Evergreen Lodge at Yosemite

Description:

• A rough-and-tumble Prohibition-era entertainment destination for the workers who built the dam that flooded nearby Hetch Hetchy Valley, Evergreen Lodge was reborn in 2004 as one of the best cabin resorts in the Sierra Nevada. The district is centered on a main lodge with a store and restaurant and main plaza with a Wi-Fi-enabled recreation center (complete with the HQ for an in-house guide service). Located off the beaten path halfway to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir -- a full 7 miles from the roar of the highway -- the lodge underwent a $10-million renovation after new ownership took over, building new cabins and renovating others (and appropriately banishing phones and TVs from them), and the end results are tremendous: rustic art made from peach boxes, rockers on the decks and porches, a fresh and comfortable feel, and space for two to six guests. (Also available: "Custom Camping" sites with tents furnished with raised air mattresses and the necessary gear.) A great getaway spot for families and couples alike, Evergreen Lodge offers an extensive slate of activities, including guided bike rides and hikes, live music, basket-weaving and dancing classes, and s'mores on the campfire. Meals are excellent, and the woodsy bar is a classic.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010