How would you like to spend your holidays in a scenic winter wonderland? Look no further than spectacular Yosemite National Park, and the beautiful Tenaya at Yosemite lodge.
Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite in winter – photo via Tenaya Lodge
Of course Tenaya is beautiful at any time of year, but the winter holiday season is truly something special. Think acres of pristine forest, pure white snowdrifts, cozy fireplaces, and delicious food – and you’ll start to get the picture. Aside from the pure beauty of the experience, there are also special offerings that will help sweeten the deal.
What is Tenaya at Yosemite?
Tenaya at Yosemite is an all-season Yosemite resort nestled in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s just two miles from Yosemite National Park’s south gate entrance, and it gives you access to millions of acres of parkland to explore. Tenaya at Yosemite offers lodge rooms and suites, cottages, and two-bedroom cabins. In terms of amenities, there are multiple restaurants, spa services, indoor and outdoor pools, scenic views, and guided hikes.
The lodge is clearly a place that has earned a place in people’s hearts. It was twice voted among the top five favorite holiday resorts by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It has also received multiple Sunset Travel Awards.
Although Tenaya at Yosemite is magic throughout the year, the winter holidays at the lodge are truly special. Starting with a festive holiday tree that adorns the lobby, visitors can enjoy an onsite ice-skating rink, epic gingerbread house decorating workshops, and more.
Holiday Food and Drink at Tenaya
The holiday season officially kicks off on Thanksgiving week. And one of the first treats of the season is rich, warm, hot chocolate – free to all overnight guests between November 21 and December 30.
You can celebrate Thanksgiving at the lodge with two options. There’s a sumptuous Thanksgiving buffet in the grand ballroom, as well as a special Thanksgiving plated menu at Jackalope’s Bar and Grill.
If we can categorize gingerbread house decorating as “food,” then that’s another fun option. Tenaya at Yosemite runs a super-popular gingerbread house decorating workshop that sells out every year. For 2022, the workshops will be held on November 26, December 21, and December 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ($95 per gingerbread house, max two houses per family). Overnight guests are of course welcome, but the workshop is open to the general public as well. And best of all – no one will judge you if more candy winds up in your stomach than on the house.
Leading up to Christmas, you can enjoy Breakfast with Santa on December 22 from 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. (Adults $65, Seniors $55, Children 12 and under $30).
For Christmas dinner, you also have two choices. There’s a Christmas Buffet in the Grand Ballroom (Adults $99, Seniors $79, Children 12 and under $39), or a plated Christmas dinner at Jackalope’s Bar and Grill (prices vary).
And for New Year’s Eve, adults can dance the night away at an Agent 007-themed “Tenaya Royale” party. You can enjoy casino games, festive food and drink, and live entertainment, and a Champagne toast,.
Holiday Activities at Tenaya
Now that everyone in your party has filled up with hot chocolate and holiday treats, it’s time to join some activities.
You can choose from a Mason jar decorating workshop (November 25; $10 per jar), or an ornament decorating workshop (November 21, December 21, or December 23; $40 for six ornaments).
Ornament decorating – photo via Tenaya at Yosemite
And for the kids, there’s something especially new and fun this year: a free, self-paced Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt. Kids can search around the property for 10 Christmas elves to look for. If you find all the elves, bring your scavenger hunt sheet back to the Concierge for a sweet treat.
Special Deal for Tenaya at Yosemite
As if you needed more incentive to sweeten the deal, there’s a sweet deal. You can save up to 30 percent for stays between Nov. 27, 2022, and June 8, 2023, during Tenaya’s Black Friday sale.
The deal will be available Black Friday through Cyber Monday; some blackout dates and restrictions may apply. You can find details about how to take advantage of the savings at www.VisitTenaya.com.
Spend Your Holidays at Tenaya Resort in Yosemite
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Blogger disclosure: This post reflects my own opinions and research. I did not receive compensation for this post.
Hi! I'm Jeanne Fratello - a writer, reporter, and food enthusiast who is on a mission to write great stories about food and where your food comes from.
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