Holiday Postcard Exchange Show and Tell

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Thu December 16th, 2010, 9:50 pm

I would love to be able to stay in that old lodge.

Although if I had some serious dough I'd rather stay here outside the park,

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Thu December 16th, 2010, 10:39 pm

Yes, the Awahnee Hotel is very nice. A few years ago some friends and I drove up there on New Year's Day. On the way up we had lunch at Tenaya Lodge (which is actually not in Yosemite), we strolled around the Awahnee, drove around the park and then had dinner at the Wawona Hotel. The thing that was so remarkable to us at the Awahnee and the Wawona is that the lobbies and restaurants were filled with groups of people sitting together, eating, playing games, talking -- not a single television in either place. What a difference it made in the atmosphere!

Ah, yes the Elderberry House. I've never been in the Chateau, but I had dinner a few years ago in the Restaurant. It's a 5-star, prix-fixe, French restaurant. Not my thing, actually, but at least I can say I've been there.

(It is an incredibly beautiful restaurant, I'm just not into highfalutin food.

)But....... I have the best story about it.

I will just give you the Reader's Digest super-condensed version. A guy I had been writing and talking to flew in from out of state to see me and wanted to impress me with his knowledge and love of gourmet foods and restaurants, so we went there. Let's just say it backfired on him. I like to joke and say that, even now, you can see his blood and sweat stains in the parking lot.

Needless to say, that weekend was the end of it!

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Thu December 16th, 2010, 11:11 pm

Oh cool story. I found out about this when researching a trip to Yosemite several years ago, but it was out of my price range. IIRC there's even a life size outdoor chess thingy for guests. The rooms were gorgeous and of course all had names. I'll have to look at the website again when I get home. The lines around the office have been saturated with all the rain and the *net* is moving very slowly here. Either that or the boss is downloading Itunes again

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Thu December 16th, 2010, 11:22 pm

I don't know the rates at the Chateau, but I'm sure it's very pricey. The restaurant is $95 per person (it was $80 when I went) and that's not including any wine or drinks. And it's hoity-toity food that's all about the presentation, so you really don't get very much. It was fine for me, but I'm a smaller-than-average eater. The guy I was with -- I know he left hungry.

But the restaurant has been around for about 25 or so years, and has a steady and loyal clientele. People come from all over to eat there. And it is in a beautiful setting in a small town in the mountains. Like I said, the restaurant is beautiful and very romantic inside, so I'm sure the Chateau is, as well. Might be nice for a once-in-a-lifetime splurge vacation.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Fri December 17th, 2010, 12:37 am

Let's get ejays over and we'll splurge at the private villa,

I'm trying to recall the place I stayed at. It was by the northern park entrance, an old house done into a B&B. I passed on the haunted room naturally. I think this is the place, http://www.groveland.com/

BTW, Highway 49 north and south is very cool to take a long trip on visiting the old gold rush towns, Sutter's Mill, an old cemetary or two and more. Highway 49 info here, http://historichwy49.com/

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Fri December 17th, 2010, 1:39 am

[quote=""Misfit""]Divia, do you have any local hotels close by? Usually the upscale ones have gift shops of some sort.[/quote]

Nope. I live in a very rural area. So thats out.

[quote=""MLE""]Gave up on finding a postcard, I'm just using an envelope.

[/quote]

Yeah, so did I. However, I was able to scan a picture of a photo postcard from 1910 from the area arond me, so I'll use that.

I'm so dissapointed that its so hard to find postcards!

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Fri December 17th, 2010, 2:14 am

[quote=""Misfit""]Let's get ejays over and we'll splurge at the private villa[/quote] That looks awesome!!! What a place to get snowed in!!

BTW, Highway 49 north and south is very cool to take a long trip on visiting the old gold rush towns, Sutter's Mill, an old cemetary or two and more. Highway 49 info here, http://historichwy49.com/

That sounds like a fun and beautiful drive. I would like to see Sutter's Mill. I re-visited Sutter's Fort (now a national park/museum in the middle of Sacramento) a couple of years ago. I saw it once as a kid and remember it was pretty cool. When I went back as an adult it was a real dud. I was so disappointed, but, oh well.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Fri December 17th, 2010, 2:22 am

[quote=""Michy""]That looks awesome!!! What a place to get snowed in!!

That sounds like a fun and beautiful drive. I would like to see Sutter's Mill. I re-visited Sutter's Fort (now a national park/museum in the middle of Sacramento) a couple of years ago. I saw it once as a kid and remember it was pretty cool. When I went back as an adult it was a real dud. I was so disappointed, but, oh well.[/quote]

There's a lot more besides Sutter's mill. I love the towns themselves, and the history, and the buildings still standing. Auburn, Placerville (a favorite-ask me about the Thomas Kincaide house that's a B&B), Virginia City, plus the off the beaten path ones in Calaveras county (stories of Mark Twain and US Grant to drop a name). The wineries up in the foothills are pretty awesome for their reds if you are into that. If so, do not miss Lava Cap outside of Placerville.

And don't cross off the eastern side and pass up a trip to Bodie. My favorite ghost town ever. California operates it as a state park and is allowed to decay naturally. Seriously cool, especially the cemetary. A selection of google images here, http://www.google.com/images?rlz=1T4ADR ... 45&bih=532

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Fri December 17th, 2010, 4:49 am

I love Bodie! Also the old towns along hwy 49. There's a rebuilt gold-rush town in Columbia State Park near Sonora-- on weekends they have all the shops fired up and going, including blacksmithing and performances in the restored theater.
the site of Sutter's Mill is at Coloma, on the South (or is it Middle?) Fork of the American River. My daughter's in-laws just retired to some acreage up there, so we go through about once a year. It has a very nice museum.

Although if I were to pick one of the Gold-rush towns on '49 to visit, for pure atmosphere I'd pick Nevada City.

Back on topic, I was walking downtown tonight and wouldn't you know it, a seasonal Christmas-ornament shop had some local postcards. Well, they are going into the envelope.

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Fri December 17th, 2010, 5:09 am

I've heard a lot about Bodie but never been there. Thanks for the images, Misfit. Reminds me of the ghost towns in Nevada from my childhood, although none of them were this well-preserved.

I remember driving through Gold Rush towns as a kid, on our several trips back and forth between Nevada and California. They were different towns, not on Hwy 49. The one that sticks in my mind is Rough and Ready. Who can forget a name like that?