Travel to Yosemite for the Perfect Winter Holiday

By Anastacia Mott Austin

People who live in areas that get a snowy "winter wonderland" each year for the holidays don’t know how lucky they are.

Sure, you have to deal with frosty car windows, slippery sidewalks, shoveling snow. And that indescribably terrible feeling of getting into a frozen car first thing in the morning; the crackling, icy vinyl seats, that initial feeling of a glacial cold which reaches to your bones and makes you feel that you’ll never be warm again in your life – you pray for death.

For parents, there is the sheer ordeal of bundling your little lovelies into layers upon layers of warm clothing, topped off by the full-body snowsuit and scarf head wrap which obscures all but their squinty little eyes (with the inevitable "I have to pee," coming at the end of this ritual). Fun times.

What was I saying? Oh yes, you people are spoiled.

But those of us who live in balmy, temperate climes all year round get downright misty about a white Christmas, especially if we’ve grown up in those cold and snowy places.

A sparkly, snowy holiday is just the thing. It’s also ideal for folks who hail from those chillier areas. With temperatures in the 25-50 degree range, it’s not as cold as it is in say, North Dakota in the winter. What could be more perfect than a complete Christmas package, with all of the fun and magic of the season without having to do any of the slogging chores that come with it?

A Yosemite winter holiday package is perfect for everyone.

Most people think of the California national park as a summer destination, and indeed, thousands flock to its verdant meadows and tourist-friendly peaks during the summer months. But Yosemite is a truly magical place in the winter.

There are fewer crowds, which is always a bonus. And those lovely meadows turn into glittering, magical fairy snowfields under a full winter moon.

The Evergreen Lodge at Yosemite offers a delightful holiday Christmas package, for couples or families, including many charming winter activities guaranteed to give you an infusion of the Christmas spirit.

Activities include campfires with s’mores, cocktails and dancing for the grownups, winter nature hikes, and sunset hayrides. There are crafts like making ornaments, writing letters to Santa, and decorating your stockings, which are then left on the mantel in the lobby to be filled by Santa.

There is a Christmas tree lighting ceremony with hot cocoa and cider, followed the next morning with eggnog waffles and a special Christmas day feast prepared by the lodge’s chef.

What a perfect way to get away from all of the craziness and preserve the magic of the holiday in cozy luxury!

If you’ve already made holiday plans for this year, keep Yosemite in mind for a later winter retreat or early spring getaway. The park offers packages for families and couples all through the winter. For example, it’s a lovely, romantic way to spend Valentine’s Day!

Rates are lower during the off-peak season, and without as many tourists, reservations are easier to make and lines not as long to view the park’s many attractions. The waterfalls are full and flowing, and the crisp, frosty landscape is breathtaking.

Whether you live in a warm area and want to get a quick feel for the cold and snow, or you want to get away from the chores of the chilly season and just enjoy its magic, Yosemite is the perfect location for a winter holiday.

Details on the Evergreen package and other holiday options at Yosemite can be found at http://www.evergreenlodge.com.

By Buzzle Staff and Agencies
Published: 12/9/2007