Property
This 18-acre property tucked in the Stanislaus National Forest is a real gem. The owners, Deborah and Peter Barsotti, have created a lovely, quiet retreat, with beautiful gardens, swimming pool, spa, basketball court, rope swing, river swimming hole and an incredible, expansive yard. Very comfortable accommodations, full kitchens, bbq’s, outside dining, decks and porches overlooking the river, gardens and lawn. Washer/dryers too. Perfect for one family or rent all of the units with a group.

Location
Only a 3 to 3.5 hour drive from the Bay Area, the property is located 10 miles from the North entrance of Yosemite National Park. The location is perfect for exploring Yosemite and the surrounding area without being in the park. Fishing, hiking, as well as river swimming right out your front door. Don’t miss Rainbow Pools where you can jump off the 20-30 foot rock cliffs and swim in the waterfalls of the Tuolumne River. (Warning: Don’t forget your water shoes and remember your age. I took quite a spill on my tailbone thinking I was as agile as the children.) Be sure to drop into the Iron Door Saloon in Groveland — owned and operated by Peter’s daughter.

Sleeps
There are four separate houses at Spinning Wheel.  The Studio Cottage sleeps 2, the Sun House sleeps 2-4, the River House sleeps 4-6 and the Riverside Cabin sleeps 4. All units afford guests complete privacy.

Highlights
Deborah and Peter (and Jasper!) were incredible hosts. Their inside tips on how best to explore the park were invaluable. It was so refreshing to retreat to this property after spending the day in Yosemite. The Barsottis have ensured the accommodations include all the extras…towels, linens, paper towels, dish soap, citronella candles, laundry soap, shampoo etc., so you can concentrate on your own packing without worrying about what will be missing when you get to the rental.

Good to know
Pool hours may vary depending on who is renting the Sun House but we had no issues. Property is located off a dirt road so don’t bring the sports car.

Contact
http://spinningwheelyosemite.com

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Written by Mari Chazen

Property
Mammoth Mountain Inn is a year-round resort property that includes the original main lodge, separate east and west wings, multiple restaurants and pubs. Also included in the complex is the Mammoth Adventure Center, from which visitors can embark on journeys to the top of the mountain, top of a rock wall, or top of a national monument. Guests stay just steps from ski lifts, the Panorama Gondola, Mammoth Bike Park (in summer), hiking trails, dining, and shuttle services. Lodging options include standard rooms, suites, and condos, many with stunning views of the mountain.

Location
The inn is located at 9,000 feet in the Eastern Sierras, smack dab in the center of the official Mammoth Ski Area. Take a short stroll to the Panorama Gondola, kids’ zip lines, rock climbing wall, and restaurants. Or pop on your daypack or Camelback and step onto hiking and biking trails just outside the door. In winter, you can finish your ski run right at the front steps of the inn.

Sleeps
From 2 to 4+ in standard rooms, and up to 8 + in suites and condos, with cribs and rollaway beds available on request for an extra fee.

Highlights
As part of a “summer vacation,” building a snowman at the top of Mammoth was a definite (and unexpected) highlight. The Panorama Gondola ride in itself was a lot of fun, and it was lovely to sip hot chocolate in the café while taking in the views from the top. We also enjoyed lounging in the outdoor Jacuzzi with a great view of the mountain, and as a parent who usually doesn’t do outdoor pools in temps below 95 F, even I was happy to swim with our kids in the outdoor pool that’s kept at a pleasing 80 to 85 degrees F. Staying in “The Pinnacle,” an aptly named luxury condo with 3 stories, 3 bedrooms + loft with bed, 4.5 bathrooms, gourmet kitchen, private deck, and prime views, was also a peak experience. Much to my children’s delight, even the bathtubs are mammoth!

Good to Know
Mammoth Lakes is a very family-friendly town, and you’ll find numerous good restaurant options. If you’re in town with picky eaters, stop by the Base Camp Café on Main Street where they won’t frown if you ask for a “hot dog, plain, dog on the side,” and order dill pickle spears a la carte. There is also a great playground with restrooms in town on Old Mammoth Rd. Check Mammoth Mountain Inn’s site for their current special offers, including lodging deals, stay and play packages, and special event deals. Winter guests can also take advantage of Mammoth’s Small World day care while they ski.

Contact
http://www.mammothmountain.com/

Mammoth Mountain’s Panorama Gondola from TravelSavvyMom on Vimeo.

Written by Shelly Rivoli

Property
Vacationers don’t come to Yosemite to hang out in their hotel rooms. They come to experience some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. The Curry Village cabins offer an opportunity to sleep here without breaking the bank (or braving the elements at a campsite).  They are centrally located right in the middle of all the action and convenience of Yosemite Valley.

Location
Directly below Glacier Point (which towers 4800 feet directly above) in Yosemite Valley. The shuttle picks up right out front and you are only a short ride away from Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Yosemite Village. The Merced River meanders nearby offering swimming and rafting opportunities. Hiking, climbing, horseback riding, biking and all the necessary supplies can be easily found nearby. There is a plethora of dining options in Curry Village ensuring there is something to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.

Sleeps
This is not the Hilton. The 80 cabins without bathrooms have two double beds, a dresser, propane heating, and outlets. No phones, TV, or plumbing. Showers and bathrooms are clean and a short walk away. The 100 cabins that do have bathrooms either have two double beds, a double and a single, or one double. They have a desk or dresser and propane heating, but no phone or TV either. They do have daily maid service (the cabins without baths have daily towel replenishment and trash service) and outdoor decks where you can relax and take in the scenery. There are also 427 canvas tent cabins (for those looking to camp) and 3 specialty cabins available.

Highlights
Wildlife is right outside your front door, and chances are good you will get to see one of Yosemite’s famous black bears (you should see lots of deer and squirrels at the very least). Take a dip in the Curry Village pool (the only one in the valley) with granite cliffs towering above you. Take a sunrise walk through the meadow and enjoy the sounds of nature and amazing light cast upon the mountains surrounding you.  Take a hike. Take a tour. Climb a rock. Enjoy a waterfall or three or four. I could go on and on and on.

Good to Know
Quiet hours are from 10PM to 6AM .  Cooking is not permitted in or around your cabin. There are labeled picnic areas throughout the valley set up for this purpose. Rollaway beds and cribs are not available so be prepared to bring your own.

Contact
http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_CurryVillage_LodgingDetails.aspx

Written by Sharlene Earnshaw

Property
I am NOT a camper. But I feel I should be, you know, for the sake of the kids. Montecito Sequoia Lodge is a beautiful halfway step. The accommodation ranges from “almost camping” in log cabins with shared bathhouses, to “almost hotel rooms” in the main Lodge. Prices include 3 delicious meals a day. If you expect to be waited on at meal times or to have your room made up every day, then this is not the place for you. Although open year round with various seasonal activities, the Lodge offers an outstanding summer family camp from June through August. Fresh air, lake, tall trees, playground and welcoming common areas are permanent fixtures.

Location
The Lodge is nestled beside a small private lake in the Sequoia National Forest, and surrounded by magnificent Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. It is a 4 ½ hour drive from both San Francisco and Los Angeles, and approximately one hour east of Fresno.

Sleeps
Up to 6 in large suites.

Highlights
The happy sound of children playing. Meeting like-minded families. Spectacular views of the high Sierras and the Great Western Divide.

Written by Jane Rytina

Property
Tenaya Lodge is a classic mountain resort set in 35 acres of pristine forests bordering the Sierra National Forest and Yosemite National Park. All rooms have down comforters, small refrigerators, coffeemakers, and cable TV with on demand movies and Nintendo. Cribs are available upon request. Extended Double Deluxe rooms offer families extra space, a pull out couch, and a private porch or patio. Babysitting is available ($10/hr for one child, $2/hr for each additional child, 3 hour minimum).

Location
On Highway 41, 2 miles from the south entrance of Yosemite National Park.

Sleeps
2-5 in a room, up to 10 in connecting rooms (though why anyone would put 10 people in 2 rooms and call it a vacation is beyond TSM).

Highlights
Indoor heated swimming pool and jacuzzi. Skating rink. Board games and s’mores kits available from the concierge. Night hikes with snow shoes. Rafting and horseback riding in the summer. Box lunches are available from the deli for those who enjoy spending a day on the trail (i.e., not my kids).

Good to know
Kids. Absolutely. Everywhere. So don’t come for a romantic getaway. Men will need a jacket to dine in the Sierra restaurant, all other restaurants are come as you are. Depending on traffic, it can take quite a while to get to the valley floor in Yosemite.

Contact
www.tenayalodge.com

Written by travelsavvymom

Property
Wuksachi Lodge was built in 1999 and features 102 spacious guest rooms (Mission-style furnishings, private baths, televisions, hair dryers, coffee makers, mini refrigerators, ski racks, central heat and daily maid service), a full-service restaurant serving sumptuous Sierra Alpine cuisine, cocktail lounge, and retail shop. Superior rooms (the largest, ideal for families) are end rooms and are available with either one king bed or two queen beds. Each of these contains a sofa bed, and oversized upholstered chairs and coffee table located in an alcove sitting area with a sliding door for privacy.

Location
Conveniently located just minutes from the most popular visitor attractions of spectacular and unspoiled Sequoia National Park, including the Giant Forest Grove of the Big Trees and Giant Forest Museum, Big Trees Trail, Crescent Meadow.

Sleeps
2-7.

Highlights
Hiking, fishing, cave tours, and contemplation of the five largest living Giant Sequoia trees in the world.

Good to Know
Tired of eating at the Lodge Dining Room? Follow the one-mile footpath to Lodgepole Market (open seasonally) and assemble your own picnic or duck into the Harrison Barbeque and Grill for charbroiled tri-tip, chicken, pizza, burgers, and ice cream.

Contact
www.visitsequoia.com

Written by Jamie Pearson

Property
This 15-acre historic mountain resort offering all the modern comforts year round in 67 spacious warmly furnished studio, one, and two-bedroom cabins with heat, fans, satellite radio, private bathrooms (tub and shower), and scenic decks.  It’s a perfect alternative to the crowds and hassles of Yosemite Valley.

Cabins have fridges, but no cooking facilities (this is bear country). Most guests happily eat three meals a day in Evergreen Lodge’s main restaurant or tavern (and seasonally in the Outdoor Dining Area and Lodge Front Porch), but they can also pack a “trail lunch” for adventurers.

Location
Evergreen Lodge is nestled in the woods bordering spectacular Yosemite National Park, one mile from the park, and three and a half hours from the San Francisco Bay Area. There are abundant recreational activities both in and around the park ranging from hiking, biking, and fly-fishing to snowshoeing rafting and geocaching.

Sleeps
2-6.

Highlights
Summer camp-style lodge activities for the entire family including movies, ranger talks, stargazing, campfires, s’mores, and live music.  The Main Plaza is a fantastic place for kids.   There’s ping pong, pool, horseshoes, foosball, and enough board games to go around, plus excellent indoor and outdoor toddler play areas.

Good to Know
Evergreen Lodge has a two-night minimum from April 1 – October 1, but you’ll want to stay much, much longer. No pets allowed.  Wifi is available in the common areas, but it’s not fast.

Families who want to try camping (but don’t have the gear) can reserve a tent in the custom camping area.  For a modest fee you get the tent, air beds, sleeping bags, lawn chairs, towels, toiletries, and freshly laundered sleeping bag liners.

Contact
www.evergreenlodge.com

Evergreen Lodge from TravelSavvyMom on Vimeo.

Written by Jamie Pearson