Christmas Trip Report

Day 1- December 24, 2008 ( Christmas Eve)

Drove from Sacramento to Mariposa (3 hrs.) and stayed at the Best Western. Our rooms were nice and clean and new. Went to eat at Savoury’s. It was very good. I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the area. Mariposa is a cute but small town with a few restaurants and shops. It was a good spot to stop close to Yosemite Valley.

Day 2- December 25 (Christmas Day)

Got up early (early for my nightowl wife anyway) and drove up to the Ahwahnee arriving at 8:59 am for our 9 am reservation for Christmas Breakfast. It started snowing just before the park entrance and we were able to get there before we had to put the chains on.

We got a window seat and a wonderful breakfast while watching the snow pile up outside, a very idyllic setting. Breakfast was great! The food was great, the service was great, the setting was great, everything…great. You have got to try the Pecan Sticky Buns, mmmmmm.

We hung around the hotel taking pictures and snooping, then we found out there was going to be a concert at 2 pm. We changed our reservations for the 2pm Valley Tour to tomorrow since we won’t be able to see anything in the snow storm today anyway. We stuck around for the Christmas Concert. It was fantastic. During the concert we met a young lady with a 4x4 that was kind enough to give us a ride with all of our luggage to the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. This helped out tremendously since our front wheel drive economy car was now thoroughly buried in snow. We just left the car at the Ahwahnee and took the free shuttle from then on.

Upon arriving at the Lodge we changed our one night reservation to two nights. Fortunately for us there were some cancellations. There were no single rooms available for the extra night so we had to pay for a little higher priced room on the second night. However, they upgraded our room for the first night without cost so we would not have to change rooms during our stay. The staff at the Lodge was very helpful.

We returned to the Ahwahnee for our only disappointment of the weekend, Christmas Dinner. The service was a little on the slow side which can be expected with a larger crowd, although the dining room didn’t appear to be that full. The food was mediocre. Actually, the Prime Rib was dry and completely flavorless and the Turkey was just ok. The only thing that was really tasty was the Chocolate Torte. For a $100 per person I expected much more. Now I can stop complaining because everything else was great.

Day 3- December 26

I got up early and was awestruck when I stepped out our door. Everything was covered in white and the sun was just hitting the tops of the peaks on the north side of the valley.

We got about 18” of snow in the last 24 hours. Our room has an excellent view of Glacier Point and Sentinel Peak from the balcony. The Lodge has many amenities; restaurant, bar, store etc. It is very a central and convenient place to stay. I had B-fast in the café, it was ok for cafeteria food.

I went on a hike to the Lower Falls. Came back and took my wife on the same hike. I had fun hiking through the snow hand in hand with my wife and singing ‘Walking in a Winter Wonderland’.

We returned from our hike just in time for the Valley Tour which meets right in front of the Lodge. Our driver/guide said that this was one of the most spectacular days he has seen in the 13 years he has lived in the park. It was a crystal clear day with bright blue skies and pure white snow everywhere. Absolutely beautiful!

We went back to the Ahwahnee for dinner in the bar, heard they had really good Chili… it was true! Their service was very fast too. Fortunately we happened to get there just as the Caroling started in the Great Hall. What a fun surprise. Took the shuttle back to the lodge and got Hot Cocoa to go at the bar then took it back to our room.

Day 4- December 27

Got up and went to get the car from the Ahwawnee. I decided to take a detour and go see the Lower Falls again. While standing on the bridge at the base of the falls three deer came up on the bridge and walked warily right past me, about 4 feet away. It was an incredible sight.

Now, back to the car… how do you put these chains on again? It comes back to you kinda like riding a bike. Got back to the lodge in time for checkout and then took my bride on a walk to the Swinging Bridge (which doesn’t swing anymore). Classic views of the valley, I think we must have taken 800 pictures this weekend. We stopped at the Visitor Center and Ansel Adams Gallery for awhile then headed back to the Ahwahnee for more Chili and a few more pictures of Half Dome at sunset.

Took the shuttle back to our car and headed home.

All in all it was a once in a lifetime quintessential Christmas experience.

I love Yosemite!

Happy New Year

TJ

Christmas Trip Report

My goodness, tripjunky, we were practically in each other%26#39;s footsteps! We didn%26#39;t arrive until the 26th but on the 27th we also did the loop around the lower falls and out to Swinging Bridge. My pictures from that day make me and my little Canon Powershot look like Ansel Adams! And yes, it was one of the most beautiful days I have ever seen in Yosemite, too.

Glad you enjoyed the concert! I know a lot of those folks and they are extremely talented.

Christmas Trip Report

Sounds great, what an experience. We were in Yosemite this time last year, so I can picture the snow covered beauty you saw. We had a really good meal at the Ahwahnee and also had a window table.

Thanks for taking the time to write a report and Happy New Year to you, too!

Thanks for sharing your travels with us, sounds like a great time! We were in Yosemite a couple of years ago on New Year%26#39;s Day and a very nice meal at the Ahwahnee, the Trout is really good here and my husband loved their buffet. Yosemite in the winter is so spectacular. :)

It sounds like your trip pretty much went off without a hitch! I%26#39;m glad Yosemite showed herself off for you so well! There%26#39;s really nothing like the Valley in snow. Thanks for sharing.