timing wise, I would plan at least 3 days but the more the merrier. If you plan on going in Spring 2002, you better make reservations TODAY!

You asked about places to stay in Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula. The Green Gable Inn and the Seven Gables Inn are both great bed and breakfast Victorian homes facing the Monterey Bay. You can also check out the city website at pacificgrove.org for a list of hotels, motels and events happening in the city. Great town, great location to use to explore the Monterey Peninsula. <BR><BR>Yosemite: This is in Wawona and out of the park, but very nice. Call THE REDWOODS. They rent cabins of all sizes and we have used them twice. Most are personally owned and furnished by the people that own the cabin for their own use and rent through this place. Phone is 209-375-6666 and fax is 209-375-6400. If you want to be in the middle of the valley, this is not it. If you need a good back-up location to stay, these are nice.

We are doing a similar trip. Flying to San Diego to visit relatives - then Santa Barbara - then Carmel/Pacific Groves/Monterey area - then Yosemite - then San Francisco. May 10 - May 26ish. We found the Redwoods site and think it looks good. Any Santa Barbara or San Francisco ideas for places to stay?

Definitely stay in the Valley. Also I would take a room over a cabin if there was a choice.

Would definitely stay in the lodge over the tent cabins in the valley. The lodge is surprisingly well kept considering the amount of traffic that the facility gets. The restaurant at the lodge is also surprisingly good. Had a wonderful salmon dinner there. There is no need to enter or exit from the south gate just for the view outside the tunnel as you can drive there and park in the viewing area on the shoulder. In April part of the park along Tioga Pass will not be available, like Tulomne Meadows and Mirror lake. Also the Glacier Point Road will most likely be closed.<BR><BR>I'd stay 3 days.<BR><BR>