OTHER RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS AND LODGINGS

Accommodations in the National Park at the Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Lodge, Wawona Hotel, White Wolf Lodge, Curry Village, and in tent cabins and cabins without baths can be arranged by calling (559) 252-4848; or writing to P.O. Box 577,Yosemite 95389; www.yosemitepark.com.The Curry Village area of the valley offers a variety of accommodations, from tent cabins to hotel rooms and loft rooms sleeping six or more; all are clean and quite basic; some can be noisy. Nearby, Yosemite Lodge has 484 units from hotel-type rooms with balconies to rustic cabins, with or without baths, in a compound that includes a cafeteria and restaurants with good, plain food; post office, gift shops, swimming pool, outdoor theater, and tour desk; free nightly programs.

Camping. Large, usually crowded, valley campgrounds—Lower and Upper River, and North, Upper, and Lower Pines—can be noisy with road traffic and RV generators, but they're convenient for walking and hiking to most public places and trailheads. If you are interested in the wide variety of classes, interpretive hikes, and performances scheduled throughout the high season, a valley campground may be your best choice (800-436-7275). Hot showers are available to the public twenty-four hours a day at Curry Village and Housekeeping Camps; a small fee includes towel and soap.

A compromise between accessibility to the valley and a quieter, pret-tier place to camp is found at Bridalveil Creek Campground, 25 miles from the valley on the Glacier Point Road at an elevation of 7,200 feet. Each of the one hundred tent and RV sites here and at other higher-elevation camps are provided with "bear lockers," secure boxes where your food can be kept safe from black bears.

Yosemite Cedar Lodge, 8 miles fromYosemite, El Portal; (800) 321-5261.Two hundred deluxe and moderate rooms, some family units and suites, a restaurant, swimming pools, access to the Merced River.

Coulterville

Hotel Jeffery, 1 Main Street; (209) 878-3471. Gloriously restored, circa-1850 twenty-room hotel; garden patio, saloon, restaurant.

Groveland

Iron Door Saloon, 18761 Main Street; (209) 962-6244. Oldest saloon in the state, open 365 days a year; good food and soda fountain. Live weekend music.

Groveland Hotel, 18767 Main Street; (800) 273-3314; www.groveland.com. Named one of the top ten country inns in the country; seventeen guest rooms with antiques and down comforters, suites with fireplaces and spa tubs. Fine dining.