Yosemite in winter

Yosemite in the winter is simply beautiful. Many people come here to camp and hike during the warmer weather months, but there is something magical about this grand national park in the colder months.

Snowy meadows, frozen peaks and the quiet can be incredibly conducive to romance or just a great way to recharge your batteries. Whatever you decide, there are many ways to enjoy the Yosemite Valley.

Our stay at The Ahwahnee in January was overall so relaxing and a wonderful time. We had thought about waiting until February and enjoying a Valentine’s escape to Napa, but decided instead to experience Yosemite in snow.

The Ahwahnee Hotel is a splurge compared to other lodging options in or near the park, but worth it if you can swing it.  The architecture and magnificent façade are amazing to see, especially for the first time. There is a grandeur about this stately hotel. No wonder presidents and royalty have stayed here.

Snowy peaks above

Did you know that The Ahwahnee was specifically designed to highlight its natural surroundings, which feature Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and Glacier Point? This beautiful hotel has the warmth of a mountain ski lodge but on a grander scale. The interior rooms have Native American motifs and accents with natural wood furnishings.

View from Ahwahnee Hotel ground floor

This AAA Four Diamond hotel has 123 handsomely appointed guest rooms, including 99 hotel rooms, parlors and suites and 24 cottages. We stayed in the main building in a guest room and found that we ate most of our meals in the grand dining room.

With the chilly air and icy roads, I quite enjoyed staying indoors and staring out the enormous windows at the fabulous views, with a warm drink and book. However Badger Pass is not too far if you prefer to go skiing and the hotel can help with arrangements.

Inside the main dining room

Other types of lodging around Yosemite National Park are available during the winter and summer months but you will need to check ahead of time to see what roads are open, besides availability – I suggest you check directly with Yosemite National Park.  Booking directly with the park may also save you money or get you one of their seasonal packages or other sweet bargains.

Discover your inner Ansel Adams and no matter when you go or where you stay, don’t forget to take your camera!!

Photo credits to sfcphotography

Does this time of year make you nostalgic for a toasty fireplace? If you’re traveling to New Hampshire, consider stopping into the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, where you can find a dose of history along with that sentimental feeling.

Opened in 1902, the Mount Washington provided lodging for celebrities, writers and politicians, and hosted the 1944 Bretton Woods International Monetary Conference, where the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were founded. Now designated a National Historic Landmark, the hotel is steeped in history and proud of its tradition of stylish service.

The Mount Washington is where my family landed every summer when I was a kid. With my siblings, I bashed croquet balls across the lawn and swam in the pool, though  I wish I had been able to hike the trails in the fall or hit the slopes in the winter.

While you’re visiting, check out Babe Ruth’s golf locker, walk across Thomas Edison’s stomping grounds, and peep into the dining room where Winston Churchill may have taken his tea. One lump or two?

Charm, history, and New England style: the Mount Washington’s got it all.