I visited Yosemite for the first time on a family trip when I was 16, and fell in love with the beauty of the National Park, as well as the enchanting lodge we stayed at, The Evergreen. I was thrilled to get to partner with the Evergreen Lodge on a trip a couple of weeks ago, as it’s a place I have so many fond memories of.
When to go:
Yosemite is most crowded during the summers, and since the park is best explored, in our opinion, with lower crowds, we suggest an autumn visit. We were there in mid-November and crowds were low, and fall foliage was everywhere. Nights were chilly, but days were sunny and pleasant.
What to do:
Yosemite is a destination that you for sure need a car, to navigate the park. Some of our favorite destinations in Yosemite are as follows:
-Bridalveil Falls
-Tunnel View Lookout Point
-Mariposa Grove Sequoias
-the Valley View Lookout
– El Captain Meadow
-the Glacier Point Lookout
Where to stay:
We honestly can’t say enough good things about The Evergreen Lodge. David and I have been all over, and we both agree it’s our favorite place we’ve stayed. The lodge is composed of cabins, as well as common areas and a restaurant/tavern, all built sympathetically with the environment, and boasting an old world charm, that makes you feel like you’ve dropped back in time. The cabins all have private decks, as well as cozy gas fireplaces. Every night there’s complimentary s’mores by the fire, and the common space includes tons of board games.
Where to eat:
Normally when we travel we try lots of different places, but while in Yosemite we ate at the restaurant, or tavern, or picked up their pre-made picnic items for the road. The food was INCREDIBLE, especially at breakfast, where we had the best smoked salmon bagel I’ve ever had.