DAY 1:
Guided Hike
Start your vacation in Curry Village with the Yosemite Mountaineering School Guided Group Half Day Hike program. Your guide will teach you about Yosemite’s natural history, geology, and ecology along the way!
Lunch
Curry Village’s Taqueria offers a wide variety of lunch options including fantastic tacos, burritos, nachos and numerous vegetarian options. Another lunchtime option is heading to Degnan’s Kitchen (shuttle stop #4) for pizza, sandwiches, soup, Pete’s Coffee, and a variety of grab & go options.
Rafting
Rent a raft in Curry Village and spend the afternoon rafting in Yosemite. Cool off and take in the some amazing views during your 3-mile float down the Merced River
Dinner
The Pizza Deck in Curry Village offers delicious hand-tossed pizza, fresh salads and cold drinks served on the outdoor deck, surrounded by great views of Glacier Point, Half Dome and the Royal Arches. Enjoy a refreshing strawberry margarita, beer, wine or creative cocktail next door from the Curry Village Bar.
DAY 2:
Breakfast
The Ahwahnee Dining Room offers delicious breakfast menu options such as Eggs Benedict and the Three Egg Omelet. Also offered, is the breakfast buffet with oatmeal, waffles, pancakes, fruit and more traditional breakfast options.
Save a little time for exploring this historic hotel, an art gallery in itself. Designed to highlight its natural surroundings, the stunning interior design includes stained-glass windows, immense natural-stone fireplaces and Native American design elements. This National Historic Landmark will leave you in awe as you start your final day in Yosemite
Tuolumne Meadows
Head up Tioga Pass to the high-country of Tuolumne Meadows. Stop along the way for some gorgeous photo opportunities at Tenaya Lake and Olmsted Point.
Lace up the hiking boots and hit the trails in Tuolumne Meadows, hike to Soda Springs/Parsons Memorial Lodge (easy: 1.5 miles, 1 hour round trip) to witness carbonated cold water bubbling naturally out of the ground, or to Elizabeth Lake (moderate: 4.8 miles, 4-5 hours) for beautiful views of granite peaks reflecting off the crystal clear lake.
Lunch
Tuolumne Meadow Grill is the perfect stop after your high-country adventure, with a lunch menu offering classic American cuisine such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and vegetarian chili.
Naturalist Walk
Head back into the valley to join a Yosemite naturalist for a free, one hour, Naturalist Walk with topics that include getting to know Yosemite’s trees, the inspiration of John Muir, and the dance between preservation and recreation.
Dinner
Once you’re back in the Valley head to Basecamp Eatery at the Yosemite Valley Lodge. The Eatery has something for everyone with Italian, classic American, and International menus.
After dinner walk next door to the Mountain Room and cheers to your amazing trip to Yosemite with a slice of New York Style Cheesecake and an Irish coffee.
Day 3:
Breakfast
Degnan’s Kitchen (shuttle stop #4) and Basecamp Eatery (shuttle stop #8) are convenient breakfast options to kick-start your day. Degnan’s Kitchen serves hot breakfast sandwiches, pastries, freshly baked donuts, handcrafted coffee/espresso drinks and a variety of grab & go options. Basecamp Eatery has a wide variety of breakfast items. Items include breakfast burritos, French toast or tasty grab & go options such as muffins or pastries. Basecamp Eatery also provides a Starbucks coffee bar to enjoy your favorite drink.
Walk Among Giants!
The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias was reopened June 15, 2018 after a three-year restoration project to preserve the giant sequoias and associated wetland habitat and provide a great visitor experience. These giants are among the rarest, oldest, and largest living organisms in the world today, travel Highway 41 to the south entrance of the park to walk among these giants.
From the parking lot just inside the park’s south entrance, take the free shuttle service to the Mariposa Grove Arrival Area. One hiking option is the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail (moderate: 2.1 miles, 2 hours round trip), which guides you past the most notable trees, such as the California Tunnel Tree and the Grizzly Giant. Another option is the relatively flat, wheelchair accessible, Big Trees Loop Trail (easy: 0.3 miles, 30-45 minutes round trip), which winds through a forest of giant sequoias featuring the Fallen Monarch and interpretive panels on the life and ecology of the giant sequoias.
Lunch at Wawona Hotel
Enjoy lunch at the charming, Victorian-era Wawona Hotel Dining Room. The dining room has expansive windows, which allow you to take in the surrounding fall colors, towering trees, and wrap-around porch. The menu features salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers, and other delicious lunch entrees.
Pioneer History Center
Before leaving the south side of the park, stop at the Pioneer History Center. The center features horse-drawn wagons, a covered bridge, and historic buildings from Yosemite's past. The Pioneer History Center has a plethora of unique and beautiful photo opportunities with lots of fall colors, especially around the covered bridge, have your camera ready!
Sunset at Glacier Point
Along the drive back to the Valley, turn off at Glacier Point Road and take the must-see scenic drive to Glacier Point and catch a beautiful sunset overlooking Yosemite Valley, Vernal and Nevada Fall, the high country, the Sierra Nevada mountains, including Half Dome and El Capitan. While you’re there, visit the Glacier Point Gift Shop & Snack Stand to enjoy a hot chocolate and a tasty treat!
Dinner
Once you’re back in the Valley head to Basecamp Eatery at the Yosemite Valley Lodge. The Eatery has something for everyone with Italian, classic American, and International menus.
After dinner walk next door to the Mountain Room and cheers to your amazing trip to Yosemite with a slice of New York Style Cheesecake and an Irish coffee.
