As y’all probably know by now, I’m not really an outdoorsy human. Like, I’ll occasionally brunch on a patio, and even that can get a bit much for me sometimes (what? I really love AC and not having to deal with bugs!).
Soooo when my friend and I were plotting our grand adventure around California, it came to the supreme surprise of both of us that I suggested that we take a detour to visit Yosemite.
Like… who am I?
For my stay, I partnered with the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite… and we had the absolute best time! Between tasting delicious dishes to going on a two-hour horseback ride (well, three-hour since one of us had a horse with a snacking problem… and it wasn’t me), to even going picnicking in Yosemite, it was seriously a trip to remember.
What I’m Wearing:
Dress: Neiman Marcus – currently on sale for under $50!! / Shoes: Jack Rogers / Purse: J.Crew
Earrings: Visible Interest, c/o / Ring: BaubleBar / Sunglasses: Karen Walker via Ditto, c/o
So a few quick tips for when you visit Yosemite:
- Definitely eat at the Sierra Restaurant at the Tenaya Lodge. And definitely order the Brussels sprouts. Like holy moly, were these Brussels sprouts good!!! Also the chicken pesto penne was the bomb dot com and my friend thoroughly enjoyed her burger (apparently the bacon onion jam + cilantro arugula pesto = amaze).
- Bring lots of layers. When we visited Yosemite, the base of the park was above 90°F. However, when we walked over to the waterfall, the temperature dropped down to the high 70°F’s. Glacier Point was low-80°F’s. Just a real range. I wore leggings, a tank top, and a lululemon jacket I took on and off probably 15 times throughout the day.
- You want to stay hydrated and SPF’ed up. Also, be sure to wear comfortable shoes because – in the immortal words of my mother – if your feet aren’t happy, you aren’t happy. I wore my favorite sneakers and was definitely a happy camper all day long.
- Invest in a decent camera – it’s worth it. Photos from Yosemite are just absolutely breathtaking and it’s so easy to take a magnificent photo there because every view is just gorgeous.
- One of my favorite views in the park was the “Tunnel View”. Basically, you come out of the tunnel and bam, there’s just an outstanding view right in front of your face. Pull over into the lot and get out your camera.
- Everybody knows about Glacier Point because it’s one of the busiest spots in Yosemite. If hiking isn’t your thing and you’re really just going to take photos, you can score a fairly similar view (with a lot fewer people) if you stop at Washburn Point instead. Plus it cuts around 15 minutes off of your drive, so that’s great!
- I highly recommend asking Tenaya Lodge to arrange a horseback riding tour of Yosemite for you during your stay. It had been several years since either of us had been on a horse, but the guide really put both of us at ease. We had an absolutely wonderful time.
So there you have it. I only spent two nights at the Tenaya Lodge, but I really did have an absolutely lovely time. I highly recommend it for any upcoming trips you might have to Yosemite!
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