95_993

To the trusted RLOT community.

We are thinking about taking family vacation to Yosemite (or possibly Yellowstone) with kids 10 & 15.

My wife likes higher end accommodations.....any recommendations?

Any suggested side trips? Should we hit Yosemite and then head down the coast through Monterey?

996AE

The Ahwahnee hotel is the only 5 star

it is amazing

there are a few other nice hotels just outside the park but i have never stayed

bobboinski

+1 The Ahwahnee. Now called The Majestic Yosemite Hotel.

71-3.0-911

This is on point.

rrc715

+1 on th hotel recommendation. Then Monterey aquarium for the kids and head down HWY 1 to Carmel and Big Sur. Clint Eastwood has a high end steak house in Carmel your wife will like. Just an idea.

OverBoosted28

Highway 1 will be shut down really soon, indefinitely. A major column, supporting the highway, at the bridge by J Phieffer park. It's gonna be a bit for it to be fixed.

tsloeza

Just out side the park on high way 120 is Rush creek lodge, its new nice place to stay, For some thing more rustic theres also Evergreen lodge off 120 but about 20 min of the high way, its also close to the park entrance. This is were we stay, from the 120 entrance its till about 35-40 min to the valley.

Disraeli

FWIW, all the best parts of Hwy 1 are north of Eureka.

95_993

How would folks compare Yosemite to Yellowstone??

996AE

Yosemite valley; you can bike or walk many miles. Camping in the Valley in an RV or tent if youre brave is a great experience. The area is very small by comparison to Yellow Stone. Fewer animals to see in Yosemite.
Yellow Stone; vast open spaces, lots of animals and you drive more.

Both are amazing and worth a trip or two.

71-3.0-911

I enjoy Yosemite much more than Yellowstone. If you like to hike and camp in the backcountry, go Yosemite. Get out of the valley and explore the alpine areas. Yellowstone is frustrating for me because of the 3 hour traffic jams for a single domesticated caribou.

makemann

I agree with the above. My wife and I had planned on a quick stop into Yosemite and then spend the rest of the vacation around Napa, but we ended up extending our stay for additional nine days. It was incredibly beautiful. And the Ahwahnee Hotel can't be missed.

Yellowstone doesn't have the density of beauty like Yosemite does.

Disraeli

Sorry, I thought this was more of a drive to/from each park thread.

Yosemite hands down. I've rented a couple of cabins there in the winter and the terrain is absolutely humbling.

cgfen

Sorry, no help.
I typically just sleep on top of a big rock before flying off......................
Have fun, your first trip through the wawonna (sp?) tunnel will be amazing!

993Mpls

I want to second Evergreen Lodge. My wife and I honeymooned there and went back with kids and friends a few years ago for our 10-year anniversary. It is a lovely place, relaxing, great food, plenty of stuff for kids, and not for from good hikes in Yosemite.

(Yosemite Valley is very crowded, and you should spend as little time as possible down there.)

The same operators also run the new Rush Creek Lodge, which has also been mentioned. I can't speak to it, but would assume it is also top notch based on Evergreen Lodge.