Yosemite’s Back & Fall Perfect

Tenaya Lodge, recent winner of Sunset Magazine’s 2018 Travel Awards for Best Park Classic hotel, has all the makings for an ideal fall getaway. Just minutes from the newly renovated Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Tenaya’s fall season includes everything from tours of Yosemite that make a stop at the giant trees to off-roading through fall colors in the back country and even painting a Yosemite landscape. Plus, first responders enjoy a special discount as a thank you for their efforts, especially during the Ferguson fire. (Photo courtesy Tenaya Lodge)

The lodge, set adjacent to Yosemite National Park’s South Gate at an elevation of 5,288 feet, offers 302 rooms, suites and mountain cottage accommodations. Tenaya Lodge offers easy access to Yosemite’s iconic attractions and many guests savor the alpine serenity of Ascent Spa at Tenaya Lodge. Resort dining options run the table from casual to candlelit at Sierra, Jackalope’s, Timberloft and Embers restaurants.

Visit the ‘Gentle Giants’

Just two miles from Tenaya Lodge, at the south entrance to Yosemite National Park, is the newly re-opened Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, which features more than 500 “gentle giants” of the forest. Tenaya’s daily Yosemite Tour via a luxury Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bus with retractable roof is the perfect stress-free way to rediscover this inspiring Yosemite attraction that was closed for more than three years.(Photo courtesy Yosemite-Mariposa Visitors Bureau)

The tour allows guests to stop and explore the renovated grove, which boasts new educational exhibits and a raised boardwalks to protect the tree roots, while avoiding the hassles of parking and park entry, before continuing on into Yosemite Valley. Another way to enjoy the grove is with Tenaya’s Sequoia Seedling and Free Park Pass Package. With a two night minimum stay, visitors receive a free seven-day park pass and a giant sequoia sapling to take home and plant as a reminder of their time spent wandering among the thousand year-old trees. The package is available through December 20, 2018 and can be booked using promo code FALLDEAL.

Back Country fall explorations

Guests can explore the magnificent Sierra National Forest just outside Tenaya Lodge by Jeep or on new dune-buggy style Polaris RZRs or Ranger UTVs. With both guided and self-guided options available, visitors discover the forest from a thrilling, fresh new perspective complete with stops at points of interest such as Cheppo Granite Dome, Bass Lake Vista, Granite Creek, Fresno Dome, Devil’s Peak and Iron Lake. Tours can be booked through the Tenaya concierge or directly through Sierra Nevada Motorsports.(Photo courtesy Tenaya)

Romantic fall activities

Beginning late November, Tenaya guests can unleash their creativity during a relaxing paint and wine session. A perfect end to a day spent exploring, artist and naturalist Shirley Spencer leads guests through traditional and experimental watercolor techniques and application. Rounding out the cozy fall getaway is an endless list of on-going activity options from seasonal rejuvenation at Ascent Spa and exploration under a canopy of stars during a flashlight hike to mountain biking and s’mores for two at the outdoor fire pit.

New Outdoor Stay at AutoCamp Coming

For those who want to experience Yosemite with a modern and stylish “outdoor” stay, the AutoCamp experience has recently broken ground near Yosemite National Park, and booking is now open for early 2019, with some summer dates already filling up. Nightly rates start at $225/night for the Airstreams and luxury tents.

Nestled on 35 acres in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the property will feature a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse with reception, meeting space, indoor/outdoor lounge area and a curated marketplace offering artisanal food and beverages. The clubhouse includes a scenic roof deck, perfect for stargazing, and an outdoor swimming pool. Accommodations include 15 luxury tents, three cabin suites and 80 deluxe Airstream trailers. (Photo courtesy TravMedia)

With the iconic Airstream as a starting point, designers looked to modernist masterpieces for inspiration. The resulting clean, rectilinear planes of the clubhouse complement the surrounding landscape and set the tone for the polished rural retreat. Large-scale, low-slung seating areas with fire pits will be situated throughout the clubhouse, showcasing vistas of the natural surroundings and encouraging a communal experience that honors the spirit and tradition of camping.