There’s a whole wide world out there just waiting to be discovered, and you are considering Yosemite for your vacation destination. Isn’t that wonderful? Maybe you know that this will be an experience that is naturally exciting and filled with close encounters of the animal kind or maybe you realize that your soul needs a getaway that is peaceful and relaxing. No matter what is leading you in the direction of a Vacation rental in Yosemite spent in the heart of our Love Yosemite! homes, we can promise that this will be an escape you will never forget, and in case you aren’t quite convinced this is the place for you, our guide to 10 reasons to choose the Yosemite area as your next vacation destination should seal the deal!
Reason Number 10: The Beauty of the Countryside
If you are looking for towering skyscrapers, bright lights, and lots of noise and chaos, you should not be looking in the Yosemite direction, but if you find yourself yearning to see mountains standing guard over forests of pine trees and crystal-clear lakes, choose Yosemite. Sometimes we at Love Yosemite! can’t believe that we are lucky enough to wake up to the majestic beauty that we wake up to every day, and we know that our guests feel that way as well. Breath in fresh clean air and listen to the serene sounds of nature at work, including the chirping of birds, the mating calls of elk (mating season takes place in September/October), or on the quietest of days, the sounds of the wind rustling through the trees. You can’t help but fall in love with this beautiful countryside any more than you could help falling in love with your favorite traveling companion!
Reason Number 9: A Wonderful Place to See a Symbol of America’s Freedom, the Bald Eagle
All the way back in 1998, the first tagged bald eagle’s nest was discovered, and ever since, this region has become a top one for bald eagle watchers that flock to our doorstep every year. This is always a wonderful experience, watching our feathered friends perch on a tree branch, soar through the air, or dive into the waters when in need of food. Their eggs hatch in April or May, but if you want to catch more than a glimpse of tiny mouths opening for food, your summer visit, 4-8 weeks later, will be the perfect time to catch sight of the majestic birds, looking like miniatures of their parents, begin swooping through the air. One fun and romantic fact about bald is that they mate for life. If one of the pair does die, however, they will find new love, but we are pretty sure the first mate will live on in their memories forevermore.
Reason Number 8: Outdoor Adventures
The beautiful countryside and incredible weather ensure that as a visitor you will want to play outside as much as possible, and there will be many opportunities to do so. Hiking along the many trails, water activities on the lakes that include boating, swimming, and fishing, and mountain biking through tough terrain that softens the blow of the extra efforts by offering stunning views that will almost certainly make you forget about the pain of the steep hill you are climbing! In the fall the vibrant and colorful beauty of trees in full autumn attire will be the source of your favorite pictures taken, ensuring that you will have plenty that are worthy of printing out, framing, and hanging on your wall once you return to real life and your own home sweet home!
Reason Number 7: Special Events you Will Love
It’s always fun checking out the fun events that other towns and cities offer, and the exciting events listed below will add an extra layer of wonderful to your Yosemite area adventures!
Oakhurst Woodcarvers Rendezvous in April, Oakhurst Community Center, 39822 Road 425B
You don’t have to be a woodcarver to explore this fun event, but you can certainly learn to be one or just shop for the pieces that actual woodcarvers create at the Oakhurst Woodcarvers Rendezvous held for an entire week in April. Offering demonstrations, classes (for a fee) and seminars for all experience levels in the art, and of course, the chance to add stunningly beautiful works of art to your souvenir collection, this event is sure to be a favorite.
Coarsegold Peddler’s Antique & Collectible Show, Labor Day Weekend in Coarsegold
The town of Coarsegold has a long history, one we will explore more later, but for now we want to examine the Peddler’s Antique & Collectible Show, held every Labor Day Weekend. Offering more than just wonderful antiques and collectibles, it is a weekend that will be filled with good food, good music, and arts & crafts events that are sure to make your kiddo’s happy, even though you dragged them to an antique show!
Reason Number 6: Coarsegold, the Last Surviving Gold Rush Town
The mid-1800s were an exciting time for California as gold fever hit our state and thousands of men from all over the nation rushed to towns such as Coarsegold to make their fortunes. Gold was found and many men did make their fortunes, but more did not, and as with any virus, the fever dissipated and most of the towns that sprung up during this time turned into ghost towns. Coarsegold, however, located just 8 miles south of Oakhurst and 15 miles south of Bass Lake, became the last surviving gold rush town and a single nugget of gold, worth $15,000, was its initial volley into the rush. Today Coarsegold Village, although no longer the site of major mining operations, is still popular with small groups of miners and with tourists that drive through on their way to Yosemite National Park, offering a place to stop, relax, and pan for gold. Vintage Steakhouse, located within the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino offers a fine meal and another way to seek fortune at the tables and slot machines located within.
Reason Number 5: The Holidays Shine Brighter Here
Vacationing over the holidays is a popular American activity, and in spite of the fact that these towns are quite small, many of the celebrations are quite large, and we have included some of our favorite below.
Light Up the Sky Bass Lake Fireworks & Boat Parade, July 4, Bass Lake
Even though the actual celebration doesn’t begin until 7PM, people stake their claim on a section of the beaches of Bass Lake, spending the day doing all the things you do at a beach, including swimming, boating, sunbathing, and building sandcastles, waiting for the boat parade and subsequent fireworks to begin. The parade is also a competition for local boatowners, as the most patriotic boat will be awarded a prize and the bystanders will enjoy a very fun red, white, and blue extravaganza. The fireworks begin after the sun has set, about 9 PM, and you can watch them from the beach or you can take your rental boat out into the lake and watch it as your boat gently bobs in the water.
Christmas Tree Lighting & Chili Cookoff, December, Historic Village of Coarsegold
Christmas tree lightings are fantastic wherever you may be, offering magic and whimsy and helping to heighten your anticipation of the holiday, but the historic village of Coarsegold does things a little differently, combining their tree lighting ceremony with a chili cookoff that we promise is most delicious! Santa will be there for the kiddos and everyone can sample the chilis entered in the cookoff and vote on which is the favorite!
Reason Number 4: The Waterfalls Will Change Your Life
It is simply in the name: waterfalls. The water falling over rocks shouldn’t be as magical as it is, but as you stand in front of one, you can’t help but believe in good things. The Yosemite area is rife with waterfalls and the ones listed below are just about as life changing as water, rocks, and all the magic that accompanies it can be. Lewis Creek Trailhead, located in the Oakhurst area, is a hike that will bring you to two waterfalls that lie along its tree-lined path.
Corlieu Falls
The first waterfall, Corlieu Falls, is a local fave, offering several splits to create a larger impression with the water tumbling from great heights. Named after a pioneering family that once lived in the area, the falls were once home to a local recluse and if you hike to the top of the falls, you can still see the remnants of the foundation of the cabin he lived in.
Red Rock Falls
The second set of falls, Red Rock Falls, is much smaller in size, only climbing 20 feet, but is wider and somehow equally as magical as Corlieu. There are a variety of ways you can get there, but the quickest is by crossing Lewis Creek, assumably by stepping on boulders that were placed there for that purpose, but when the creek is high, you will have to take the longer hike that goes up quite a ways. Offering a bit of magic and wonder to your Yosemite adventures, the waterfalls never cease to amaze.
Reason Number 3: Bass Lake
Bass Lake is both a town and a lake and they are both fantastic reasons for making this area your vacation destination. Offering crystal-clear waters that reflect the beauty of the trees, the mountains, and the sky above, the village that surrounds the lake is equally charming and inviting.
The Lake
The lake itself is known for its surprisingly warm waters not something often found in a mountain lake, making it an idyllic playground for boaters, water skiers, wakeboarders, and of course swimmers. If fishing is your obsession, or even if it is just an activity that you simply enjoy from time to time, the fish are always biting at Bass Lake and depending on the season you are here, you may come home with a collection of fish that include, bass, catfish, kokanee salmon, and rainbow trout.
Bass Lake Village
The village is a charming spot, offering shops and restaurants that all demand to be explored, including Good Ol’ Daze, an art gallery that also serves ice cream and coffee, and the Jone’s Store a General Store that has a long history, dating back to the 19th century. Known for its burgers, pies, and being cash only, we highly recommend visiting the Jone’s Store at least once during your visit!
Reason Number 2: Yosemite National Park
You’ve probably been wondering if we were ever going to mention the park, but don’t worry, we were just building up to it, and now it is time to reveal its secrets. Designated a national park in 1890, it was one of the earliest parks to be given this designation. (Yellowstone was the first) Today, guests can engage in a large number of fun activities within the borders of the park, including rock climbing, white water rafting, and horseback riding. Open year round, there will be some areas of the park that are closed to cars during the winter months due to snow and ice, but winter activities such as skiing and snowshoeing can still be enjoyed. The Yosemite Museum explores the history of its nearly 1200 square miles and throughout your drive along scenic roads, there will be pullovers for scenic views, picnic areas, and even explore the town of Curry Village, offering shops and restaurants. There is so much to do in Yosemite National Park, you may want to extend your visit for a few days, giving yourself more time to enjoy the number one reason for choosing Yosemite.
Reason Number 1: Our Love Yosemite! Home Sweet Vacation Cabins
The wide variety of beautiful homes and cabins we offer throughout the Yosemite area, including some that are actually inside the park itself, is perhaps the biggest reason you may want to choose this area for your next vacation destination. Offering as few as 1 bedroom and as many as 7 bedrooms, guests can enjoy mountain, lake, or forest views, feeling at one with the beauty of nature. And just because you chose a more rustic style cabin for your accommodations, we don’t believe you should have to rough it and some of our sanctuaries will offer hot tubs, private pools, firepits, even outdoor projectors that will allow you to watch your favorite movies while submerged in the bubbling depths of a hot tub. Every attention is paid to every detail when you choose Love Yosemite! Reserve your favorite retreat with us today.
