Bakersfield Life

Winter wonderland

larger view

      When naturalist John Muir said, “No temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite,” he didn’t exaggerate.      If you haven’t visited Yosemite in the winter, when the snow blankets the valley floor and glistens in the trees, you need to plan your trip now. Snowy weather in Yosemite is not a slushy inconvenience; it’s an easily accessed winter wonderland you and your family won’t forget.     From Bakersfield, drive north on the 99 to the 41 just south of Fresno. The 41 offers any number of pre-Yosemite diversions such as the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, which has a great lunch buffet; yard art shopping in Coarsegold; Oakhurst’s Bass Lake; and in Fish Camp, a ride on the Sugar Pine Railroad, a narrow-gauge logging train hauled by vintage 1920s steam-powered locomotives.     At Yosemite’s entrance gate, you pay a fee of $20 per private car or $10 per person on foot, horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, or on a noncommercial bus. Your first stop is the Victorian-style Wawona Hotel, a National Historic Landmark. The hotel and the grounds are reminiscent of the hotel in the movie “Somewhere In Time.” Amenities include a golf course, swimming pool, tennis court and wedding facilities. From the hotel, it’s a short jaunt to the Pioneer Yosemite History Center and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. The next stop — and you must plan at least 30 minutes to gawk — is Tunnel View, made famous by Ansel Adams’ photographs. Immediately after passing through Wawona Tunnel is a turnout on the left. From this amazing spot you’ll see El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Fall. Sunset or after a storm is the best time to take this photo, but you can’t go wrong no matter when you snap one.     Be sure to visit the Ahwahnee Hotel, which was designed to blend with the forest backdrop. Inside, the common areas are decorated with priceless paintings, photographs, American Indian baskets and Persian rugs. The guest rooms are exquisitely appointed and the beds and bedding are oh so snuggly. The grandeur of the dining room with its massive stone pillars and 34-foot-high ceiling will take your breath away. The service is great, the food is suburb and the prices are reasonable. What more can you ask for?     Since 1927, the Bracebridge dinner, a spectacular three-hour Christmas pageant, has been held in the Ahwahnee dining room. The room is transformed into an old English hall. Squire Bracebridge, a character from Washington Irving’s “The Sketch Book,” and his friends sing and dance while you indulge in an elegant seven-course dinner. Advance reservations are required for the event that runs Dec. 13 to 25.     From Jan. 10 to Feb. 4, the Ahwahnee hosts Chefs’ Holidays, featuring a showcase of guest chefs offering cooking classes, demonstrations, kitchen tours and a classy five-course gala dinner.     Even if you can’t stay at the Ahwahnee or participate in any of the events, you are welcome to view the public rooms, stroll the magnificent grounds and get a hot chocolate from the bar. The Merced River, which meanders through the entire valley, is a short walk behind the hotel and the scenery is magical.     Rising nearly 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley, Half Dome is one of the park’s main attractions. Sentinel Bridge at sunset is the place to be to watch the sun slowly turn the granite face bright orange.     Of the 13 waterfalls in the valley, the largest and most awesome is Yosemite Falls, which cascades 2,425 feet in three sections. Many of the rooms at the Yosemite Lodge have a spectacular view of Yosemite Falls.         Daily activities include ranger walks, talks and evening programs. At the Yosemite Lodge you can learn about Yosemite’s first people and geology. Yosemite Village offers an orientation film, the Indian Cultural Museum and the Ansel Adams Gallery. Bus tours of the valley floor are also available.      Badger Pass, California’s oldest ski resort, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering snowboarding, downhill and cross-country skiing. And at Curry Village, the hub of recreational activities, you’ll find an ice skating rink.     Free shuttles make seeing Yosemite a breeze. They operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., picking up approximately every 30 minutes at 21 stops.      Yosemite offers a variety of lodgings for every comfort level, from campgrounds and tents to moderately priced rooms and luxury accommodations.     A winter visit to Yosemite is an amazing adventure that you really shouldn’t miss and the best part is — no lines, no crowds. It’s all yours to enjoy.YosemiteLodging: 559-252-4848 or yosemitepark.com Road conditions, weather and general information: 209-372-0200Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, 866-794-6946Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, 559-683-7273