In Today’s Kim’s Adventure we’re at the Ahwahnee hotel at Yosemite National Park. The Ahwahnee was designed and built in the 1920’s with the specific goal of attracting well-to-do clientele. This hotel has hosted presidents, royalty and celebrities. At the east end of the Valley, The Ahwahnee is surrounded by many of Yosemite’s most famous icons.
A casual stroll of the hotel grounds reveals views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point. The hotel itself has a granite facade, log beam ceilings and was built in an art deco style. Guests can rent standard rooms, suites and cottages, and prices start at a whopping $529 a night. Of course, that was way out of our budget, but the Ahwahnee is still worth a visit as it’s a national historic landmark.
We started off by checking out the lobby. I feel like I got transported back in time to the 1920’s. We then went over to the gift shop to see what interesting trinkets they were selling. The Ahwahnee offers a gift shop with a focus on local artisans.
We then went over to the dining room which I unfortunately wasn’t able to eat at. As a destination dining spot, The Ahwahnee Dining Room is open year-round serving breakfast and dinner. With ceilings over 30 feet high and massive windows, the dining room evokes a feeling of opulence. The prices for the breakfast buffet weren’t too bad at $32.00 for adults, $14.50 for children and kids under 5 are free. It smelled so good in there.
This trip really had become a nice little getaway before heading back to modern life. And even though the kids looked tired, they really did have a great time.
To put the final icing on the cake we went to the sweet shop. The Sweet Shop offers delectable chocolate truffles, snacks and gifts. They also have selections of local and regional wines.
It was a hot day, so the kids picked out some ice cream. We also got some candies to bring back to our friends. Not many people were using it, but there was also a pool on site. A pretty awesome place to cool off.
Address: Yosemite National Park, 1 Ahwahnee Drive, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389
Website: https://www.travelyosemite.com/lodging/the-ahwahnee/