Ten Things To Do At The Wawona Hotel in Yosemite

In June, my husband and I returned to our favorite hotel in Yosemite–the Wawona Hotel. We stayed there last October (see yosemite blogs), and years ago when our children were young. It is a terrific escape from the crowds of Yosemite Valley, as well as a beautiful setting.

So in no particular order, here is my list of ten things to do while staying at the Wawona Hotel in Yosemite:

1.  Walk the Wawona Meadow Loop Trail

This is an easy 3.5 mile flat trail, at an elevation of 4000 feet. Bird song accompanied us as we strolled around the grassy meadow. On our walk we saw ceder trees, pine trees, ferns, lots of wildflowers, and a stream that crisscrossed the path. We even saw half of a deer carcass! It was probably left there by a mountain lion. The carcass was relatively clean, so I don’t think the cat was still hanging around. (Last October we saw bear scat; this is not an innocent meadow!) The loop trail makes a great nature walk, but if you are there in the spring or summer, bring deet. There are some mosquitos, even in the daytime.

The Wawona Meadow Loop Trail is located across the street from the Wawona Hotel. Take the path through the Wawona golf course to get to the trailhead. For more about the meadow loop trail, please see this blog.

2. Play Golf

Seriously! They have a 9-hole golf course at the Wawona Hotel. It was built in 1918 and looks like it is fairly well kept up. We’ve only seen a few golfers on it, and since we don’t play golf ourselves, I cannot judge how good a course it is. Here’s a link for more information.

3. Enjoy a good meal in the Wawona Dining Room

Since we were last there, they have changed the chef at the Wawona Dining Room. The staff said that this is why there were less meals to choose from (I don’t understand why a new chef equals less meal choices). As a result, we only ate a few meals there, but we did eat one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner. I’m happy to report that the meals were all delicious. Hopefully the chef will expand the menu so there are more than four or five choices. And of course, the Victorian ambience of the building and decor is wonderful. Here’s a link for more information.

4. Visit the Yosemite History Center

This hidden gem is a short walk from the Wawona Hotel. Visitors might want to first stop at the Thomas Hill Visitor Studio and Ranger Station (see my blog) before heading down the hill to the history center. Since we were last there, they’ve added a Chinese Laundry to the collection of buildings. It’s definitely worth visiting. Also, in summer they open the pioneer buildings so visitors can actually step inside (last Oct. we had to peer through windows). Each building has authentic furnishings from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. It’s wonderful to be able to see things like a wooden-slat bed, a cast-iron stove, and an old cash register. I will be blogging more about our visit to the Chinese Laundry and Yosemite History Center, so stay tuned.

5. Lounge On A Deck Chair

The Wawona has strategically placed deck chairs about the grounds, and of course, decks. You can find them on the porch of the main building, the individual cabins, the Sun Room area of the Annex Cabin, and on the grass. I highly recommend ordering a beverage and relaxing in a chair on a warm day. Fresh Yosemite air, sunshine, and bird song makes a pleasant companion while you read, write, or nap. Take a break and enjoy being still!

6. Ride The Sugar Pine Railroad

We spent an excellent evening riding an old steam train on the Sugar Pine Railroad. The railroad is located fifteen minutes away from Wawona, just outside the southern entrance to Yosemite Park. They offer different rides; we chose the Moonlight Melodrama. Our night was so much fun. We began with a barbecue dinner served on picnic tables outside the station. Local musicians entertained us while we waited to board. After dinner we rode the Logger steam train through the Sierra forest. I tuned out the narrator because I was busy trying to get some good photos (blog coming), but my husband enjoyed hearing about the railroad’s history. Our destination was a wooded grove. We got front-row seats to a tiny theatre in the woods and watched a melodrama. Audience participation is key for melodramas, and we thoroughly enjoyed hissing at the villain and shouting hurrah for the hero. This is a great family event. Click here for more information about the Moonlight Special.

7. Go Horseback Riding At The Wawona Stables

The Wawona Stables offers a two-hour ride for children and adults (minimum age is 7) that takes in the Meadow Loop Trail, as well as an all-day ride for experienced riders only. The day ride goes into the Mariposa Grove. We have not tried riding horses here ourselves, but we have taken our family on guided trail rides at other national parks. We always enjoyed the experience. Horseback riding can be expensive, but it’s one of those things that might be worth doing at least once. For more information, see this website.

8. Dine At The Tenaya Lodge

The Tenaya Lodge is located about fifteen minutes from the Wawona, two miles from Yosemite’s south gate entrance. It looks like a wonderful place to stay, but we went there to eat dinner. We ate at the Jackalope Bar & Grill. It had a welcoming rustic environment and good food. My husband and I both enjoyed fresh grilled salmon, couscous, and an arugula salad. Eating at the Tenaya is a good alternative if you don’t want to eat at the Wawona Hotel. Click here for info.

9. Hike In The Mariposa Grove

Starting in late Spring, visitors can park at the Mariposa Welcome Plaza, then take the shuttle two miles to the grove. Off season, visitors must hike two miles to the grove as the shuttle does not run. Last October we hiked the Washburn Trail to the grove. It was pretty, but it does cut back on how much hiking you’ll want to do in the grove itself (see past blog). This time we hiked nearly nine miles on the Mariposa Trail to Wawona Point. It was a wonderful hike, but you can also do hikes as short as .3 miles to see the giant sequoia trees. This place is definitely worth visiting! I’ll be writing another blog about our hike, so stay tuned.

10. Listen To Pianist Tom Bopp At The Wawona Lounge

Tom Bopp has been playing at the Wawona Hotel since 1983. He is an extraordinary entertainer. Like an old-time vaudevillian, Tom plays and sings tunes from the 1930’s through the 60’s–give or take a decade or two. Tom is also an excellent jazz improviser and a storyteller. He is a local historian and has just published a book about stagecoach driver George Monroe. My husband and I love listening to Tom so much, that we chose our dates at the Wawona based on Tom’s schedule. We wanted to make sure he would be playing there during our stay. Check out his website to learn more.

I’ll be writing more blogs about our June trip to Yosemite, so please subscribe at the top of this blog. I will leave you with a video of Tom Bopp playing “Dinah” at the piano. Enjoy!