Yosemite Park and a Luxury Lodge

Yosemite is probably the most famous of all American National Parks and has a long history of catering to every level of visitor including those looking for a 5-star experience.

Yosemite National Park

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Yosemite is easily accessed from San Francisco, the nearest large city. The park has a limit of a 7-day stay but while there the visitor will find many hiking trails, a museum, photo gallery, restaurants, cafes and a deli. Transport within the park is proved by a network of hybrid-electric shuttle buses which discourage the use of cars. The built up area and Yosemite Village are restricted to the valley floor and over 95% of Yosemite’s 3000 square kilometres are still wilderness.

The Yosemite Valley extends from 1200m to 1700m so it can be a harsh environment, particularly in summer when temperatures reach well in the 40C’s. One of the most popular day hikes is the Mist Trail which although steep in parts, offers some fantastic views of the valley. The trail passes the Vernal Falls which provides a veil of mist over the trail when the river is running high enough and finishes at the Nevada Fall which ends in a pleasant pool shaded by granite boulders.

There are many options to stay in Yosemite Park including camping grounds and comfortable lodges. But the only luxurious place to stay is Ahwanhnee Hotel which lists Laura Bush, Queen Elizabeth II, and John F. Kennedy in its guest book.

Construction of Ahwanhnee started in 1925 and was a huge undertaking given the remote location.  Over 5,000 tons of stone alone was hauled over poor mountain roads. Because previous hotels and been raised by fire, the Ahwahnee, although it might look like its made of redwood is actually made of concrete painted to resemble the famous Californian wood.

Completed in 1927, Ahwahnee includes an eclectic collection of design elements including Art Deco, Arts & Crafts, Native American, and Middle Eastern. The lodge is famous for its rich interiors which feature stenciling, woodwork, huge fireplaces, and rich tapestries.

The Ahwahnee has 123 guest rooms, including 99 hotel rooms and suites, and 24 cottages on the grounds of the main hotel building. The best of the best are the two junior suites.

The El Dorado Diggins Suite has been many things over the years including a chapel and a cocktail lounge but now it features a sunken living room, slate entry and the only jacuzzi tub in Yosemite.

In contrast, the Mary Curry Tresider Suite is all about romance, featuring a four-poster canopy bed and rich color palette. In 1983, Queen Elizabeth II stayed in this suite, and since then its been known as “The Queen’s Room.”

The public rooms of Ahwahnee are on a lavish scale too. The dining room features a 34-foot high ceiling with ceiling-to-floor windows framed in stained glass. The guest lounge also has high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows as well as an enormous stone fireplace.

Whatever time of the year you come to Yosemite the Ahwahnee would make for a gracious and comfortable stay in the park.