While most people head for Yosemite's Valley Floor to see the iconic granite backdrops, waterfalls and giant sequoia trees, the choices are not best-suited for romance. Immensely picturesque and popular Bridalveil Falls is the location of many well-intended proposals and marriages, but the thundering intensity of the falls and the resulting heavy mist makes for a drowned-out declaration of romance. And, the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia have been so inspiring and over-loved in the last 100 years that the area is closed for renovation and rejuvenation for the next two years.
Here are some alternative recommendations for the less crowded and more romantic portion of Yosemite included in Tuolumne County, not just for Valentine's weekend:
Skip town to see stars. Yosemite Gold Country is less than three hours from big cities and the most direct route to Yosemite National Park from the San Francisco Bay Area, via Highway 49 and 120. Here, the sky is void of city light "bleed" and holds a million stars to wish upon. Yosemite Family Adventures offers a Starry Night Tourto experience the night sky around Yosemite and get personal with the craters of the moon, Orion Nebula, rings around Saturn and Milky Way, with just enough history of America's space program to play the part of Penny on the Big Bang Theory. Guides use the latest tracking telescopes to tour guests around the night sky, getting couples tucked close to feel small in our universe. The company also provides private tours for an unforgettable marriage proposal experience. Groveland. http://www.yfaguides.com/stargazing-tours.html
Or, rent a room complete with a balcony and telescope for a DIY space romp. The All Seasons Groveland Inn in Groveland, just 24 miles from the Yosemite National Park entrance, offers the aptly named Eagles Tower room which includes all the amenities of a cozy hotel plus a telescope for the night. http://www.allseasonsgrovelandinn.com/
Love is in the air. Negative ions from waterfalls are known to create positive, romantic feelings in people and Yosemite has the best. Consider a location away from the crowds called Rancheria Falls, a 13 mile hike revealing, at every step, a series of cascades that zip through a narrow canyon for more than 1,000 feet of vertical drop before ending in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. YosemiteHikes.com describes the series of falls similar to a long relationship, with not just one or two major breathtaking moments, but rather a series. “Once you experience a handful, they'll begin to have a cumulative effect on happiness – not unlike, for example, margaritas.” Rancheria Falls goes another step on lover's lane. Its low elevation makes visiting from February through May, when waterfalls are roaring, to be the best times, avoiding the popular summer tourist period. http://www.yosemitehikes.com/hetch-hetchy/rancheria-falls/rancheria-falls.htm
How big is your love? Perhaps the largest living things on the planet are a great measuring device to describe the size of love. Tuolumne Meadows is home to more than two dozen ancient giant sequoia trees so old and tall, their canopies have their own ecosystem. They are located in Yosemite on the Tioga Road, and another romantic plus -- no cars are allowed. Find them at the end of a lovely, fresh air one-mile hike. http://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road/tuolumne-grove/trail-map.htm
Raise your voice. Proposing on one knee in a restaurant is so then and there. Here, do it on tree tops, zip lining two miles to race to a platform and pop the question. It's the Twin Zip Lines at Moaning Cavern Adventure Park nearby in the town of Murphys providing the course and the view. Double cables mean zippers can race the zip line in pairs. Awww. Purchase a Go Pro camera and mount in the gift shop before you zip along and you'll have a permanent video version of the proposal. (Or, the ride lasts just enough at 40 mph to reconsider.) www.caverntours.com
Love, actually, indoors. Visitors leery of hikes and heights may fall back on the hospitality of Hotel Charlotte, located in the gateway community of Groveland, with historic one-of-a-kind rooms. Room 12 fits the bill; it has spa tub planted directly in the room, setting the scene for the perfect boudoir bubble bath. www.hotelcharlotte.com Onsite is their new and notable restaurant, Fork & Love,under the direction of chef-owner Aaron Haas, who believes that next to salt, the most important ingredient in any recipe is love.
Across the street, fall in love with the award-winning wine list at the Cellar Door at Groveland Hotel, where the food is paired with your selection from more than 600 labels from all over the world as well as local wines. www.groveland.com/dining
Extra portions of love. If your love is bigger than just two, bring the whole family or share with other couples. Once a stage coach stop in the late 1800s, Big Creek Meadow Guest Ranch in Groveland accommodates 10 people and is perfect for an impromptu wedding. http://yosemitegoldcountry.com/lodging/big-creek-meadow-guest-ranch/
Love firsts. While not the same as a first love, there's something fresh and innocent about being the first guests in the newest lodge in Yosemite in 25 years (a silver anniversary in the making.) Book now for a stay at Rush Creek Lodge, just one-half mile from the Highway 120 west entrance to Yosemite and be among the first beginning June 15. The 243-guest room and villa lodge on 20 wooded acres offers a superb recreation concierge program for ways to explore the area and the pampering extras onsite. www.rushcreeklodge.com
Love lasts longer than a calendar page. The Yosemite Gold Country website can help plan a getaway any time of year. The website offers an e-visitors guide to download, or choose old school paper for mail delivery. Valentine's Weekend Specials are available throughout the county – Filet mignon dinners, complimentary ice skate rentals, room and breakfast packages, couples canvas art and wine sipping, live performances, historic inns, teddy bears and chocolates, hard cider tastings, an afternoon church dance and lucky-in-love casino fun.http://yosemitegoldcountry.com/valentines-weekend-specials/.
Visitor centers in Chinese Camp and downtown Sonora can make same day lodging reservations and provide expert advice on local events such as live theatre, fairs and festivals, what's new on the drinking and dining scene, and recommended spots throughout the county. www.yosemitegoldcountry.com, 542 Stockton Street, Sonora, CA, 800-446-1333, 209-533-4420.
Tuolumne (rhymeswith“follow me”) County, located 133miles east of San Francisco, is a pristine, scenic expanse reaching into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gold was discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848, setting off the major gold rush of 1849. The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from the San Francisco and East Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from the north. The State Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the San Francisco Greater Bay Area.
The Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park, and other surrounding areas provide natural vistas and settings for hiking, water skiing, horseback riding, rafting, camping, snowmobiling, boating, snow skiing, fishing and other outdoor activities. Seven restored historic hotels, four golf courses, numerous and varied dining establishments, historic saloons, five wineries and hard cider distillery, train rides, casino, seven museums, two state historic parks, five live theaters and many bed-and-breakfast inns are among the many other attributes that make the county a year round vacation destination. www.YosemiteGoldCountry.com
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