My family and I recently went to Yosemite National Park in California on a vacation. We had a fantastic time as we saw the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains and the rumbling Merced River. Before we went on vacation, my wife and I looked at Yosemite Valley lodging and hotels in Yosemite National Park. We considered the costs of staying in the Park or staying at a lodge outside of Yosemite. The price for coming in and out of the Park certainly was a concern for us. In addition to this, we brought our kids along and it we thought of the hassle of taking the kids an extra distance just to stay off-site. Frankly, it was not worth it. We located at three different sites in the Valley and decided to stay two days at each site.
The kids really wanted to see Yosemite Falls and we decided to stay our first two nights at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. This Lodge was the closest to the Falls and we appreciated that fact. We felt adventuresome and spent time hiking Yosemite Falls Trail. Tour groups went to see the Falls daily and we took one of the tours our second day there. My wife and I viewed the rooms online, which looked spacious and looked quite comfortable, and the pictures matched the room when we arrived. In the evenings, the kids swam in the swimming pool and that helped get them tired for bed each evening. As the kids watched television, my wife and I dined at the Mountain Room Restaurant. It was an opportunity for us to go on a nice date and enjoy terrific food in a attractive environment. In the mornings, we took advantage of the fact that there was a food court close to our room to provide snacks while we visited the area.
Our second site that we stayed at was Curry Village. We were impressed at the history of the site and that it began as a tenting camp by husband and wife David and Jennie Curry in 1899. Before we looked online, I had no idea that we had the opportunity to stay in a furnished tent in Curry Park! It was intriguing to stay in a tent that had no electricity, no plumbing, but did have cots, blankets and bedding. It took some getting used to, but we enjoyed it and found the sleeping bags we brought were beneficial as it kept us warm both nights. We had been warned about bears in the area, but did not see any. However, the kids and my wife saw a doe and fawn as they were on their way to the restrooms. The kids kept talking about that experience for the rest of our trip. We rented bicycles, pedaled around the area and took many pictures of Half Dome and Glacier Point.
Our final two days in Yosemite Valley were spent at the Ahwahnee Hotel. It was a terrific opportunity for us to experience a different type of lodging as compared to Yosemite Lodge at the Falls and Curry Village. It worked out really well. We enjoyed taking nice, long showers in our own private bathroom. Meals at the Ahwahnee Dining Room were special for all of us as the kids worked on their fine dining manners and as my wife and I enjoyed some private time together after the kids were put to bed. The whole family enjoyed the walking paths around the area and we practiced identifying various bird calls that we heard. At one point, our kids saw a Northern Alligator Lizard on the path.
Looking back, my wife and I would change absolutely nothing with the lodges in Yosemite Valley that we stayed at. Each location was different with different attractions and we liked that. Our kids look forward to coming back and want to visit each lodge at Yosemite.