Yosemite National Park - Sites and Lodging Review

When planning a visit to Yosemite National Park, there are several different resources that can be used on-line to find accomodations and routes, including, but not limited to: www.nps.gov/yose , www.yosemite and www.yosemite.com . To get to Yosemite National Par, there are several airports within a few hours drive, including Fresno, Merced and San Francisco.

If flying into San Francisco and depending on arrival time into San Francisco, a hotel may be needed. Hyatt Place in Dublin, CA is about 45 minutes from SFO airport and 3 ½ hours from Yosemite National Park. The Hyatt Place Dublin is located near a shopping center with restaurants within walking distance. Hyatt Place is clean and comfortable, with an identical layout to the Hyatt Place in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. For $77 prepaid rate, the Hyatt Place includes continental breakfast, wireless Internet and parking. The rooms are spacious and comfortable with a large sectional sofa, desk, wet bar and large flat panel television. The beds at Hyatt Place are comfortable with a feeling that you are melting into the bed without it being too soft.

The Hyatt Place also offers a hot breakfast for a charge, along with a menu of pastries, muffins, sandwiches and some light bar food for take-away or dine in, at a reasonable price. The Hyatt Place also offers beer and wine at a reasonable price.

Taking Highway 120 into Yosemite National Park allows for stops at small produce markets and in late October, almonds are in abundance and can be very inexpensive! The roads through Yosemite National Park are well maintained, but very windy, with steep drop offs and amazing views! The speed limit is not more than 45 mph and often less, so allow plenty of time to stop to admire the views, slow traffic or for wildlife!

Yosemite Lodge at the Falls is a simple lodge with food court, restaurant, pool and small convenience store located in Yosemite Village. The rooms at Yosemite Lodge are comfortable but very simple with a somewhat hard bed. Wireless Internet is complimentary by requesting a code at the front desk. There is also cable TV, phone and mini fridge in the rooms. Rooms are spread out in buildings with around 12 rooms per building. Even in late October, the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls can be full and have a rate of $235 per night. Some of the rooms have spectacular views of the Falls and incredible rock walls and are worth the wait for them to be cleaned.

The food court at Yosemite Lodge offers pizza, burgers, sandwiches, soups, pastries and muffins, coffee, and daily specials of fish and BBQ. The prices at the food court are reasonable for average food court fare. The Yosemite Lodge food court can get can get very crowded, especially if weather is bad, so be open to sharing a table with other visitors!

Yosemite Lodge is a short walk to view Yosemite Falls and there are many trails around Yosemite Village. Yosemite Lodge is about 1 mile from the grocery store that has reasonable prices compared to other grocery stores in national parks. In Yosemite Village there is the Ansel Adams Museum, a theater with a short presentation on Yosemite, a deli and other Yosemite attractions. Yosemite Village offers a free shuttle around the Village and there are many tours to see the highlights, leaving about every 30 minutes from the lodges. Follow the speed limits to avoid injuring or killing bear or deer and make sure to secure all food items to ensure the bears don't get too used to humans.

El Capitan is an amazing massive rock structure near Yosemite Village with sheer walls, attracting rock climbers who can be found camping on the walls mid climb. After a good rain, the Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls can have water thundering down. The view from Glacier Point on a clear day allows a view of the valley below, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Royal Arches and many snow covered peaks. Glacier Point is well worth the drive! The road to Glacier Point does close beyond the ski area mid-late October, after it snows, so plan accordingly.

Another spectacular view is the Tunnel View, which allows for a full panoramic view of El Capitan, waterfalls and Half Dome. Walk down the road a bit for other fantastic views and a lot less people!

Mariposa Grove on the southern end of Yosemite National Park offers an open air tram to some of the main attractions. Main attractions in Maraposa Grove include the Grizzly Giant - a 2700 year old sequoia, tunnel tree and the Bachelor and 3 Graces. Walking among these tall giants, with the fresh sequoia smell can take your breath away! No pets are allowed on the trail and if everyone keeps their voices down, it is a very tranquil place!

The Hounds Tooth Inn is a 12 bedroom B&B located about 12 miles south of the Yosemite National Park entrance, in Oakhurst and next door to a Mexican restaurant. The Hounds Tooth Inn is comfortable and clean with different room options to choose from. There are large woods behind the Hounds Tooth Inn, 3 very friendly outdoor cats, who greet everyone (and will follow you until you say hello) and many books, videos and DVDs to borrow and enjoy in your room. Bill also offers a glass of wine in the breakfast room and on a nice evening, there are several areas to sit outside and enjoy your glass of wine.

Oakhurst offers many restaurant options and there is a list available at the Hounds Tooth Inn. There are also 2 grocery stores and several other types of stores in town. Oakhurst is a nice, small, clean town and a great place to stay near Yosemite National Park.

While visiting Yosemite National Park, make sure to check weather forecasts and road closures if you are going in May or October. Tioga Road, which is the one road that goes east to west all the way across Yosemite National Park, closes in October, which can have a large impact on plans! If visiting Yosemite Village and Mariposa Grove, allow at least 2-3 days to fully enjoy the various lookouts and walking/hiking trails, this will also allow for a day of cloudy weather, which completely changes the views!park.com