As San Franciscans, we tend to forget how spoiled we are. I scour Google Flights for deals to faraway places when I’m so lucky to have beaches, mountains, and wildlife in my own backyard.
Tuolumne County has been our go-to getaway this year. We’ve been 4 times and it’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. I love the buzz of San Francisco, it’s exciting, unique and addictive. But like many things in life, too much of a good thing can be overwhelming. Tuolumne is a perfect dichotomy to the big city. It replaces the sounds of police sirens with a rustle of wind through the trees. Instead of looking up at skyscrapers you make your way through trails around giant sequoia trees. The tech mania of San Francisco is replaced with forests and mountains.
While we had an incredible weekend, there is never enough time and always so much more to explore. Sharing a few of our favorite spots from our multiple trips this year.
Contents
Where To Stay in Tuolumne County
- Yosemite Lakes RV Resort – for those of us who like the traditional style of camping, Yosemite Lakes has it all. They offer RV Sites, Tent Camping, Yurts, and Cabins. We stayed in a yurt that had a fire pit right outside our door, a beautiful view of the stars and a warm bed. What more could you ask for?
- Evergreen Lodge – Evergreen has been around since the early 1900s when it was built as lodging to house workers of the Hetch Hetchy dam. Through the years, it has kept this old fashioned vibe, while offering some modern conveniences like a pool and upscale restaurant. Nestled a few miles into the forest, it has a classic, cozy cabin that’ll make you feel like you’re one with the land.
- Rush Creek Lodge – for those of us who prefer a bit more modern conveniences, Rush Creek is more of a resort-type experience. It is right off the main highway for quick access to Yosemite. It has beautiful accommodations, a heated pool, a restaurant, and will be opening a spa in the spring of 2020. There are also tons of guided tours to choose from like: Rancheria Falls Hike, Flight Tours, Glass Blowing, Stargazing and so much more.
- Black Oak Casino Hotel Resort – family-friendly with a very central location. There are amazing restaurants on-site, an arcade and bowling alley.
- Historic National Hotel – if you’re into vintage hotels with tons of history (and maybe a little haunted), you’ll love this.
Check out other hotels available in Tuolumne County
AIRBNB
Ya’ll know I’m a huge fan of a good Airbnb. If a hotel isn’t your thing, I’m sharing 2 of my favorite Airbnb’s in the area as well:
Option 1 Plaza at Dardnelle Vista
Option 2 lake with a view
What to Eat + Drink in Tuolumne County
- Iron Door Saloon – great old Style Saloon with a rich history of live music. The owners were family friends with Bill Graham (the famous Francisco promoter), so there is no shortage of great live music here.
- Yoshoku Ramen + Poke Bar
- Service Station
- Charlotte’s Tavern – this newly opened restaurant has a beautiful copper bar, which really made me crave a Moscow mule. They serve delicious “American” style food, the steak and fries was my personal favorite.
- Inner Sanctum Cellars
- Provisions at The Groveland Hotel – we stopped here for a drink during the Groveland Walking Tour. They specialize in Bourbon, which I love. You can order a flight to taste their locally-sourced Bourbons.
- CIBO
- The National
Favorite Shops in Tuolumne County
Explore Yosemite in Tuolumne County
- Explore Yosemite – use this guide to find out the best things to do during your stay. Alternatively, swing by Rush Creek on your way in and talk to the really knowledgeable park guides. They are open to the public and can give personal recommendations on great trails and things to see. In order to get into the national park, you can purchase your car pass online here, or at the entrance to the park.
- Tuolumne Grove – beautiful and relatively short hike to see the Giant Sequoia trees of Tuolumne. These trees are so big they’re breathtaking.
- Hetch Hetchy – this is a dam built in the early 1900s surrounded by the mountains of Yosemite. It holds the drinking water for much of the bay area. The dam itself is a sight to behold. If you are looking to hike, you can trek to the waterfalls that flow into the reservoir, Wapama Falls (5 miles round trip) or Rancheria Falls (13 miles round trip).
- Yosemite Valley – typically, when you see a picture of Yosemite online, it’s from here. It’s a beautiful valley with waterfalls, mountains, rivers and so much more. You could easily spend a few days here. It was about an hour’s drive from Yosemite Lakes RV Resort, and we spent half a day doing a small hike and driving around the valley. It’s majestic.
- Guided Tours from Evergreen or Rush Creek – both Evergreen and Rush Creek have a concierge desk with park guides to help you make the most of your Yosemite trip. They also offer guided tours that can take you to some of the more lesser-known gems of Yosemite. The guides we talked to recommended the Naturalist tour, which takes you on a 10-mile hike around Yosemite backcountry.
I will continue to update this post as we play in Tuolumne and discover new places.
Thanks for reading! xx
1 Comment
Thanks for the shout out for our new store! glad you found us, and Hope you will come agAin!