Aussie in Yosemite

Coming to Yosemite from SF for 3 days. Can someone advise advise where the best places to stay in regards to seeing places of interest. I noticed there a few different entrances. Have been advised Yosemite View Lodge, but also saw Tenaya Lodge at a different entrance. We have a car and then will be driving to Las Vegas via Tioga Pass ( I think that the best scenic route). Any advise would be great.

Thanks

Aussie in Yosemite

I think it%26#39;s best to stay in one of the places in Yosemite Valley if possible. These places are all run by the same company at yosemitepark.com

Keep in mind that Wawona, Tuolumne Meadows, White Wolf %26amp; High Sierra are not in the valley.

Tioga Pass may be closed until late spring. The Yosemite Valley hotels tend to book up way in advance.

Aussie in Yosemite

When exactly are you visiting? Just checking because Tioga Pass is probably (just guessing), going to open a little later than usual. June sometime I would guess (emphasis on guess).

Personally, if I%26#39;m not staying in the Park (www.yosemitepark.com), I would stay in El Portal just because it%26#39;s the shortest drive into Yosemite Valley. But that%26#39;s just me. Yosemite View Lodge that you mentioned is in El Portal, as well as Cedar Lodge. Though I think YVL is slightly higher quality than Cedar.

If you are arriving in the late summer when Tioga Pass will be open for sure, you might consider staying in Lee Vining for your last night. It%26#39;s the town outside the eastern entrance. This would give you the freedom to spend a lot of exploring the area along Tioga Road, as well as Mono Lake which is outside the Park, but in Lee Vining and worth a visit.

Tenaya Lodge that you mentioned is down at the south entrance of the Park, and probably an hour or just a tad more drive from Yosemite Valley (where Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, Vernal Fall, etc. are). You%26#39;ll definitely want to spend one day in the Valley area, and El Portal is more convenient for that. If you%26#39;re arriving prior to June, you may spend more than one day there since some other parts of the Park won%26#39;t be open yet due to snow.

Tenaya Lodge is also about an hour or so from Glacier Point, a great vista point of the Park. However, this is an area the could potentially be closed due to snow (depending on when you%26#39;re visiting). The great thing about Tenaya Lodge is its proximity to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias...probably within 15 minutes or so.

One other suggestion for you. There are private rentals in Yosemite West, which positions you between Yosemite Valley and the south entrance, as well as Glacier Point. If you google Yosemite West you%26#39;ll come up with a bunch of results. Technically they are outside the Park, though you have to drive through the Park to get to them. I would recommend the location, again, if you%26#39;re visiting in the summer when the Glacier Point Road is open.

Thanks,

I will be coming across at the end of March, so by the sounds of it El Porto is a better option to see the majority of things available.

Our kids have never been to the snow, so where would be the best to see or even get in it?

Lodging at the end of March would exclude anything in Tuolumne Meadows. You should be able to see snow and get to it no matter if you stay at Yosemite View in El Portal or Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp.

You will NOT be taking Tioga Pass to Las Vegas in March. The road will be closed. Tioga Road is a seasonally plowed road and March is much too early in the season for that. You will have to take the southern route through Bakersfield to get ot Vegas.

Thanks

Looks like I am narrowing it down to 3 options.

Yosemite View Lodge

Yosemite Lodge at the Falls

Tenaya Lodge.

If terms of doing things and getting to places (tourist) and then driving to LV, what do you think would be best

Stay in the valley at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. For a first time visitor, I don%26#39;t see the point in not staying where the greatest attractions are. Tioga Pass is definately closed in March.

If you can get reservations at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, definitely go with that. Second choice would be Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal.

If you stay inside the Park, see if you can get yourself a Stay N Play package

www.yosemitepark.com/badgerpackages.aspx

which would include lift tickets to Badger Pass, the ski area inside the Park. There%26#39;s downhill/cross country skiing, as well as tubing (little run) and snow shoeing (I don%26#39;t know how old your kids are...snow shoeing would probably be more fun for teenagers...i think at least).

One final suggestion...again if your kids are teenagers and up for hiking, you might consider doing the hike into the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. It%26#39;s a 4 mile roundtrip walk, gradually uphill on the way there. There%26#39;s probably snow, but frequently a trail is tramped down enough to get in. I mention this, because if you really wanted to, you could spend your last night at Tenaya Lodge. Finish up in the Valley area late morning, head down to the Grove, do the hike (3 hours roundtrip), and then end your day at Tenaya Lodge at the south entrance. That would head you in the direction you want to go for Las Vegas (at least the fastest route).

Have fun whatever you decide. March is a great time to see the park!

Thankyou all for your advise. Unfortunately I could not get accomodation inside the park, but close by. I will definately look into the recommendations above. I mentioned snow to the kids and they are very excited.