Sunday, March 7, 2010

Cross this off my "Bucket List"

I have always wanted to stay t the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. It's been a dream. It's so expensive....I wondered if I would ever do it. Well, I did! My son works at that Awahnee and has been there for more than a year. I've been bugging him to get me in and he did!!

There was snow on the ground on the way in.


This the view from inside the car.

This is the lookout point. If you look in the background....way back there...you can see El Capitan and Half Dome.


This is a quick pic of Bridalveil Falls from inside the car.


One of my favorites, El Capitan. Pictures never show you how big this really is. You can be right in front of it and it would hurt your neck to look up to the top. And, if there are climbers on it, you would need binoculars to see them. It's amazing!


This is Yosemite Falls. There are better views from the other side of the valley.


We're here!! I have been to the Ahwahnee many times. I've just never stayed in a room there. When we are on our family vacation, hubby and I love to go to the Ahwahnee for breakfast. We also go sit in the Great Room to use the internet. So, we are very familiar with the place. Now, we are going to be actual "guests". Woo Hoo!


This is the Great Room. So much history! Presidents, movie stars and even the Queen have stayed here. Wow. This room is so cool to just sit in. You will see lots of people on thier laptops.


My sweet son. He had this treat made special for us! Isn't that terrific?


Pretty AND yummy. This deserves a closer look.


Here I am next to a warm fire. (a real one) Keeping this fire going is just one of my
son's duties as Lobby Porter at the Ahwahnee.


Here we are at breakfast in the dining room. This room is spectacular! And, the food is top notch!


Here is a bigger view of the dining room. Isn't it cool?


Are you sitting down? This is the room that we stayed in. While this was a 'dream come true', I have to tell you, I was expecting something else. This room is $450 a night, after taxes it will go over $500. I guess I was expecting more luxury. If I had paid the actual amount for this room....I would have been pretty bummed.




More of the room.


The bathroom is cute....but is it $500 cute?


Before we go, I want to send postcards to our granddaughters.


This is the tent cabin we stayed in last summer on vacation. I'm really starting to look forward to this year.


A really pretty view on our way out.


I think this may be one of the most photographed places on the planet. It's so pretty. This is Yosemite Falls. You can the the "Upper" and the "Lower" falls from here. There are always photographers at this spot.


Brrr. It's chilly up here. It feels like it's raining a little, but that is really the mist from the falls.


Turns out that all my favorite parts of the Ahwahnee Hotel are free. I love eating in the dining room and you don't have to be a guest to do that. I love sitting in the Great Room. I love just walking around the place. And now, I won't be wondering what it's like to stay there anymore.

Thank you son, for making one of my dreams come true!! You rock!!!


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3 comments:

  1. Wonderful, Stephanie! I love Yosemite. It has been a few years since I have been there so it is nice to see your pics!

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  2. wow!!! amazing photos:) what a wonderful experience!! yikes though, $500? GULP!!

    i looove the mountains!! we went to TN for our honeymoon and i fell in love!!

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  3. Don't our kids just rock our world some times?? Makes up for all those horrid teenage yrs, eh??!!

    And isnt it nice to realize that some of the neatest things in life are free??!!
    Miss ya, girlfriend!!

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