Dave and Jen's Engagement

Lodging Info - Reserve now!

We know that Yosemite is a bit of a trek for everyone, but we're so excited to share it with you. We think you'll think it's well worth the effort! If there's a decent chance you'll make it to our wedding, make hotel reservations now! Lodging in Yosemite Valley is limited and fills up quickly. Most rooms sleep 2-4 so find some friends and share. :)

People from the Bay Area should be able to drive out Sat morning and just stay one night. So Cal folks should drive up Friday if possible. Regardless of where you're from, we encourage you to make the most of your trip and allow some extra time to explore and enjoy Yosemite!

A little orientation for those unfamiliar with Yosemite: it's a really big place! But most of the hotels and restaurants are concentrated in a small area in Yosemite Valley, which is also where the wedding will be. The Valley is probably a 30-60 minute drive from any park entrance, so factor in that extra driving time if you're thinking about staying outside the park. For example, if a hotel outside Yosemite advertises itself as being "only 3 miles from the park entrance" -- that actually means 3 miles plus another 30-60 minutes through the park down to the Valley where you need to be for the wedding.

Reservations for loding inside the Park can be made online at www.yosemitepark.com or by calling (559) 253-5635. The website has plenty of details about lodging. We usually book online, but sometimes there are more options when you call.

Lodging in Yosemite Valley (the only good places within a 10 minute drive of our wedding location)

- Curry Village (CV): Low budget lodging with a million-dollar view of Half Dome! There are wood cabins as well as canvas tent cabins. Bathrooms and showers (which are perfectly decent) are a short walk away -- a good chance to check out scenery and stars! Linens are provided. If you book a tent cabin, make sure it's heated. April is still a bit too cold for unheated. Curry Village has that fun summer-camp feel and it's a good place to be with restaurants and shops. Our families and bridal party will mostly be staying here. Cost: $50-$100.

- Yosemite Lodge at the Falls: These are "real" hotel rooms, also in Yosemite Valley close to our wedding location. Good for people who are absolutely opposed to walking outside to get to a bathroom. Also has a cafeteria, restaurant, and gift shop. (Not to be confused with Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Yosemite View Lodge, or many other places that have similar sounding names but are far away outside the park.) Cost: $120-$150.

- Ahwahnee: Gorgeous, historic, and luxurious! Cost: $400+

If you're arriving on Saturday, see if you can request early check-in so you can get into your room before the wedding. Check-in is normally at 4:00 or 5:00, but sometimes they can get you in by 2:00 or 3:00.

Still in the Park, but not in the Valley...

- Wawona: a beautiful old-fashioned hotel, but at least 30 minutes from the Valley. It's near the southern entrance of the park, out of the way for anyone from the Bay Area. Not a bad option for So-Cal folks but does involve a bit of a drive after the wedding. Not all rooms have their own bathrooms. Cost: $100-$200.

These are in the Valley but we don't recommend them...

- Housekeeping (Hsk) Camp because you have to schlep in your own sleeping bags and you're practically outdoors with only 3 walls around you. For around the same price, Curry Village is much better.

- Camping. The last thing you wanna do after a wedding is have to set up camp in the dark. :)

Other options outside the park...

Near the park entrances, there are hotels in El Portal, Mariposa, Groveland, Buck Meadows, etc. Check a map and see which towns are on your way in, depending on which of Yosemite's 4 entrances you're coming through. There are plenty of options in these towns but they all involve 30-60 minutes of driving on dark, windy roads after the wedding. We may look into getting a room block at one of these places if people tell us that they're having trouble getting what they need or want inside the park.

Book now! In the unlikely and horrible event that you can't make it to the wedding, you can cancel your reservation up to 7 days before April 7 (at least for all lodging inside the Park).

More travel info to come soon.

Love,
Jen and Dave (mostly Jen)

posted by Dave @ 9:09 PM