Summer is when Yosemite comes alive, and if you aren’t already planning a Yosemite summer vacation, we have to ask, why not? You could be hiking, fishing, watching sunsets as you relax in our Love Yosemite! seasonal sanctuaries, letting the peace and tranquility of this part of the world permeate your entire being, erasing any stress that the year may have caused thus far. There is so much you can do during your stay in our escapes, but in case you need a little more convincing that a Yosemite vacation and a stay in our California cabins is what your soul needs to be happy, we have created this guide to the essential summer amenities that will be found under the roof of your home sweet vacation home!
Playing Outside Our Yosemite Escapes
Normally we would start the tour of our properties by telling you that your vacation starts with the turn of the doorknob, and then we would invite you to step inside and fall in love. Everyone knows, however, that the charm of summer revolves around the outdoors, perhaps a leftover feeling from our childhood days (and this is for the Gen Xers in our group), when our parents would kick us out the door after breakfast, turning the lock so as to ensure we didn’t come back in until THEY were ready for our return, and basically leaving us unsupervised until lunch. We didn’t mind then, because we knew that the hours stretched out before us in an endless array of possibilities, and although you won’t be locked out of your Love Yosemite! escape during your stay, you won’t mind now either. The endless array of possibilities take the form of all the amenities we have listed below, reminding you that there can never be too much spoiling or too much fun! So go ahead, open the door, drop your bags inside, and follow the paths created by wood floors through the living room and straight out the back door where your summer adventures are about to begin.
Large Decks with Multiple Seating Options
It’s true that a large deck can be appreciated in every season, but in the summer months there is a certain magic that goes along with being able to sit out on the deck, watching the sun rise in the mornings and perhaps catching sight of a timid doe and her young fawn as she steps out from the tree line in search of food. Of course, you will have a cup of coffee in hand, freshly brewed in the kitchen that is fully equipped with all you need to make a meal (minus the food). In the evening hours, you can substitute a glass of wine or a mug of beer for the cup of coffee as you watch the sky turn to fire before the dark of night takes over. It can get a little chilly at night, but you will still want to sit out here, listening to the sounds of the wind rustling in the trees, the calls of nocturnal animals, and perhaps just enjoying the conversation you have been having with your favorite traveling partner. And as the moon casts its ethereal glow over the landscape, the wine warms you from the inside out, and that sense of peace grows stronger, you will begin to understand why taking a vacation in Yosemite in the summer is going to mean so much to you.
Hammocks for Naps and Reading
The luxury of being able to take a nap in the middle of the day is elevated to new levels when you are able to take that nap while cozily ensconced in a hammock swinging gently between two trees. Even if you can’t fall asleep in the daytime, grabbing the book you carried with you across the miles, an adult sippy cup filled with your favorite beverage (you will need a lid as they haven’t developed the technology of cup holders on hammocks as of yet!) and an afternoon filled with sunshine and gentle breezes may just create the memory you will cherish forever. Spending as much time outdoors is a necessity in Yellowstone, and being able to relax while doing so is an amenity that will make your summer adventures feel luxurious and absolutely wonderful.
Barbecue Grills
The American Dream has often been described as the belief that with a little work (or a lot of work!), anyone can build a better life, and we are pretty sure that a Yosemite summer vacation and a family barbecue is something that could be considered a part of that dream. Most of our seasonal sanctuaries are equipped with propane grills, enabling the chief griller in your family to help out the chief cook with a meal or two, and some may even feature a Blackstone grill, something that has changed the world of barbecuing forever more. Fishing is very popular in Yosemite, and your catch of the day is sure to make a delicious meal. If meat is more your style, the local Vons, located at 40044 CA-49 in Oakhurst, has a high-quality selection of meat that is just waiting to be charred to perfection on our grills. And remember those multiple options for seating we were talking about earlier? Outdoor patio tables offer the backdrop of mature trees, grassy yards, and breathtaking sunsets, ensuring that this will be a family barbecue that you will compare all others against for years in the future!
Firepits or Outdoor Fireplaces
This is the story of summer amenities, but as we mentioned in the paragraph above, it can get chilly at night, and if you can gather around a firepit or outdoor fireplace, you can extend your outdoor adventures even longer. What is it about a fire on a chilly night that makes you want to talk longer, laugh harder, and enjoy a camping type experience? Even better, you can enjoy all of the above, and when it is time to fall asleep, you won’t be sleeping on the ground; instead, you will climb into a soft bed topped with even softer linens, perhaps dreaming of a world in which you never had to return to real life! But as we turn back to the fire flickering brightly in the dark of night, it is time to bring out the graham crackers, Hershey bars, and marshmallows to engage in another popular camp tradition, the making of s’mores! Summer and s’mores go together like peanut butter and jelly, and your Yosemite vacation will be all that much sweeter because of it!
Slip Into Something Bubbly
During your daytime adventures in Yosemite, there will be many hikes you will take, many adventures enjoyed, and at the end of each day, perhaps there will be many muscles feeling sore and tight. Fortunately, a large number of our Love Yosemite! summer sanctuaries will come with a soothing surprise on the back deck that you are already enjoying for its comfortable seating options. Of course, there is a hot tub, bubbling merrily and enticing you to slip out of your hiking shoes, into your swimsuit, and sink into its heated depths. Again, this amenity is a year-round one, providing warmth when it is cold and jets that hit all the muscles just right, and if you are enjoying your soak with a glass of wine and music playing softly, you will know that there is nowhere else on earth that you will want to be. A summer escape to Yosemite is destined to provide all the moments that you will dream about when you return to real life, but now is not the time to think about that. Now is the time to savor every hedonistic second of your California vacation, and a soak in our hot tubs will help you do just that!
Did You Think We Weren’t Going to Say Pool?
We will grant you that unlike in our Southern cities, pools aren’t very common in this part of the state, but summer temps can get warm in the daylight hours, and a swim on a summer day is something that just seems right to do. Some may be heated for your swimming pleasure on cool nights and days that never get too hot, and as you sit on the lounge chairs that will surround the pool in your backyard, sipping margaritas, and watching your children splash around in the clear blue waters, you may not be able to resist doing a cannonball yourself, splashing the kiddos and reminding them that you are always going to be the cool mom! Family barbecues can turn into family pool parties, with this summer adventure becoming the one you dream about long after you have had to return to real life. Nighttime swims offer the ultimate in luxury experiences, and your heated pool will help you feel comfortable as you do so. Still feeling chilly? Hot tubs and swimming pools are another couple that just feel right, so go ahead and climb out of the pool and slip into the hot tub, reacting like a cat that has fallen asleep in the sunny spot of the home.
Time to Go Inside and Explore
I think we have thoroughly explored all the summer amenities you will find outside of your Love Yosemite! summer retreat, so wipe your feet, open the door, and let’s go inside and discover all the summery amenities that may be found in these warm and welcoming spaces. In case you haven’t already noticed, our vacation properties are designed to be an integral part of your vacation experience, offering a beautiful blend of comfort, style, and modern conveniences. Even as you are spending your days meandering through Yosemite National Park, visiting groves of sequoias, creating a documentary in photographs of all your California experiences, and dining at restaurants that have learned what some might feel is an impossible task, how to create food that is both healthy and delicious, in the back of your mind you may end up counting the minutes until you are able to return to the comforts found within!
Thank You, Mr. Carrier
Willis Carrier is famous throughout the world for being the creator of the first commercial air conditioning system, something for which we will always be forever grateful. And although the temperatures in Yosemite rarely reach the triple digits, after your summer adventures in the Yosemite area, coming inside to rooms that are cool, quiet, and restful will be yet another highlight in a vacation filled with wonderful moments. And if your summer visit is during one of the heat waves that seem to be more frequent these days, you KNOW you will be turning down the dial to chill! Ceiling fans in the living rooms and bedrooms also offer another way to stay cool during the dog days of summer, and we don’t care that most interior designers do not like the way they look; the way they make you feel is so much more important.
Game Night with the Family
It doesn’t rain very often here in the Yosemite Valley, which actually makes us a little sad. There is nothing we love more, on the nights when it does rain, than pulling out the board games and gathering round the dining room tables playing to win while listening to the rain fall outside. Most of our Yosemite properties will offer a selection of board games for guests to use during their stay and some will even offer fully equipped game rooms to extend the playing time you will have even more!
Your Summer with Love Yosemite! Is One You Will Never Forget
All of these adventures and so many more (don’t forget to whip up a batch of frozen margaritas, using the blenders that can be found in some of our kitchens) will work together to complete a portrait of an idyllic vacation experience. Reserve your favorite summer sanctuary today!
