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Winter is a time to savor comfort foods, partake in adult beverages and enjoy companionship with friends & family. Why not combine these with a trip to the Yosemite region? You’ll save some dough AND experience the region in solitude. To help you plan, here’s a few of our favorite places to enjoy a bit of “après” after a day of exploring the great outdoors.
Did you know that one of the top 25 best distilleries in California is located a stone’s throw from the south gate of Yosemite? They offer everything from whiskey to bourbon & even limoncello. It’s truly THE go-to spot for locals AND visitors alike to get a taste of the area.
The owners, Casey and Lindsay Hawkins, started the brewery based on their experiences traveling around the world as they visited other breweries and sampled the cuisine. But of course, it's all about the beer. Their Deadwood Porter features chocolate and coffee notes while their most popular Sawtooth IPA (and highest in alcohol at 7.4%) gives a hint of piney and citrus flavors with a floral nose. And for the kiddos... they also have a homemade root beer.
Vacation without your favorite four-legged companion is just downright unenjoyable, yet many vacation spots aren’t pet friendly. Fortunately for you and your pup, that isn’t the case in our neck of the woods. With endless opportunities for outdoor escapades at your doorstep, it would be a shame to NOT bring them. And once you’re done having fun, you can head over to the pet-friendly Yosemite Wine Tails. Offering a buffet for your best friend, they feature colorful & mouthwatering treats covered with tantalizing yogurt icing. And for the wine-lover... they have a variety of wines by the glass and bottle, plus fun options such as wine slushees and bottled sangria.
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Another pet friendly venue is Idle Hour Winery. They produce wines that are more reminiscent of a European style and believe in a minimalist style with no added yeast, gravity flow rather than pumping, & little new oak. This helps give the wines an elegance and freshness that pairs well with food. Only 2000 cases of wine per year are created, so to enjoy them you’ll need to either join their wine club. Or better yet, stop by their tasting room. Best yet, you can do both.
What was originally called the Yosemite Gateway Restaurant has now become the Oakhurst Grill & 41 Lounge. The revamped menu includes exciting new dishes like baby back ribs stuffed with brown sugar-coated apples and topped with honey BBQ sauce. You can also cozy up next to the fire and enjoy a locally distilled Whiskey from the aptly named Oakhurst Spirits.
Nestled within the towering pine forest along the shores of Bass Lake, the Pines Resort is the ideal location for those looking for a great lake getaway. Within these friendly confines is the Pines Bar. Hosting the region's largest local craft beer selection, live music, and a million-dollar view of Bass Lake, you’ll understand why people keep coming back to enjoy this watering hole.
This is only a small sampling of the après options in the Yosemite region. For those looking for a more extensive menu of options, check out the Toast of Oakhurst, Yosemite Sierra Wine Road, or the Madera Wine Trail. Until then, cheers!
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Alex founded localfreshies.com® in 2014 to be the #1 website providing the “local scoop” on where to eat, drink & play in mountain towns throughout North America. When he’s not writing and executing marketing strategies for small businesses & agencies, he’s in search of the deepest snow in the winter and tackiest dirt in the summer.
Alex Silgalis