As you may recall, my family traveled a few months ago to Yosemite for a little getaway and we were graciously hosted by the Rush Creek Lodge, and then we were able to stay at their sister resort, The Evergreen Lodge! You also may know that the pandemic has up and down here in California, and unfortunately due to a state health order, the property had to shut down in early December for quite a while, so I waited until they were open again to post this blog. But as of now, the orders have been lifted and lodge just reopened a few days ago on February 12th so I am excited I can finally share the details of our trip! And it’s exciting because this year they are celebrating their Centennial Year! That’s right! They opened in 1921, so this year they celebrate being 100!
The Evergreen Lodge sits beautifully just outside Yosemite National Park off the West 120 entrance and according to Frommer’s Guide is “the classic Yosemite experience.” It’s super private, quaint, and extremely peaceful. You can walk to everything on the 20 acre property and everything is inclusive – meaning once you are there, you are there, and you’ll have everything you need right at the lodge! The property has a restaurant, a tavern, a general store, and tons of recreational activity offerings! You can hike, rent bikes, swim, and play games on property! They also offer guided recreation activities like fly fishing, sightseeing tours, rafting, snowshoeing, photo tours, and stargazing!
There are 88 fully furnished cabins at The Evergreen Lodge. We stayed in a two bedroom family cabin and it was incredible. The two bedroom family cabin is 600 square feet and can accommodate up to 6 people! The cabin came with a Master bedroom with a king sized bed, a second bedroom with two twin beds, a large living room with a queen sofa bed, a large bathroom, and the cutest patio/balcony area! It was perfect for our family.
When we arrived, we were greeted with a very special and fun welcoming gift. We received two mugs for the adults, two bear beanies for the kids, and some trail mix to share! We were all so excited!
One of my favorite things to do to relax and take in the trip was to sit on the porch/balcony early in the morning with a cup of coffee! I even made a bird friend!
While we were there, we had two days to explore Yosemite National Park and we had the best time on our adventures! We hiked, picnicked, and saw a lot of wildlife including a bear and some dear! And even though we went in October when it’s still warm and dry from the summer months, we even spotted a waterfall when viewing the break taking sights! We loved going in October because the park wasn’t busy at all, since it is off season, and at the time we went, we needed a reservation to get into the park, which also limited capacity. Make sure you check the current reservation status before you go!
We even stopped in the gift shop for some souvenirs! The shop is huge and you can even shop for groceries while you are there. I loved that they also sold face masks!
During our stay, we were hosted for breakfast one morning at the lodge on their outdoor patio. The view was gorgeous and the food was so delicious!!! They have a pretty big menu and options for adults and children! I had the create your own scramble, my husband and daughter had the two eggs any style, and my son had the red velvet pancakes! They also have classic eggs Benedict, avocado on toast, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal, and more!
We also loved the dinner options! I loved my elk meatloaf and the kids loved the macaroni and cheese! They change their menu seasonally and you can find the latest menu on their website!
And I love that the lodge has a gift shop with everything you could possibly need or want right on property including a coffee shop!
The property also has a really fun play area for kids that includes a giant slide and a zip line!
You can find a lot of recreation activities around the lodge so there is always something to do whether it’s an organized craft time, ping pong, or other games! Each day the lodge has new activities on the activity board including guided tours!
And I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned the pool yet!! The view from the pool area is extraordinary day or night so definitely make time to swim while you are there!
Our family’s favorite part was the complimentary s’mores you could have daily by their fire pits! The lodge property is so beautiful in the evening and the kids loved their daily treat!
And I felt very safe during our stay. Mostly everything, including dining, is outside and we were able to successfully socially distance the entire time we were there. Everyone wore masks in common areas of the lodge and it never felt crowded. Plus, they had hand sanitizer stations all over the property!
If you ever make it up to Yosemite, I highly recommend The Evergreen Lodge! You and your family will absolutely love it!
Our stay was hosted but all photos and opinions are my own.
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