·:[ National Park Reservations Blog ]:·
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In a recent issue of the New York Times an article titled “In the Rockies, Pines Die and Bears Feel It” (Charles Petit, NYT Jan. 30, 2007).  My curiosity was obviously peeked as many of the national parks are in this part of the country including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier. 

The article talks about the fact that global warming will reduce acreage that has the kind of cold and altitude climate needed where a tree, the whitebark pine, can grow and thrive. This is a problem.  As with everything in nature, there is more at stake than the extinction of the whitebark pine.  Not only does the gnarled and bushy whitebark pine anchor the timberline in much of the West. They hold the soil for other vegetation to get a foothold, trapping snow, therefore prolonging the spring runoff.

In addition there are many types of animals that rely on the nutrition provided by the pine nuts of this particular pine tree; including nutcracker birds, red squirrels, and grizzly bears.  In fact it seems the grizzly, which is facing being taken off the endangered species list in coming months, relies on the nuts as a mainstay of their diets during late summer and early fall.  The nuts provide fat that is necessary to sustain the bears throughout the winter months.  This is a crisis and bear supporters are already lining up to oppose the near-certain delisting.

Why does this matter to us?  If you’ve ever watched an eagle gliding across the sky when you walk out your front door you know that the moment is priceless.  In the Rocky Mountains we see this on a fairly regular basis, now.  This was not always the case, eagles were once almost gone, as were wolves, and grizzly bears.  They need to be protected for the sake of keeping the ecosystem regular and working to its full capacity.  All life depends on each other.  Though humans can do a lot of simulate what nature gives, this will not always be the case and for all our technology nature can not be duplicated to the highest efficiency. 

During this time of fragile ecosystems we need to continue to protect the wildlife that is left.  We need to be aware and each do our part in making it happen.   

 

Chefs’ Holidays at The Ahwahnee, is held each year in January and features some of the most innovative and acclaimed chefs from around the globe. These culinary adventures provide a showcase for the delectable range of styles, personalities and emerging trends that characterize the American cuisine scene. Each session features a “Meet the Chefs’” reception, cooking classes and demonstrations, behind-the-scenes kitchen tours and the fabulous five-course Chefs Holiday Gala Dinner.  With two- and three-day packages available make sure you call National Park Reservations now to reserve your place at the Chefs’ Holidays at the Ahwahnee for 2008.

 

by Tracey Tolefson

I recently was fortunate enough to take a trip to Sequoia/King’s Canyon National Park.  It was part of a trip where I also got to see Yosemite National Park a few days prior to that.  I especially enjoyed the Sequoia/King’s Canyon part of the trip. Sequoia/King’s Canyon National Park is a very beautiful and peaceful park, containing many miles of wilderness and forest. 

We entered the park by driving through the small town of Three Rivers, California.  From there, it was only a couple of miles to the entrance of the park.  Unfortunately, it was just starting to get dark as we started the drive into the park, but I could tell that it was a really, really beautiful drive.  The road was winding and steep, and we gained a couple thousand feet in elevation as we headed toward our lodge for the evening, the Wuksachi. After about an hour and fifteen minutes of driving, we reached the Wuksachi Lodge.  It was dark by this time, and the stars were shining very clear and bright in the sky, since there was no light pollution anywhere nearby. 

The Wuksachi Lodge itself is a really beautiful lodge, and I was very impressed with the quality and amenities of the lodge.  The rooms were very nice, and the restaurant was superb.  There was also a fully outfitted ski shop downstairs where guests can rent equipment and go exploring on their own. After our stay at the Wuksachi, the next morning, we drove about 10 minutes over to the General Sherman Tree, which is the largest living tree in the world.  We also were able to see other giant sequoias that were in the grove where the General Sherman Tree was located.  After that, we headed over to the John Muir Lodge and Grant Grove cabins.  Both of these lodging properties are located very near one another, and they are also great places to stay when visiting Sequoia/King’s Canyon National Park.  After we checked out these properties, we headed out of the park and back toward Fresno.

 

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is one of the most beautiful rustic terrains you will find.  I like to think of Grand Teton as an interactive playground.  Varied terrain, spectacular scenery, and the chance of glimpsing wildlife are all in abundance here as you ski, sled and just enjoy the grandeur of the Grand Teton’s.  Grand Teton National Park is adjacent to Wyoming’s famous Jackson Hole basin.   The basin now has four big centers for cross-country skiing. January and February, when the area gets its greatest snowfall and most consistent snow conditions, are excellent months to sample these facilities. There are extensive trail systems with set track; some have skating lanes as well. And you’ll find rental equipment, lessons, warming huts, maps. Three centers offer guided trips into Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Park, and all can advise you on trails to ski on your own. Another non-mechanized way of sampling the Grand Teton backcountry is by dogsled. (This is a good option if weather is too snowy or cold for good skiing.) Personally, when I finish the day with all the outdoor adventures to be had here I hit the town, either at the Grand Teton Village or downtown Jackson Hole.  Jackson Hole has an old time rustic feeling.  It’s a home away from home where you are always welcome.  Whether you’re having dinner or hitting the bars you can be sure to find a comfortable and good time. www.nationalparkreservations.com/grandteton.htm

 

Ready for a winter getaway?  Sequoia National Park in California may be just what you’re longing for.  Sequoia National Park offers unparalleled breathtaking beauty. Her you’ll find towering sequoia trees, spectacular valleys, and inspiring waterfalls ready to explore and enjoy.  Winter is wonderful time to visit Sequoia as there are less visitors and crowding to get in the way of your enjoyment and relaxation. 

Sequoia National Park is most famous for its Giant Sequoia trees, including the General Sherman tree, the largest tree on Earth.  In winter when storms blanket the High Sierra of the Sequoia Park area with deep snows, those trees offer a stunning backdrop for cross- country skiing and snowshoeing. There are 74 miles of marked trails for skiers to enjoy throughout Sequoia forests and into neighboring Kings Canyon National Park.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway for two or a fun family trip Sequoia offers scenery and activities to make your trip a memorable one.  For affordable rates and fun offers check out the Wuksachi Lodge.  Right now rates at Wuksachi Lodge are as low as $79, and winter family packages starting at $109.  Winter packages include ski or snowshoe rentals for adults, and a sled for each child to keep. Highlights of the Wuksachi Lodge include free internet access, cocktail lounge, private baths, television and more. 

www.nationalparkreservations.com/sequoia.htm  

Friday

I stayed at the Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal last night. The Yosemite View Lodge is a nice hotel with a superb location, just two miles form the west entrance to Yosemite Park.

The Yosemite View Lodge is situated right along the banks of the Merced River. I stayed in a river view room last night and I was truly shocked just how close the lodge is to the river. From the deck on the back of my room, the only thing separating me from dipping my toes in the icy cold waters of the Merced River was a thin sidewalk about 3 feet wide.

I wish it was summer instead of the middle of January, I would have left my sliding glass door partially open so that I could’ve fallen asleep to the relaxing sound of the rushing water of the Merced. Unfortunately to have done so last night would have frozen me out.

The Yosemite View Inn has a nice restaurant on the property, one of the nicest restaurants I have seen in the area, (without driving back down to the Yosemite Valley floor. I was tempted to go there this morning to have breakfast, but I cannot take the time, I need to get started down the road toward Mariposa. There are still a few lodging properties that I need to visit before I drive back down to Fresno to catch my plane.

My plane does not leave until around 4:00 pm, but I need to be at the airport by 2:00 pm, and the only experience I have had driving through Fresno is five days ago when my plane first arrived here, and that was in the middle of the night, and I was following one of my traveling partners who has been to this area before, and knew where he was going. I want to leave myself at least a half an hour or so to find my way back to the airport once I get back down to Fresno.

The Yosemite View Lodge is located in the center of a canyon, and the sun has not made it’s way to the top of the surrounding mountains yet this morning, so Yosemite View Lodge is still shivering under a glaze of ice and frost.

As I drive I am trying to figure out how exactly El Portal was able to be classified as a town. I’m not seeing much of a town around here, at least not one that is easily visible from Highway 140. Perhaps there is more of the town tucked behind the trees on the other side of the river or something but so far I haven’t seen too much outside of the two hotels, and the little gas station which I just passed.

The Cedar Lodge like the Yosemite View has it’s own restaurant on the property, so guests of the lodge don’t have to look far to find a hearty breakfast or a satisfying dinner.

Though not as big as the Yosemite View Lodge, the Cedar Lodge is quite large at 211 rooms. Like Yosemite View, Cedar Lodge is broken up into several separate complexes scattered across the property.

The Cedar Lodge must own the property on both sides of the highway, because the lodge itself, along with the restaurant and gift shop is across the highway on the opposite side from the river. On the river side of the highway, the Cedar Lodge has created a beautiful park area with several park benches, gazebos and statues. It is really very nice and would be very lovely and peaceful during the spring and summer months. I spend a few moments photographing the lodge and park area, and then I have to get back on my way.

At the side of the highway in front of the Cedar Lodge there are several road construction signs warning that there is a detour ahead and I should expect a wait time of 15 to 20 minutes. Great… there goes any chance I had of having some free time to chill in Mariposa while I am there. I’m going to have to keep it strictly business now, get in, get my photo’s and get back on the road to Fresno, to catch my plane.

Sure enough, another 5 or 6 miles down the road I come upon the detour. Apparently there was a rock slide on the road ahead and the highway crew has created a temporary bridge which crosses the Merced and connects to a temporary one lane road on the opposite side of the river. The detour continues for a little less than a mile, before crossing back across the Merced over another makeshift bridge to reconnect with Highway 140 on the other side of the landslide area.

The remainder of the trip down to Mariposa is a pleasant drive. The road is pretty curvy and skirts the Merced for much of the trip.

Mariposa is a fantastic little mountain town. One of the first properties that I see as I enter Mariposa is the Miners Inn. The hotel and restaurant takes up an entire city block and it is located right on the corner of the first major intersection that you see as you enter Mariposa from the north.

The Miners Inn is a nice comfortable hotel with a lot to offer. There is a very nice family-style restaurant on the property, and a nice gift shop near the front desk where you can buy souvenirs, collectables, even a nice selection of wine.

The rooms at the Miners Inn range from very nice King Spa Rooms with Kitchenettes to simple but comfortable standard double rooms.

Several hundred feet further down Highway 140, Mariposa’s downtown boasts an old-fashioned main street where early twentieth century storefronts line both sides of Highway 140.

By now the sun is high in California’s deep blue sky, and the temperatures have risen drastically from what they were this morning. My time here is very limited, but I can’t resist the urge to shed my coat and take a quick walk down Mariposa’s old fashioned main street.

The downtown consists of several shops, restaurants and offices. There is a quaint pizza shop at the south end of town that I wish I had time to eat lunch at, but I have to get going.

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1:30 pm - The rest of the trip down to Fresno is sunny and nice. I arrive in Fresno

with about a half an hour to spare, just as I had planned.

I check my rental car back in, and get my boarding pass from the delta counter and then join the rest of my party at one of the airport restaurants. We have about an hour and a half to kill before we board the plane.

It is sunny and warm as our plane flies out of Fresno. The drive from Mariposa down to Fresno seemed so long on the road earlier, now seeing the landscape from this vantage point the Sierra Mountains look so close, and so vast. As our plane passes over the mountains far below I see several alpine lakes tucked away in high mountain valleys. I wonder how long these alpine jewels remained hidden away from the world before man discovered them.

By the time our plane arrives in Salt Lake City it is dark and cold. We have another three hour layover here just as we did on our flight out at the beginning of the week.

We all decide to go over to Finnigan’s Restaurant for appetizers and a round of drinks to pass the time.

When it comes time to board our flight home, we all of the sudden realize that our boarding gate is not in the spot next to the restaurant where we thought it was. Instead, it is all the way down on the opposite side of the airport, and they just called the final boarding call for the last flight of the day to Kalispell. We have to run or we are not going to make our flight.

I didn’t realize just how large the Salt Lake City airport was until I had to run from one end of the airport to the other in order to catch my plane.

By the time we get to our correct gate, it is empty. The tunnel door is closed and the boarding pass agent has already left the area. Oh great…we missed our flight…now were going to have to spend the night here. One of my traveling partners runs down to the nearest gate that has a boarding pass attendant and tries her best to get them to radio the plane and tell them to let us on, but to no avail. The rest of us are trying to wave the pilot down to let him know that there are six more passengers that need to board the plane.

Although the tunnel door is closed up tight, the door on the plane has not been closed yet, so we are still hopeful that we can get on the plane.

At first it looks pretty hopeless. We are waving like mad to get the attention of the pilot, but it doesn’t seem to be working. It looks like we might have to spend the night down here in Salt Lake…no … wait, we just got a quick wave and the thumbs-up sign from the pilot. Whew…that was close, but we are going to be able to fly home tonight after all.

A delta attendant comes down and reopens the tunnel door for us and we board the plane, amidst a few frowns from our fellow Delta passengers.

An hour later we touch down back home in Kalispell where the temperatures are a stark contrast from the fifty degree temperatures that I left earlier this morning. It is the single digits back up here in northern Montana.

It feels good to be home, but I am eagerly anticipating the possibility of my next trip, wherever it will take me.

Thanks for reading.

We’ll talk again soon

Ryan Becker

Director of Online Marketing,

National Park Reservations

Thursday

Good morning everyone, it is Thursday morning here at Yosemite National Park. Actually today I am just south of the park writing to you from the private walk-out-deck on the back side of my room here at the Narrow Gauge Inn in Fish Camp.

I decided to write this mornings log from the wooden rocking chair on the back deck of my room. It is peaceful back here, the birds are singing their morning song from the trees that surround the Inn and I can hear the faint whisper of cascading water from the small creek that runs along the north end of the property.

The songbirds are a welcome melody that I am not used to hearing during the winter months, coming from northern Montana, where the birds disappear from the area between late October and early May.

The last three days have been incredible down here. We have had blue sky and sunshine and the temperatures have been in the mid to upper fifties, however today the temps have fallen drastically.

Today is the first morning that I have woken up to fog and cloudy skies. A cold artic front has pushed in from the northwest and brought with it a thick blanket of mist and drizzle. The television is predicting snow at levels over 1000 feet, so I am anticipating some slick roads and snowy travel as I drive back through the park this afternoon.

The chilly morning mist is trying its best to infiltrate my coat and force me back inside to the comfort of my heated room and the warmth of my plush comforter, but I am fighting the urge as best I can with the help of a hot steaming cup of gourmet coffee, which I am enjoying along with a couple of very tasty blueberry muffins that arrived at my doorstep this morning as part of my complimentary breakfast basket.

As I write this log entry, I am looking out over the lower level of the Narrow Gauge Inn, and into the thickly forested valley that sinks low behind the property. However I have to use my imagination in order to see Mount Raymond, the mountain on the other side of the valley, thanks to the thick fog that has moved into the area and erased everything beyond the outer perimeter of the Narrow Gauge property.

The Narrow Gage Inn is a quaint little inn with lots of personality and flavor. My room has a large king bed, with an ample supply of pillows both for sleeping and decoration. There is also a small sitting area inside the room near the back deck, a beautiful, full-sized wooden dresser, a large LCD flat panel television on the wall and a nice sized bathroom with shower.

Staying at the Narrow Gauge Inn feels more like your spending the night at your best friend’s house rather than a hotel room. There are a number of different room options available including King, King and two Doubles, Queen rooms and rooms with just 2 Double beds.

Each of the rooms at Narrow Gauge offers a private or semi-private deck with nice forest, valley, and mountain views. A babbling brook runs along the north boundary of the property and cascades down over several small waterfalls alongside a walking path that circles the back perimeter of the property. The entire complex has the feel of an old frontier mining town, a theme which was carried over from the neighboring property, Yosemite’s famous Sugar Pine Railroad Co.

Today I am going to drive back down into Oakhurst to try and get a few photos of some of the properties that our company books for down there. It is a lousy day for photo taking, but I really have no choice in the matter. Today is the last full day that I am going to be here at Yosemite and I still have several properties that I need to visit, before I head back to Montana tomorrow.

It is about a 12 mile drive back down to Oakhurst from the Narrow Gauge. Oakhurst is not a huge town, but being the tourist hot-spot that it is, it offers several upscale dining options, and a number of supermarkets, convenience stores even a theatre.

My first stop in Oakhurst is the Days Inn. Located right along Highway 41 at the north end of town, the Days Inn is both comfortable and well situated for easy access to both Bass Lake and Yosemite Park. One of the things I found especially appealing about the Days Inn is that they offer free wireless access to all of their guests, as well as two workstations in their lobby area which are connected to cable broadband offering lightning fast Internet speeds.

The Days Inn hotel is built right into the side of a hill, so there is no windows or access from the back of the hotel, however each of the rooms share a balcony on the front of the hotel, and all rooms look out over the pool and front parking area, and also offer some views of the hills surrounding Oakhurst. The hotels front lobby is clean and well maintained. There is a sitting area with the feel of a living room, complete with coffee table and couch, and a little dining nook with several tables where you can enjoy free breakfast in the mornings, or access the internet on one of two complimentary workstations.

After I finish at the Days Inn I decide to take a quick tour around the rest of Oakhurst. Just a few hundred feet further down the road on Highway 41 I spot the Best Western Gateway Inn on the right side of the road. This is another one of the hotels we offer lodging reservations at. I have not prearranged to view their rooms, so I won’t be able to take a tour inside this hotel, but at first glance of the property that the Gateway Inn rests upon, I am immediately impressed.

It is difficult to tell by viewing the photos on our web site, but the Gateway Inn is a very beautiful and serene complex. The hotel is a collection of several different lodging units all situated inside a park-like setting on several forested acres right in the heart of Oakhurst.

The property is beautiful. The lodging units are situated on a gently sloping hillside with a concrete pathway and private drive connecting each of the multi-room units together. There are several peaceful garden areas in between the lodge units that make this property very unique and quite serene. One of the gardens near the pool includes a plush grassy slope with a few tables and sitting areas shaded under a canopy of oak trees. Along one side of the grassy slope, a garden of thick vine and leafy ground cover is bisected by a tranquil waterfall which spills tenuously through a number of pools that dot the side of the slope beneath the outdoor pool area. The Gateway Inn also offers a very inviting indoor pool and spa so that you can enjoy a relaxing swim during the colder months as well.

Further up the gentle hillside there is another park area where a wooden playground sits anxiously awaiting the busy season when her slides, platforms and climbing poles will once again be filled with laughter and jovial cheers of playing children.

The Gateway Inn consists of 122 lodge rooms, a laundry room, meeting facilities, a restaurant on the property, and a Cocktail Lounge.

I spent a little more time than I probably should have walking around the Gateway Inn complex. I still had a lot to do today, and now only half a day to get it all accomplished.

I was hoping to visit Bass Lake before heading back into Yosemite Park to visit Redwoods Vacation Homes and the Four Seasons at Yosemite West. I knew that it would be getting dark in another four or five hours, and it was going to take me a while to drive to the other properties and even longer to get videos and photos of each, but there was one other property that I wanted to visit before I left Oakhurst, The Chateau Du Sureau.

The Chateau is a beautiful property located on a hill side at the south end of town. I wasn’t able to see any of the rooms at the Chateau Du Surea or inside the spa, because the Chateau was closed for the season, but the grounds were beautiful, even in winter, as I walked around the property I definitely felt like I had been transported to a Villa in the French countryside.

The Chateau looks down over the city of Oakhurst below, and it must be abeautiful view at night when all of the city lights come on. Unfortunately I cannot stick around to find out, I have to get going in order to make it to my other scheduled stops before dusk…

…More coming soon…

Tuesday, January 9

This morning we are headed off to neighboring Curry Village here in the Yosemite Valley.  For those of you who don’t know, curry village is a unique collection of rustic wooden cabins, a dozen or so lodge rooms, and several hundred tent cabins right at the foot of Glacier Point.

Curry Village is one of the oldest lodging providers in the park. Established in 1899 by David and Jenny Curry, the village, originally named Camp Curry, was advertised as a place where you could find a good bed and a clean napkin with every meal for just $2.00 per day.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Specialty Cabins and the Stoneman Cottages at Curry Village, the rooms are much more spacious and modern than I had envisioned.  Both offer guests a private bath and heat throughout the year.

Most of the rustic wood cabins offer heating of some sort both those with private bath and those without.

The canvas tent cabins are nice clean and comfortable as well.  Most of the tent cabins will accommodate up to 5 people and come equipped with linens for the bed, however you might want to bring your sleeping bag along as well if you tend to get cold easily.  Some of the tent cabins offer heating, but not all, and I can’t say for sure just how warm the heaters keep the tent cabins during the cooler nights, as I have never spent the night in one of them personally.

The tent cabins and rustic cabins without bath all share a communal bathroom and shower area which is actually pretty nice.  There are ample showers available as well as a number of sinks mirrors and commodes.

Curry Village also includes several community areas for dining, recreation and entertainment.  There is a very nice dining pavilion right at the edge of camp which serves up all-you-can-eat buffet style meals throughout the day.  There is also a Taqueria, a Pizza Deck and Bar, and a Coffee shop and Ice Cream Stand where you can get your favorite drink or frozen delight made to order.

Directly adjacent to the food pavilion is the old post office and game room where families and friends can meet around the large river rock fireplace to play games, tell stories or just relax and enjoy each others company.

The thing that impressed me most about Curry Village was its location, right at the foot of 7214 foot Glacier Point. It is a humbling experience to be standing that close to such a magnificent natural edifice of earth and granite.

The summer evening campfire program at Curry Village used to climax with the spectacle of “Firefall” when one of the program performers would call out to the top of Glacier Point “Let the Fire Fall!”, and a great bonfire of red fir bark would be pushed evenly over the edge of the cliff, appearing to the onlookers below to be a glowing waterfall of sparks and fire.

Unfortunately the shows climax was discontinued in 1968 when park officials decided to reduce the amount of artificial attractions within Yosemite’s borders.  I’m sorry I missed it.  I have seen photos of the old tradition and now having seen Glacier Point in person I can only imagine how spectacular it must have been as the glowing embers would come cascading down over the sheer granite wall.

…

Monday, January 8^th 2007

12:00 am – We finally arrive at the Tenaya Lodge at midnight. The drive from Fresno wasn’t all that bad, the last 12 miles or so were pretty curvy, they also appeared to be the most picturesque, although it was hard to tell, being that it was pitch black outside the circumference of my headlamps.

I am immediately impressed with the Tenaya Lodge as soon as we pull up. There is a large wooden canopy that covers the drive way when you first arrive, as well as a nice covered walkway leading to the front doors of the lodge. As I enter the lodge itself, I am taken aback for a moment by the magnificent stone fireplace and the stately lobby area. There is a large space above the entry where the Tenaya Lodge decorators have planted a beautiful forest of artificial pine trees and evergreens and decorated them with thousands of tiny white lights. On the opposite side of the room stands a huge river rock fireplace where a vibrant flame dances a native dance on a stage of glowing embers. The entire scene immediately makes me feel at home.

The lady at the front desk is very pleasant as she passes out our room keys and welcomes us each to the lodge. She offered to have my car valet parked, but I told her that I didn’t mind parking it myself. It is the slow season here at Yosemite, and the parking lot at the Tenaya is not very full, so parking is a pretty easy task.

My second floor room is a spacious King Suite with a view looking down over the back parking lot and the forest canopy that conceals the Summerdale activity area. The large king bed in my room is the zenith of lodging comfort boasting a thick down mattress cover that makes me think I am falling asleep on a cloud. The pillows are equally as comforting and it takes mere seconds for me to drift off to sleep.

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7:45 am - It was difficult to pull myself from the down-filled comfort of my bed this morning, especially at such an early hour, but we have a big day ahead of us. First, we are off to meet Tom McCann, general manager of the Tenaya Lodge for breakfast in the Sierra restaurant here at Tenaya, after which we are going to tour Tenaya Lodge, then we are heading into Yosemite to visit the Wawona Hotel and Yosemite Lodge at the Falls.

11:00 am – Breakfast was excellent this morning. The Sierra Restaurant is spacious and the bright. The outside wall of the restaurant is made up of mostly windows which lookout onto the front lawn and poolside area. There is a large fireplace located in the center of the restaurant, but it was not burning this morning. I had a hard time deciding what to order for breakfast, not because there were no good options, rather the opposite, everything looked so tasty, it was difficult to narrow my choice down to just one entrée. I finally decided on the breakfast wrap which I feel was a wise decision because it was very good.

Our tour of the Tenaya was very interesting. This is a very nice hotel with all the luxuries, amenities and conveniences that you would expect from a four-star resort. One of our first stops along the tour was to the Ball Room. The Ball Room is enormous, with a large stage along one wall, and magnificent picture windows which make up three-quarters of the wall along the east side of the room. The Ball Room looks out over the ice-skating rink behind the lodge, a new addition to the Tenaya this year. Beside the ice rink there is a large fire pit and outdoor sitting area. The Ball Room was still full of decorations from what must have been a great New Years Eve party a few days ago, I’m sorry I missed it.

There are several other smaller meeting rooms along the same corridor of the lodge, each offering a wall of windows with views of the surrounding mountains and forests, and some even offering access to an outdoor patio area which I imagine would be beautiful in the summertime.

The rooms at the Tenaya are all top quality accommodations. Each of the beds appears to offer the same cloud-like comfort of the one that I slept in last night. Many of the rooms which we are shown offer good sized bathrooms with shower and tub, a solid wood Armoire’s with cable television, cozy sitting areas with a comfortable mix of recliners and/or love seats surrounding a coffee table, and other essential amenities such as high-speed wireless Internet access, coffee makers, iron and ironing board and in-room safe.

The indoor pool area is bright, clean and looks very refreshing, if I had more time I’d go for a swim. There is a wall of windows along one side of the large room which almost makes you feel like your swimming outside except for the warm temperate climate. In one corner of the room there is a relaxing hot tub which is calling my name and begging me to slip away from the walking tour and soak in the thermal waters for a while. Unfortunately I know I don’t have time.

In the other corner of the room is situated a wooden deck-like structure where a massage chair sits waiting patiently to accommodate guests with a poolside massage by one of the Tenaya’s message specialists, and across the room on the other side is a well-equipped gymnasium and spa area where one can enjoy relaxing message therapy as well as a menu of spa treatments ranging from facials, to body brush and polish, hydrotherapy, paraffin treatments and more.

One of our last stops takes us down stairs to the arcade and game room, where there is a wide array of arcade games, everything from car racing games to street fighting games to pinball and everything in between. There is also a couple of pool tables positioned in the middle of the floor, and an air hockey table at the side of the room. If your teenager should ever get tired of all the outdoor activities that are available here at the Tenaya Lodge, he/she has no excuse for being bored as there is a whole other world of excitement waiting him or her indoors.

1:30 pm – The next stop on our journey” is the Wawona Hotel, one of Yosemite’s most historic lodges. I have seen many photos of this hotel over the past several years, but now that I stand on the hotel grounds I can say without hesitation that none of them do the Wawona a bit of justice. The Wawona Hotel reminds me of something from “Gone With The Wind.” An historic old Victorian style hotel that looks like it would be every bit as comfortable resting on a plantation in Georgia as it is here amongst the towering pine trees of Yosemite National park.

Every building at the Wawona boasts a large veranda that stretches around the entire circumference of the house. It is the middle of winter now, but I can picture in my mind the enchantment of a warm sunny afternoon in summertime when the great lawn area is bustling with family activity. Children are running around playing games under the protective branches of the sturdy Sugar Pines and Ponderosa trees, others are splashing in the famed Wawona swimming tank, while there mothers watch from the shaded verandas, and their fathers are across the street working on their stroke at Wawona’s own nine-hole golf course. It is a scene straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

The Wawona may not offer all of the conveniences of a four-star lodge like the Tenaya, things like a private bath in every room, hair dryers, televisions, arcades, etc. But what it lacks in convenience, the Wawona more than compensates for with her unique personality and uncommon flair.

Inside the main lodge building our host guides us to the dining room, a bright and cheery room that feels more like an enclosed porch area than a stuffy dinging room. Windows surround us on two sides and allow the warm sunshine to pour in and grace us with her warm smile.

The chef at the Wawona has prepared us a wonderful Mediterranean dish of Chicken with sautéed vegetables which is absolutely to-die-for. I can’t remember the name of the dish, so I am not even going to try to speculate, but trust me when I say it is fantastic. After we have finished with our main course, our waiter delivers dessert which is equally as mouth watering…a delectable chocolate cake, the likes of which I have never seen before. A rich fudge-like chocolate cake so moist and delicious, I almost don’t want to chew, because I don’t want the mouth watering pleasure to end.

After lunch we all take a quick tour of the Wawona’s guest rooms. The Wawona is a truly unique lodge from another period in time, offering a variety of rooms distributed throughout six separate buildings.

The furnishings at the Wawona are reflective of origin, showcasing beautiful antiques and period pieces that make you feel like you have passed through a wrinkle in time and stepped back into the early twentieth century.

I believe there are about fifty rooms at the Wawona which offer private baths, and just a few over fifty which share a bath. Several of the rooms which do not have a private bath will connect to a room with a private bath, creating the perfect set-up for families or groups of friends.

One of the things that really surprised me about the Wawona was their nine-hole signature golf course which wraps around the Wawona property adding to the Wawona’s monumental mystique.

As far as I know, this is the only golf course in America which is located within the boundaries of a National Park. The fairways are partially covered in snow right now, but I can tell by the looks of them and the surrounding valley that it would be an unforgettable pleasure to golf them during the spring, summer and early fall.

The Wawona puts a lot of emphasis on her communal lawn areas, and promotes a real spirit of community and family participation especially during her busy season.

There are no TV’s, telephones or radios at the Wawona, but what there is, is a realistic opportunity to step out of the hum-drum of every-day life and enter a simpler world of relaxation, community and contemplation.

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4:30 pm - After finishing our tour of the Wawona, we drive several miles deeper into the park until we reached the valley floor, with one unforgettable stop along the way. If any of you have been to Yosemite Park, you already know what I am referring to…the breathtaking “Tunnel View” lookout point.

After caravanning over a winding mountain road secluded in trees on either side for miles, the monotony is suddenly broken as you break beneath the surface of the earth and pass into the Wawona Tunnel. The Wawona Tunnel is remarkably long and glows a bright orange color under the continual glare of hundreds of lamps that line the tunnel ceiling. The moment you break free from the long granite cylinder you are treated to one of the most magnificent panoramas on earth, the beautiful Yosemite Valley from the Tunnel View lookout.

This is one of those rare moments in life where the world stands still, if only for a second, and the grandeur of the surrounding environment is burned into your memory for an eternity. I pause in majesty of the incredible scenery that envelopes me, and forget about life for a moment.

All of Yosemite Valley’s main attractions are visible from here. To the left of the scene is unambiguous El Capitan sitting like a king on his throne overlooking the entire valley. To the right is Bridalveil Falls and Glacier Point providing an impressive symmetry to the standard set by El Capitan. And in the distance at center stage, magnificent Half Dome caps of the scene with her unmistakable profile.

Needless to say, our party of six has to capitalize on the moment as we each employ one another to capture the moment on film before proceeding to Yosemite Lodge at The Falls.

After basking in the reverie of Yosemite’s glory for a while, we conclude our journey as our caravan pulls into the parking lot at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls.

Although it is not quite on the same scale of luxury as the Tenaya or the Ahwahnee, the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls does offer very comfortable rooms, and the views it provides of Yosemite Falls along with its perfect location, only minutes from all of Yosemite Valley’s main attractions, sets Yosemite Lodge at the Falls apart as a must visit lodging destination in it’s own right.

With close to 250 rooms, a food court, several gift shops, a bar/lounge area, an outdoor theatre and an exquisite restaurant offering the utmost in fine dining, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls has all the ingredients you’ll ever need to accommodate an impeccable vacation no matter how long or short your stay.

6:00 pm - After taking a brief tour of Yosemite Lodge at the Falls to see their different room types, I get checked into my own room for the night. My room is a comfortable lodge room with two double beds and incredible views of Yosemite Falls.

It feels good to sit down and relax for a while after my busy first day in the park. I can’t relax for long though, our party is scheduled to meet Bridget Rabon, General Manager of Yosemite Lodge at the Falls for drinks in the Mountain Room Lounge, followed by dinner in the Mountain Room (the fine dining restaurant which shares the name).

The Mountain Room Lounge, is a cozy little bar/lounge enclosed on three sides by glass walls. In the center of the room is a huge open pit fireplace which is blazing bright in the dim light of the lounge. We have a nice meeting with Bridget and then proceed to the Mountain Room for dinner.

The Mountain Room is a spacious dining room with a rustic mountain lodge ambiance. The walls are decorated with beautiful photos of Yosemite Park featuring many different seasons. I don’t know for sure how many guests the Mountain Room will accommodate but there was ample space and several tables situated about the room.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Mountain Room, I figured the meal would be good, but… wow…I had no idea it was going to be this good.

Our waiter starts us off with an appetizer of the Mountain Rooms signature Crab Cakes…delicious! Following my appetizer I am served a salad of tossed greens with a very tasty balsamic house dressing. For my main course I decided on the Filet Mignon.

Now I have had very few steak dinners in my lifetime that literally dissolve in my mouth because the meat is so tender and juicy, and I can say without hesitation that this meal rates right at the top of my list of all time most delicious entrees. My cut of meat must have come from a bull that was raised with a lot of TLC and fed only the best food, because there was not an ounce of fat, gristle, or imperfection in this steak. Like my chocolate cake at lunch time, I do not want this incredible meal to end, I try to cut my bites small so that the meal will last as long as possible, but finally it comes to finish as I raise the last scrumptious bite to my mouth and gobble it down.

If you are ever in the Yosemite area around dinner time you must stop in at the Mountain Room and try their Filet Mignon, I guarantee it will be one of the most spectacular steak dinners you will ever eat. Tell them Ryan from National Park Reservations sent you.

Following dinner I cap the meal off with a cup of vanilla ice cream which is a much more generous portion than I had expected, but also very good.

9:00 pm - I am tempted to return to the Mountain Room Lounge after dinner to watch the conclusion of the Florida Gator and Ohio State Bowl Game, which was on TV tonight, but I have some work to do, so instead I return to my lodge room and watch the game from my in-room TV while I work on my laptop for a couple hours.

Today was a full day and I feel privileged to have seen the beautiful accommodations that I have seen and indulging in the scrumptious meals that I have been served. The managers, wait staff and chefs at the Tenaya, Wawona, and Yosemite Lodge at the Falls have all been amazing hosts, and I would highly recommend their accommodations to anyone visiting the Yosemite area.

Oh yes, and once again…do not miss the opportunity to satiate yourself with an unforgettable meal at the Mountain Room at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. Go with the Filet Mignon…you will not be dissapointed.

Good night, sweet dreams and I’ll talk with you again tomorrow.

Ryan Becker,

Online Marketing Coordinator

National Park Reservations

Continue to “Day Three” 

(Note: I am posting this blog one week in arrears so the actual date of writing will be off by one week)

Sunday January 7, 2007

It is 3:30 pm Sunday afternoon in Kalispell, Montana. I’m all packed up and ready to head out to Glacier International Airport where I will be catching a plane to Salt Lake City where I have a three hour layover before continuing on down to Fresno, CA.

It is a blustery day here in Kalispell, Montana, the wind is gusting to nearly thirty miles an hour and the snow flakes are swirling about in a mad frenzy. I’ve got to admit, I am a little bit disappointed that it is cloudy and snowy today. I was hoping for a clear sunny day for my departure. It is a rapturous experience to fly out of the Flathead Valley on a sunny blue-sky day. Oh well, I guess I should be grateful, since earlier in the week the whether forecasters were predicting much worse whether than what we are receiving today.

My plane isn’t scheduled to depart until 5:00 pm, but I need to be at the airport by 3:30, to meet up with the rest of my traveling companions and get checked-in.

Glacier International Airport is a nice airport to fly in and out of. It is rather small by comparison to other international airports, which makes it easy to get around, and much less stressful than trying to ferret your way through the typical maze that most other more large-scale airports provide.

I’ll give you an update when I get to Salt Lake.

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6:50 pm – Well we just landed in Salt Lake City we are about fifteen minutes behind schedule. Our plane had to circle above Glacier International Airport for about fifteen minutes before it could land, because it was waiting for several other private jets to land first.

It’s not a big deal though as far as I am concerned. I have about a three hour layover here in Salt Lake City before I catch my connecting flight to Fresno, CA, so I’m not too worried about punctuality at this point in time.

The flight into Salt Lake City was nice. The skies were clear, and the lights of Salt Lake City shined bright next to the void blackness of the great Salt Lake. I always love flying into a city after dark. Salt Lake City looked like a computer motherboard stretching out across the flat desert floor from my vantage point thousands of feet above the ground.

It’s a bit chilly and a little windy here in Salt Lake. The corridor that leads from where we unloaded the plane to the main terminal seemed to go on forever, and it is not that well insulated, although it is mostly enclosed so at least we were out of the wind.

I have about three hours to kill so I’m going to go find some place to get some dinner, and I will pick up this blog again once I get to Fresno…

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My plane finally touched down at the Fresno airport at about twenty after 10:00 pm, it was a pretty smooth flight coming in…not too much turbulence and arrival was pretty close to being on time. Unfortunately there was a long line at the dollar rent-a-car counter and I had to wait about twenty minutes or so before I was able to get my car.

As I waited in line, I saw my luggage spinning around the luggage carousel several times. I asked one of my traveling companions to snag it for me, because I did not want to lose my place in the car rental line. I explained to my friend what my luggage looked like, but he must not have understood, or he never saw it on the conveyor, because it disappeared behind the black vinyl curtain at the end of the conveyor belt, never to emerge again.

It is now close to 11:00 pm and we still have about an hours drive ahead of us before we get to our final destination for the night, the Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp. All I want to do right now is find my rental car and drive as quickly as I can to the cozy bed that awaits me at the Tenaya lodge.

Now I have to go talk to the customer service personnel at the Delta Connection counter…

11:30 pm - Wow…that took longer than expected. The line at the Delta counter was almost as slow as the line at the Dollar counter. Anyway, I am finally sitting comfortably in my Jeep Cherokee Laredo, luggage safely at hand, and I am en route to the Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp. It is going to be late by the time I get to the Tenaya, so it will probably be tomorrow before I write anymore.

Have a great night and I’ll talk to you tomorrow…

Ryan Becker

Online Marketing Coordinator

National Park Reservations

Continue to “Day Two’