Ahwahnee Hotel
1 Ahwahnee Drive, Yosemite National Park, California
Of all Yosemite’s lodging options, the Ahwahnee Hotel (formerly the Majestic Yosemite Hotel) stands out not only for its location—you can see Yosemite Falls from the legendary dining room—but also for its interior, redolent of Yosemite’s early years. And you don’t need to book a room to enjoy this National Historic Landmark.
Visitors to Yosemite National Park who forego a room at this luxury hotel still have plenty of options for experiencing its grandeur. Perhaps the most popular is a meal in the spectacular dining room, open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. Some guided tours of the national park include a dining room meal or fireside storytelling in the hotel. Free historic tours take visitors through the rooms, halls, and grounds to learn more about its storied past.
The Ahwahnee Hotel is a must-see for history buffs and first-time visitors to the park.
Tour and dining room reservations fill up early, so be sure to book well in advance.
Bring your camera, as the interior and exterior views are shot-worthy.
The hotel is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
If you’re not part of a guided tour, the easiest way to reach the hotel is to drive or ride your bike. It’s also a stop on the free year-round Yosemite Valley Shuttle System, departing from the Yosemite Village parking area and other spots around the park.
The Ahwahnee Hotel and dining room are open throughout the year. One of the best times for a meal is during the popular Sunday brunch, though it’s a good idea to book in the offseason to avoid the summer crowds.
In an effort to attract more affluent visitors to the park, this historic hotel was commissioned in the 1920s. Some 5,000 tons (4,536 metric tons) of stone, 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) of lumber, and 1,000 tons (907 metric tons) of steel were brought in for construction. The design takes inspiration from art deco, Native American, and Middle Eastern cultures, with details like stained glass windows, hand-woven tapestries, and hand-stenciled ceiling beams.
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