Logger's Retreat
Guest Comments
Read What Our Guests Have Written!
Although we can tell you about our home, perhaps the best way to understand what it is like to stay here is to read honest impressions from visitors just like you. We invite you to browse through this transcript of our guest book. Enjoy!
March 11, 2011
Dear David and Suzanne,
We were looking forward to a little relaxation this week and it was
even better than we had planned. Your home is so well-provisioned
and the views are unbelievable. The fact that our daughter had a
crib and her own little room made everything so much easier. Our
dog Tucker had a blast playing in snow for the first time and
loved exploring. Thank you for making our first visit to
Yosemite so perfect. We will definitely be back!
K, B, + E R
(+ Tucker too!)
March 6, 2011
We felt as though we were home, only better because we got to relax and
enjoy breath-taking scenery. Thanks for your generosity!
Sincerely,
W, S, A, B, D, and M H from Morgan Hill, California
President's Weekend 2011 --
Lots sunny snow and blowing snow
and pretty snow --
Exciting power outage
and fun and games and food
and friendship --
Thank you very very much ---...
David and Suzi and H
and D and N!!
from our contented crew --
The Fs/Ts/Hs/Js + A (from the Phillipines)
_and_
E (from Germany)
Christmas 2010
Thank you so much for letting us spend our Christmas in your home.
Pics online do not do your house any justice as it is impossible to
capture its beauty on camera. But we sure had fun trying!
We will definitely be back. Maybe next year? Who knows,
maybe we'll come back for New Year's 2012. Thanks again!
N B
Fullerton, CA
Dec 24-27, 2010
Your house and views are amazing. Thank you for having your home fully
stocked with all the essentials necessary to relax. All of us
needed to relax and we did just that. We are coming home with
wonderful memories to cherish and I was so happy to have my first white
Christmas.
Thank you again and hopefully one day we can come back.
J D,
Fullerton, CA
December 21-25, 2010
Y O and family
Thank you for the fabulous cabin it was the best I've ever stayed in
the snow was fantastic and the house was very beautiful. It was a
wonderful place to spend part of the Christmas season. Thank you.
December 13th David & Suzanne,
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing home with us. The
views all around, the sunrise and sunsets are just breathtaking.
The house feels so homely - warm; so well cared for. We all loved
the hot tub especially the 3 kids. Sadly no snow so
close... Logger's Retreat has been a highlight on this trip
giving us memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you. S
and C & kids.
November 24,2010
Dear David & Suzanne,
Thank you so much for letting us stay in your beautiful cabin.
After the trecherous hike up the driveway in a few feet of snow I
thought I had never seen a place more pretty. I think my only
suggestions would be: 1. Don't forget the keys to the bobcat and 2.
maybe you could leave a note suggesting how to get the downstairs
bedrooms warm. Thank you again for letting us stay up here.
It was beautiful with all the snow! We really appreciate it!
(heart) C S
(P.S. A had a wonderful 16th birthday. Thank you for helping her
get exactly what she wanted. We will all remember this trip
forever.)
The walk up the driveway in 2 feet of snow was horrible but it was
worth it. The view is amazing it snow almost the hole time.
I think that my sister is very happy with her 16th birthday.
Thanks for making my sister's b-day great.
A E
November 24th
Thanks for letting us stay in your home. The walk up the hill in
snow was worth it. This was a great 16th birthday.
-Ashley
October 24, 2010
Hi! it was so so so so so so fun! I especially liked the
spinny chairs! and the hot tub! and the view! Love. F age 7
10/17/10
We had a wonderful and relaxing time. The beds are very
comfortable and wait until you see how fabulous the hot tub is.
The board games are fun to play with the whole family. My
personal favorite is Jenga it is so much fun. The view oustide is
spectacular! If you see the sunset it is so beautiful I love
it. The master bed is great my dog and my parents love it.
The showers are very relaxing and the conditener really works for my
hair. The balcony is a great place to talk and watch the great
view. There is a little trail you can take that me and my
dog love to take with the family. My room is great I have my own
shower. It is so comfortable you wouldn't believe it.
My brothers and sisters room is the one with the bunk bed. What
is really cool about the bed is there is one bed you get to pull out
from underneath. There is a desk in there room where they do
artwork. Outside we found two frogs they were really cool to look
at there was one that changed color. Which I found very
fascinating. This is such a beatiful place and I loved it
here. It was fun to go here. I wish I could sta here a
little bit longer. But I have go to school tommorow.
So Fair Well to this relaxing and wonderful place that I will
miss! Bye (:-)!
S : 11
October 7th, 2010
Oct 4-8, 2010
We had such a blessed time here! The mountains inspired music the
kitchen inspired full bellies. The hot tub once hot, was soothing
to aching muscles. We played Sequence. We love these
artistic saddle chairs. The big screen provided an excellent
meeting space for TREME. We loved. We fought. We ate,
we laughed. Ha Ha Ha.
We baked cookies pie, cake, falafel. and we didn't bake
sushi. But we ate it!
We celebrated K's birthday and tried to meet _Hungry Bear_ Double
Rainbow Man. He is now our FRIEND in Facebook. What does
this mean?
...(rainbow)...(rainbow)....
...DOUBLE RAINBOWS....
Suggestions...get a bigger hot tub, use less chlorine, move it closer
to the house. Put a mural on the wall going downstairs (call us
for suggestions).
This is a great place to meet your spirit animal...CAW...and have
COCKTAILS. COCK TALES....Just don't drive afterwards...
Because there is plenty of stuff
to do here...like take a shower.
Clean the bathroom, wash the towels, clean
the kitchen, take the garbage to Oakhurst.
When its all said and done - collect the compost
and take it back to San Francisco.
And in conclusion. We are leaving you some tokens of our
appreciation, in the form of 1 very fine Studio 35 nail buffers,
which will go well with all the lotion AND an autographed acoustic
guitar for your strumming pleasure. Watch those pegs and use more
lotion.
For _real_, this place is HELLA cool !!!
Heyy!
(heart)
Mr. K + Gang!
P.S. Sentinal Dome, Glacier Point, Nevada Falls Hike Awesome! One
of us did Half Dome, the rest of us drank + ate! YAY!
Sept 29-Oct 3, 2010
Thank you for providing such a beautiful house with all the
amenities! With a family wedding and festivities, our stay was
short but wonderful! Hope we have a chance to return!
Beautiful views!
R, M F + Family
Sept 28-29 2010
The house is awesome!
The view is breathtaking!
The furnishings aimed at comfort!
The special intimate details are touching. Wonderful place.
Hard to leave.
L + B A +D
Sept 19-24 2010
Great Home. Loved the sunrises & full moon over the
mountains. Perfect location to Yosemite & Kings Canyon.
P & S
Sept. 11-18
What a beautiful house! We really enjoyed our week here.
Life is good!!
:-) The Ls
Aug 12-27
Thank you, pictures don't describe the view at all, its so beautiful
J & R, C + G, R + T
August 15-19, 2010
Thank you for sharing your house with us. Plenty of space for our
large family. We made some memories that will never be forgotten
here in Yosemite and beyond. Two of our children were
baptized in Yosemite Park, we went to Bass Lake and rented a boat
and tube (very fun!), went horseback riding, and many, many hikes in
the beautiful park. What a great time we had!
The Ms
(from Virginia)
Aug 5-9th, 2010
We loved the space...plenty of room & privacy for 2 families. We
loved walking our dogs on the road toward Fish Camp. We played
games...Farkie and War. The Yosemite Mtn Sugar Pine RR is 100%
Hokey & M&M (Memorable Moment!)
Yosemite is awe-inspiring. Glacier Point, floating down the river
& mule riding in the park. Good clean fun!
The Rs!
We enjoyed your home so much! We only wish we had stayed
longer. Thank you for all of the conveniences.
The S Family
(drawing of hot tub signed by A Age:9)
July 31 - August 2, 2010
We had a wonderful visit! This was a perfect location to stay at
while in the area for a family wedding. Appreciated all the items
that are stocked and available for your guest (baby gates, towels,
crib, etc.)
Thank you for the memories (:-)
R Family
San Diego, California
July 27-30, 2010
We thoroughly enjoyed our three days here. Not only the lovely
home but all the attractions the Yosemite area has to offer.
We used the "fire pit" and the jacuzzi & it was a real adventure.
Thank you on behalf of G, S, M, E & S T
Beaumont, CA & Chino Hills, CA.
(drawings of hot tub and fire pit, bench and burning marshmallows)
Hot tub was good!
Fire pit was an adventure!
-S T.
ca Chino Hills
12 years old
July 19-26
Had a wonderful relaxing time at your lovely home. One week was
too short a time to see everything that Yosemite and the surrounding
area offers. But what we did see was truly stupendous and
memorable.
L B & R S
NYC
July 16-2010
Hi! This is a beautiful place to spend the vacations. We
enjoyed the mountains and the HEAT and wonder how all these trees can
survive the dryness. We were horsebackriding just around the
corner and it was great fun.
The children wanted to see a bear and went in the forest early in the
morning. But no animals could be seen.
In the park we me a rattle snake on our trail.
Tomorrow we are heading for SFO our next stop on this journey. We
will clean as much as possible to leave the house in the state we found
it.
We could not find out: what are all these small terry clothes for?
(stick figures of the family - 2 adults 4 kids)
The K Family
Germany
Land of the fairytales
July 6, 2010
What a fantastic internet find, a wonderful rental property. It
was like home from home as all essential items were available.
The surrounding area is beautiful with lots of things to do.
Views from the deck are stunning.
We spent a lot of time outside which made cleaning the house at the end
very easy!
L and A K T
and S H
South West of England
June 28, 2010
We loved the location here, & what an amazing retreat! We had
so much fun exploring the area!
S & J D
June 20, 2010
We celebrated Fathers Day with 8 people the dads are C B and T.
Moms are N, J and C. Kids me E and the 12 year old O he's kinda
wierd its awesome at this house.
(lots of pictures drawn) Wonderful Yosemite 2 hr tour is great!
Hi
On behalf of the D family, we sincerely appreciate your lovely home and
hospitality for the short time we were here.
Sincerely,
The D Family
June 4th-11th 2010
We all enjoyed staying at the Logger's Retreat for our family reunion
in Yosemite. It is a nice home away from home and is stocked with
a lot of items that were very useful during our stay! We watched
the Stellar Jays every morning and the stars are amazing at
night. Our trips into the park took us on hikes to Mariposa
Grove, Nelder Grove, (towards Oakhurst and Bass Lake), Bridalveil
Falls, Mist Trail, Vernal and Nevada Falls, Chilnualna Falls and the
Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls Trails. We would have tackled half
dome but the cables never went up during our stay here. The
weather was amazing - perfect days and nights warm & sunny.
We wil be back - it was great!
The Ms & Is
Nelder Grove and Bull Buck Sequoia Tree were a brilliant surprise and
gave us a rest from travelling to the valley for a day.
Loved it!!! It was so so beautiful, guiet and serene. Thank
you for the opportunity of using your beautiful home. I loved the
surrounding landscaping. It wa so original and I loved the
antique equipment placed so precisely and strategically. I
would love to see it in different seasons. All we
needed was MORE TIME! -Gramma
Loved the hiking and waterfalls - unbelievable.
(There IS a heater overhead in the downstairs bath)
May 28-31 2010
Suzanne & Dave
Thanks for sharing your home. It was the perfect size for all of
us 9 people. The views were awesome & you provided everything
we needed. We spent our days exploring Yosemite & looked
forward to coming home to your house for a home-cooked meal & fun
time with friends. We look forward to coming back again
sometime! Although it probably won't be during the
winter... The driveway would be scary in the snow - LOL!
Our only advice for improvements would be to add a second bathroom
downstairs & perhaps a Culligan water filter under the sink as the
water has a funny taste. Other than that your place was a perfect
retreat.
The S, P and M families
P.S. Sorry my writing is so messy.
Hi
Everything is clean. We washed the bed linens and made the
bed. All towels are washed and in the dryer. We didn't cook
at all so no dishes or pots were used. We just made coffee in the
mornings.
The rugs were vacuumed and floors swept. We didn't use the
downstairs at all. The shower was wiped down & sink
cleaned.
This is a great place to stay.
Thank you,
B & A J
Suzanne & David,
Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. The wedding
was wonderfult and to have the space to share with family & friends
at our special time in our lives.
My husband really enjoyed the outstanding views and the wildlife that
seem so comfortable here.
Thank you again
God Bless
P & L S
May 7-9, 2010
We had a truly amazing trip to Yosemite! This is an extremely
beautiful place with a gorgeous view! It's breathtaking to wake
up to! Than you for all of the helpful hints - made it an easy
& comfy stay and gave us time to relax & go & explore the
park!
Can't wait to come back!! Thanks!
-F Family (:-)
April 30 - May 2, 2010
David & Suzanne,
We enjoyed our weekend trip to Yosemite very much! The outdoors
was refreshing, and at the end of the day we looked forward to comng to
your home. Thank you for providing such a "homey"
atmosphere. The views were the icing on the cake!!
V, S & D K
04/08/2010 B's Family
What a week! First time for us in Yosemite and that was so
wonderful. This is the best VRBO house ever for us! Clean,
all amenities, and we will even forget the 21 hours without
power! We loved it here, and hopefully we'll come back.
We are French so we know the Alps and the Great House, but nothing
compares with Yosemite and the Logger's Retreat. I had a great
time !!!!!
C
San Mateo, CA
Thank you so much N, V, F B
This is a great place and very beautiful. We had a great time
but to be honest we would have a great time no matter where we are, but
this place made it even better. Couldn't find any bird seed for
the feeder. Birds were hungry so we moved the snow from the pots
which is where the birds showed us where some seeds were.
Great fun
R
This place is so beautiful! Hate to leeave, but looking forward
to coming back soon! This was a perfect location and home for a
fabulous family vacation. Thank you so much!
Nikki :-)
1/30/10
Dear David,
There are no words to describe your home. Everything is very
clean and organized. The views are spectacular and everything you
need are in this home. There is already plans to visit
again.
Thank you for renting this home to us.
-M
12/30/09
Thank you! You have an amazingly beautiful house that we were so
lucky to stay in. The children especially enjoyed the
bunk/trundle and the easy access sledding area. And the view;
last night we got some snow and we all crowded in the living/dining
room this morning and marveled over the snow dusted trees. It is
so gorgeous up here and I just want to say thanks again.
The R Family
The B Family
December 23-25, 2009
This is the most memorable holiday, a true white Christmas for our
family. We had an adventure getting to the house. Despite a
4x4 manual shift SUV with chains on the back wheels, our car lost power
and got stuck on the steep driveway covered by icy snow. We had
to walk up the hill, dragging all the luggages and food. We were
uncertain what to expect until we reached the house. The
spacious and cozy house and the spectacular surrounding view swept us
away. The next day, on Christmas even, we got the best weather we
could wish for. However, it was not an easy task to get the car
out of trouble. We were scared at one point as the car couldn't
gain power to move forward but slide sideways backward. After
shoveling and scraping ice on the road, and spreading kitty litter and
various attempts for three hours, we finally got the car back down the
hill safely. We were proud that we made it without calling for
help. It was an adventure after all and we couldn't help but
laughing at our inexperience at dealing with snow. The rest of
the trip was uneventful. We had wonderful time exploring the
forest and the snow. It felt like home cooking, eating and
sleeping in the house. We had a festive Christmas dinner at
Tenaya Lodge. Back to the house, the whole family enjoyed
watching the movie of "Julie and Julia" while drinking hot
chocolate.
Thank you David for letting us spend the Christmas holiday here.
We tried to keep the house as clean as possible. Our girls M (5)
and E (15 mo.) are sad that they can't sleep on the bunk bed tonight as
they enjoy climbing it up and down so much.
Happy Holidays!
T & D
M & E
Nov 28, 2009
Thank you very much for allowing us to stay in your beautiful mountain
home. It was so nice coming back to this cozy abode everyday
instad of a stark and impersonal hotel room.
We read about the beautiful view in almost every entry in this book the
night we arrived and it was dark outside. I was anxious to see
the view in daylight, and the next morning the 180 degree view of the
mountainous landscape and trees definitely lived up to my expectations.
We had a lovely time here in California; hiking to the top of Vernal
Falls along the Mist Trail, exploring the groves of sequoias and having
a Thanksgiving dinner at the Embers at Tenaya Lodge. It will
definitely be a trip worth remembering.
Thanks again, and to the guests reading this, have a great time!
Sincerely,
P, J and J W
(from Aurora, Colorado)
Oct 9-11, 2009
Thanks for letting us use your beautiful home. We had a great
time and enjoyed the awesome views. We plan on coming back real
soon.
We plan on visiting you again for our honeymoon!
E + S
12 Sept 2009
We have had a lovely holiday in your beautiful home. A perfect
place to relax and see the surrounding area.
Thank you so much
The M Family
(Scotland)
August 7, 2009
Thanks so much for letting us borrow your home for the weekend.
The view is breath-taking! We hope to come back in the
winter. The only problem was that we could not enjoy the patio
because of the bees. Also, the giant ants were scary.
Thanks again!
R Family
9-4-09
Suzanne + David,
Thank you so much for letting us use your home. It was so
great to get away from L.A. and the fires. The mountains are a
natural tonic and it's hard to remember your troubles when hiking
through such wonderful wilderness. I still think that Yosemite
the most beautiful place in the U.S. Your house adds to the
enjoyment with its great views and very fine creature comforts.
And we hight recommend the Narrow Gauge Inn for fine food and excellent
service. I can't think of anything else to add.
Thanks again,
M and P W
August 2009
A delightful spot from which to explore Yosemite + set off on hikes -
even the walk along the fire relief road just above the house is worth
trying if you don't want too much exercise. Improvements?
1) Block Highway 41 or invent quieter vehicles 2) how about a
teapot + kettle 3) A bit less bromine or whatever it is in the hot tub;
it is uncomfortably like the experience of gas attacks our grandfathers
had on WW1 battlefields.
T + C C
August, 2009
Thank you for your gracious home this beautiful setting.
We enjoyed the Sugar Pine Railroad dinner ride (only 5 minutes away) as
well as the fikes to Vernal Falls and the Half Dome site.
Arcadia, CA S + P Families
Aug 3-6, 2009
Thank you for the comfortable stay in your mountain home! The
views are fantastic from _every_ room, including the numerous
decks. Great place to relax after spending days in Yosemite.
T, N, A, & M
Downingtown, PA
July 27-29, 09
Thank you for letting us stay in your beautiful home.
We loved the view. The hot tub was great. The bunkbeds were
fun. We hope to come back. Thank you for letting your home
be dog friendly. Astro, our dog, enjoyed it here.
A, J, M, E and A.
31.7.09
Wir haben hier die Umgebung, die Ruhe, die Erholung genossen!
Silille aus Koln
Es ist wirklich ein aussergewohne ochones haus mit fantastisch Lage!
Und der Nationalpark ist je ohne hinderlich die reine clanieit en wir
ein mehr rhaner Aufenthalt (:-)
G from Germany
7/26/09 7:30 am Going home.
The early dawn it breaks accross the dewey lawn and sweeps between the
shadows of the leafy trees it brings to life that we must cease to be
the dreamers of the night gone past and raise to meet the dawn at last.
As I sit here thinking of the early morning at age 16 when I wrote this
poem. Looking out at the view of my yard at Lake Minnatonka,
Minnisota.
The view here is wondeful and house lovely. My daughter Paula
wrote this in the book as I do not see to write. We are here with
Mike and Regina.
Thank you so much, C B (age 82)
Thanks for the beautiful house, view - the New York friends wanted
to move the house to their place.
L S 7/8/09
(heart)
June 27-July 2
Great location; great house and great vacation!!
Thanks,
The Os
Thanks for letting us stay at your wonderful home. The campfire
and everything out back was really nice. The hottub was really
comforting and it was the perfect size for our family. I also
really liked how conveniently close the Park was from the house.
Yosemite was a very cool and beautiful place. The trail right
behind the house was fun and I have seen suchd BIG PINE
CONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really loved the house and the top
bunk! Thanks Again, P O- 14
Thanks! I loved the perfect veiw of the forrest right outside the
window. My favorite part was the loud train right bleow the
house. And like my brother said, I've never seen such cool
cones!!! (heart) Thank you very much.
S O - age 12
Thank you forletting us use your house! I realy loved it.
M O 6
June 13-20, 2009
We can't imagine a better vacation! The house was perfect, the weather
was perfect and the park, Yosemite, exceeded our expectations. The
house was so completely furnished and wonderfully appointed. We
couldn't have wished for more. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
K & N J M - The grandparents - Charlotte, NC
I + J B - the children
J and S B - the grandchildren - Bakersfield, CA
June 20, 2009
Thank you for letting us use your beautiful house! We took good care of
it. That bed downstairs under the bunk bed was helpful. One of my
sisters used it. Your house let me have an excellent one week summer!
Don't worry we cleaned the house before we left. Plus, you had lots of
outlets, so I could charge my D.S. Just so you know, I slept on the top
bunk down stairs, my oldest sister slept on the bottom bunk while the
middle sister slept in the bed under the bottom bunk. My mom slept
downstairs where one of the bathrooms are. (Not the game room.) So did
my dad. My grandparents slept upstairs where another bathroom is. One
time, on our way back, my dad almost ran over a deer. But he stopped.
Good bye.
Sincerely,
S (age 9.)
June 2-5, 2009
Beautiful home, beautiful views - 5 retired Treasurer/Tax Collector
gals from various met here + had a great time -
D Y - Imperial County, CA
S B - Siskiyou County, CA
L L - Trinity County, CA
G D - Plumas County, CA
C E - Sierra County, CA
P.S. It stormed and snowed last night.
5-24
Great weekend. What an amazing home and the location was perfect!
Thanks for a wonderful time!
M, M, G
R & C
5/13 -
Had a wonderful visit all the way from Maryland and West Virginia. Your
home is a treasure, we hated to leave. The driveway was interesting,
the view was breathtaking, and everything exceeded our expectations.
Thanks for sharing your home with us.
God Bless
L G, J B,
D & W F
5/8-5/11
We had an amazing weekend. Love the place, love the view.
S G
4/30-5/2/09
Rode here from Reno on four Harley Classic motorcycles with friends
from Florida who came for a long 8 day Harley Ride and this house was
the 1st stop. Two of the friends had never been to Yosemite and they
got to see it under rainy conditions, but still had a great time.
Enjoyed the challenge of the driveway especially in the rain and cold.
Had some of the best Bar-B-Que at Todd's in Oakhurst, after about 6
hours of rain and cold. First night at the house was great with a
campfire and bringing up old stories. Moving on tomorrow, Saturday to
Sequoia National Park, Then Laughlin Nevada, then Grand Canyon, then
Mesquite (NV), then Las Vegas, and a long ride back to Reno.
Live to Ride, Ride to Live.
Z, G, C, L
D D
4-26-09
Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. We enjoyed every
minute and did not want to leave. We experienced the hottest day on
Monday and it snowed on Thursday - Wow!!
C.J. cares for this home with loving hands and was very kind and
thoughtful to us.
Best Wishes,
M + L G
Panama City Beach, Florida
13/4/09
What a lovely place to stay! An absolutely gorgeous place to stay with
spectacular views. It felt so homely and after coming back from our
outing it felt so good that it was here we were coming back to. Thanks
a lot for a great stay.
XX L T (:-) (I will be recommending)
(We did many adventurous things)!!!
Truly amazing house and views, welcoming and homely. A great experience
all around enjoyed by everyone thank you ever so much.
(heart) PBC
(:-) xxxxx
(who is [not] better than L T)
17/4/09
We had a really good...
10th - 12th April 2009
An unscheduled visit to the emergency department at Merced Hospital
meant we arrived late, tired and in the dark - what joy then to open
the curtains in the morning to see where we had landed - paradise
surely!
A pleasure to come back each day from our trips out to this spectacular
area, to the comfort of this beautiful house. Our heartfelt thanks for
agreeing to the quick turn around!
The H family
J, D, E, L, P
Oxford, England
Yeah thanks, was truly a great exploring week! Lush house (:-) E
April 4-8, 2009
This place is spectacular. What made this awesome place even better was
dealing with David and Suzanne. Their hospitality and their willingness
to work out a problem that arose during our stay (snow) was resolved by
David beyond our expectations. We will take the Logger's Retreat home
with us in our memories and thoughts for years to come and are eager to
return once more and enjoy this two story palace again!
Thank you from all of us!
The A family
P, N, N
The M family
E, E, I & L
The U family
E, S, B & J
March 28, 2009
What a week it has been!! I can't believe it's over already!! 3 great
outdoor expeditions. A snow hike with the beautiful Sequoias. A snow
hike to Inspiration Point/Artist Point the view of half dome + bridal
veils were amazing. The 3rd + final was an upper Yosemite summit,
challenging but _well_ worth it. 1/2 way up it became snow covered
& crampons were a must! The first few days of Yosemite's Spring
have been wonderful. We were lucky to have a snow storm at the
beginneing of our visit giving us a great view of snow covered trees
from this living room. The view as you can well see is amazing! We had
a couple of great massages @ Revive Day Spa in Oakhurst, we bought some
jewelry @ Gallery Row. Our hike tours were with YExplore Yosemite
Adventures - I put a brochure in "the book" they were an amazing
company.
Bye Yosemite - Until Fall
J, D, C, J, J, R & Miss B
March 1, 2009
Spiraling ever upward
Like an eagle rising a thermal
We crest the peak
Alighting softly at the eyrie
Snow blanketing the ground
Both within and without
Green forest at our feet
Majestic mountain at our head
Birds bidding welcome
Sun reflecting warmly
We step into treetops
B & A
Los Angeles
Feb 25-Mar 1, '09
Dear David,
Words cannot describe how beautiful & serene this humble abode
provides. Our trip was fantastic, the house had every creature comfort
possible. We will definitely return. Thank you from the bottom of our
hearts. Blessings,
A & B
January 3, 2009 - Happy New Year Grandpa J!
"This is like the best; everything is like the Best!" This is a "quote"
from my wife as I began writing. It's 8:17 am + we're listening to Ray
Charles & the Sun is warming my back as I sit on the cool,
permanent, very comfortable bar stool. The sun is shining through the
windows (East of course) & the silouette; (my back :-) (shadows) of
the birds flying around outside are dancing through the kitchen. We're
going to the hot tub. Speak to you later...We decided to chill a bit
& read some more entries & play cards. My back is warmer now
(:-). My wife of 17 years says thank you for the 190 degree water tap.
She likes to drink tea & now can drink as much; as quickly as she
chooses. Thank you David. We're going to play cards now... We're having
breakfast now; leftover olive bread from dinner last night.
W/lactose-free butter & real butter w/ concord grape jelly...I
think we're done playing cards? We went to the hot tub after a movie
& had an awesome dinner. What a beautiful day in a beautiful place.
Thank You!
January 4, 2009 - Our 17th wedding anniversary! We ate a great
breakfast; watched another movie & again went to the hot tub. We
went sledding in the afternoon. Thanks Dave for the sleds! If you go
sledding; go to the big one just before the South Entrance to Yosemite.
It's on the right about 1 mile up. Bring chains or a 4wd vehicle. It's
totally worth it. Pack out your garbage from the site, there is an
issue with garbage up there. Make your way down the hill to the
snow-covered meadow; it's so majestic. It's very physically draining to
sled 1/2 the day. Be prepared to be sore & tired. After you get
back here & after you eat you definitely need to soak in the Hot
Tub; beware, caution; every pore on your body will tingle. It seems
painful @ first but it will get to the point of a soothing tingle and
then it will turn to a simple pleasure...
January 5, 2009 - It's snowing, we have to leave, we don't want to! We
Really don't want to! The power just went out, It's still snowing, we
have to leave... It's ok, we'll be back in July this year!
Thank you for a wonderful place to spend some time away from it all!!!
Sincerely, M & G E
Foster City, CA
Dec. 28 '08
Thank you. This has been an idyllic experience. I think your house is
lovely and set up so well. I wanted for nothing. The house is light and
bright, but cozy. The snow was amazing. We got to see it fall and melt
away. In between we snow shoed and sledded and had a great snowball
fight. This is a family trip I will never forget.
J J
Happy New Year! January 1st 2008/9 Oops! from grandpa J (age 80+)
What a great week! Tranquility A+ Wonderfully built house A+ Access
road (well!). But with 4-wheel drive & chains on all four wheels in
chains we managed the heavy snow -- and the road was clear in a day or
two. We lived in the mountains in Virginia and the backroads of
Maryland and we didn't have a Bobcat! (envy). Bed in master bedroom was
most comfortable -- as was the whole house -- and I could go on and on,
but sadly we must leave this morning as I say so long!
P.S. We left a couple of books in the "library" and hope others do the
same. P.S.S. Catch the piano player at Wawona Hotel (Bopp by name -
great sing-along)
Dec 19-24
Dear David & Suzanne
Thank you so much for a wonderful vacation. We loved your home and
enjoyed spending time with your family. It's too bad the huge storm
coming in prevented us from staying another day. If we didn't have to
catch a plane on the 26th, we would have loved to be "snowed in" with
you. Yosemite Valley was spectacular in the snow. The boys loved the
snow ball fight and playing in the snow. They even enjoyed the
shoveling. The views from your home are spectacular and you've provided
anything and everything anyone could possibly want in a house. We would
love to come back again some day. Good luck with the plowing. We'll
take good care of your kids. Hope to see your back in L.A. before we
leave.
Love,
E & H
Nov 22 '08
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing spot! Everything was lovely
and we had a relaxing and refreshing weekend.
M & R A
November 3-8, 2008
What a wonderful space to celebrate our 20th anniversary + an important
birthday. Thank you David & Suzanne for sharing your lovely abode.
Living in your "treehouse" for 5 days was a great experience. And it is
most definitely the best equipt home we've ever stayed in. Our daily
journeys & hikes to Yosemite were lovingly memorable and dinners
both here at home & at the Tenaya Lodge were excellent.
Many thanks for the love and care you have put into Logger's Retreat.
Happy Trails,
P O & B R
Medford, NJ
Oct 28th, 2008
What a lovely place! The natural beauty can be seen from everywhere in
your home. We enjoyed our stay!
D & R N
Oct 19th
We appreciate the wonderful binder you put together for your house
guests. That was very thoughtful of you. It made our discussions easier
and thus more time spent in enjoyment and awe was had by the two of us.
Thank you,
E R
October 5th, 2008
Thank you so much for letting us stay at such a beautiful home. We
really enjoyed our time here. The views are spectacular!
Sincerely,
R H
Oct 2, 08
We enjoyed your home very much. The children loved it too. We wanted to
see a bear, but alas no one was there. All we saw was deer, but not
bear, and a squirrel. The views are spectacular.
We are now on our way to St. Hosea for a wedding. We'll go back to
Mich. on Monday Morning.
We saw Glacier Point - it was exciting. We'll never see anything that
can match it.
Thanks for hospitality. Your house cleaner was so nice and does a great
job.
God's Blessings and fondly,
The Vs & The Bs
9/2008
David & Suzanne,
Thank you very much. You have an amazing Retreat. We enjoyed the house,
the back yard and especially the views. Maybe next time will see a bear
or a mountain lion. Hope to come back soon.
Z (followed by "Todah Rabah!!!" in Hebrew)
L
E, N, O
Encino, CA
Sept. 5-12 2008
There are 8 of us. My husband + I and our 3 daughters and various
husbands and partners.
The first full day (Sat) we did the tram tour through Mariposa Grove
and then walked through the Pioneer History Center in Wawona. The
excursion through Mariposa Grove was a wonderful introduction to the
entire week.
Sunday we swam and sunned at Bass Lake...got a little lost on a short
loop trail, but hey...
Monday Valley Visitor Center. Took a picnic then some took a bike ride
and some a meadow walk. Both fabulous... but I forgot to advise the
bike group not to drink the water, but they swam and did.
Tuesday, kids (young adults) went to Toulomne Meadows and D & I
went to Glacier Point. We got there about noon and there are really not
words to describe the utter overwhelming vista view. Later the kids
said, "How was it, Mom?" And I said, "It was the most incredible view I
had ever seen in my life..." They asked if I was kidding. I said, "no."
It was grey and white - and green for the trees! The next evening we
all went for the ranger sunset talk (6:30). Then is twas more yellow +
cream and the green was nearly black. So different. Both magnificent.
The Taft Point walk was great. But there are chasms at the end, so hold
your children's hands.
Thursday dinner at the Ahwahnee Hotel was luxurious.
This was probably the best vacation we have ever had.
And being here, all of us on 9/11 was a treasure. Seven years earlier
we lived very close to NYC. My husband had a doctor's appt so hadn't
gone in. Our daughter, the eldest had finished college but was home for
a semester before beginning an internship. One daughter was in Santa
Barbara + her roommate was flying to LA out of Logan on the plane just
before Atta's. Our 3rd daughter was in Richmond VA in college + 95 -
the Hwy between Richmond and D.C. had been shut down. We were just on
the phone much of that day. So it was wonderful to all be here, all
together in this gorgeous eden.
D + A S
M, C, San Francisco
A J Portland, OR
J Z San Francisco
D + A - Burlingame, CA soon to be Camas, WASHINGTON.
Hey David!
WE SAW A BEAR!!!
Thank you SO MUCH for tharing this beautiful home. Have to return again
REAL SOON!
Your pen pal,
C
Aug-Sept 08
We had a wonderful time over the Labor Weekend. The house is fabulous,
and fitted us perfect for our wedding at Tenaya Lodge.
Thank you again
E + C E
T + N W
J E
San Francisco/Ireland
August 17-August 24, 2008
David & Suzanne,
Muchas Gracias por compartir nuestra casa. Ha sido una semana
fantastica. La casa, el entorno -- un sueno! Si algun dia pasarir por
Barcelone, no dejeir de contactarnos. Sera un placer pooler invitaros a
nuestra casa.
Thanks a lot! We really had a phantastic week. Everthing was perfect.
The house, so beautiful, and the surroundings really impressive.
Please, come to visit us one day at Barcelona!
Muchas gracias! Hautelijl daule!
The Spanish-Belgian family from El Marnov (Barcelona)
G & I, G, P & L.
Aug 11 - Aug 15
W-R family; Orlando, FL
J, J, K & A
After 4 days in San Francisco we headed to Logger's Retreat &
Yosemite. Our first night we got here about 7:30pm and found the house
very welcoming. Then Crashed!
Our first day at the park we drove to Glacier Point then hiked up
Sentinel Dome. Wow! 4 Stars! Then hike to Taft Point and then to
Bridalveil Falls. The falls were nearly dry but at the top there was an
icy pool to swim in. Got groceries and ate dinner at Yosemite Village.
On the second day we drove to Tuolumne Meadows. Took 3 hours with road
construction delays. Hiked the meadows. Then went to Tenaya Lake for R
& R. Stopped at Olmsted Point and the Tuolumne Grove. On the way
home near Yosemite Village a deer ran out and Joanne, who was driving
hit the brakes! No harm! No foul! Then we saw 4 deer in the woods next
to our car! We were only doing 25mph if we had been going faster we
would have hit the deer. Earlier we had seen Rangers chasing a bear
& 2 cubs! Day 3 we slept late and then went horseback riding, came
back to the house and relaxed, then to Mariposa Grove. A day we did a
few things and enjoyed the house! Our final day we packed up and headed
to Frisco for some final sightseeing and then fly home Saturday
morning. Back to the heat and humidity!
Thanks for helping us enjoy our stay!
August 5 - August 8, 2008
W family from Round Rock Texas
Wow! What a wonderful 3 days, we felt right at home from the minute
we walked in the front door. Your home had all the little conveniences
that helped us enjoy & relax. This was our first trip to Yosemite
area & here's a quick summary of our activities.
Day 1: Head to Yosemite Village, eat good breakfast @ Dengue's Cafe,
then hike up to Vernal Falls. Still some water @ falls. Then do lower
Yosemite Falls, hike over boulders to swimming hole at base of falls,
glorious ice cold water, well worth it. Mingle with massive crowds in
village, for awhile take advantage of shuttle bus system, then back to
house.
Day 2: Boys convince me to do Half Dome climb with them. Wife and
daughter stay behind for R & R & Railroad ride. Half dome hike
was most difficult thing we've ever done but well worth it. We ran a
little low on water coming down & were wary of drinking stream
water unfiltered; next time we'll bring filter. Nice to be resting in
comfortable house that night, jacuzzi was marvelous!!
Day 3: Start packing up, will do easy hike @ Mariposa Grove on way out
of town, to Sacramento for 2 days of whitewater rafting.
Wish we'd have stayed one more day, but oh well, on to the next
adventure. Hope to return some day. Thanks for making this such a
special place!
Ws (:-)
July 31-Aug 4, 2008
Our family had a wonderful time exploring Yosemite this week. The
location was perfect for all of the activities we wanted to do, in the
park as well as around the cabin (we only missed roasting Marshmallows
for S'mores due to the fire restrictions). We took in the beautiful
sights of Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, and the Mariposa Grove. The
kids were all able to hike for 2-3 hrs at a time to waterfalls and
beautiful views like Taft Trail. We mostly enjoyed wading the cool
mountain streams every afternoon and throwing many rocks! The Pioneer
Settlement in Wawona was also very educational for the children as well
as learning about the formation of the valley from Glaciers so long
ago! Truly spectacular!
We also enjoyed the 1 hour train ride on the Sugar Pine Railroad so
convenient to this location as well as our evenings of hot tub and
stargazing! Not something we see in Kansas City EVER!
Thank you for sharing your home with us and for thinking of how to make
it family friendly.
The Ws,
Lee's Summit, MO
Children 9,7 and 4 yrs old
July 22 through 25, 2008
"The mountains are calling and I must go." -John Muir
Awoke to a glorious sunrise, so left the family to sleep while I scaled El Cap. Then back to this fabulous cabin to soak in the hot tub and grab a bit of lunch!
(Picture of woman climbing shear rock face)
But seriously, there is no place like Yosemite and we thank you for the opportunity to experience it yet again! This home is beautiful, the weather was superb and the scenery is second to none!
The G family
R, L, K & A
P.S. Shout out to CJ!!
July 10,11,12th, 13th 2008
Wow! What can we say...we fell in love with Yosemite Park - Spectacular scenery, big rocks, huge trees - didn't see too many animals - one coyote and one buck - Darn!
Everyone liked the house, grounds, views and location... the road/driveway is wild! Except for the heat during the day, our stay was fantastic.
Thank you for sharing your home,
N and J M
C and M M
baby "L" M
N and B C
July 6,7,8 2008
What a great house and an amazing view! This is our 1st visit to Yosemite. We came all the way from Florida. Our family enjoyed hikes, views, Sequoias and a vastly different landscape - Fl. is very flat! Thanks for sharing your home with us.
The Ts
P, K, S (11) and J (10)
From S - HI! :-)
June 30 to July 3, 2008
We had a wonderful experience at your Logger's Retreat. Fortunately, the fires were past and the air, pure. Our favorite was discovering Corlieu Falls! Thanks for making your home available to us.
The Ts (Chicago) & Is (Rehoboth, NM)
26 June - 30 June 2008
Great vacation, wild fire smoke soon blew out. First trip to Yosemite, had a great time - managed to catch a Grizzly Bear beside the road! Fantastic house, amazing views - very relaxing. Thanks!
B, C, M & J
Quebec, Canada
6-24-08
Thank you so much for talking us down off a ledge when we learned the Westfall wildfire was encroaching upon us. Thank you for the honest, accurate and timely updates on the fire. Knowing you had neighbors + the fire marshalls checking on us was so hopeful for us - as honestly, we almost bailed the first day. We could hear the firetrucks along the access road, watched the helicopters above + watched the ash fall like snow around us.
As of tonight the fire is 100% contained & we are settling in for a much more restful sleep. Your home is a gem + although because of lingering smoke we haven't been able to appreciate the view fully - we are in love with your home, your wildlife, your amenities + your location.
We spent the day at Yosemite + had dinner @ Tenaya Lodge (great kids menu). By tomorrow, our last day, the smoke should clear + the views will open up. We are so happy to have found this amazing home - thank you!
-The Ts
T, C, J (10), A (7)
Douglassville, PA
P.S. We found your house sitter charming and informative!
6-24-08
Thank you so much for the opportunity to stay in your wonderful house. There was so much for us to do with our grandchildren since the smoke from the wildfilres caused the air quality to keep them inside most of the time. Although they did spend some time in the hot tub, with their grandfather, after a full day in Yosemite!
We found "huge" pinecones and added them to your collection on the deck. Saw many birds and a deer coming home from Yosemite!
We say thank you from the Pennsylvania folks - it was a wonderful way for the T's, W's, R's and J's to meet up with the W's, A's and H's in Yosemite!
Thanks again - N and J W
Hatboro, Pennsylvania
Thank you for letting us use your house it ROCKS!
Love, A T, age 7, 2nd grade
6-15 - 6-20-08
What a perfect place for hiking friends to recharge from the hassles of city life. Vistas from every room and birds all around - lovely.
How thoughtful of you to leave so many essentials so we didn't have to trip up and down the mountain. Instead we relaxed and enjoyed your beautiful country home.
Thank you David -
The McCs + friends
6/8/08
David,
Even though we live in a beautiful spot, sometimes it's impossible to get away from our work, cell phones + day to day stuff. This was just what the doctor ordered. Incredible forest home + hospitality. thanks for having us + animals. - S
L's Mack would like to thank you too... very much XX
6/6 - 6/8
Dave,
It was definitely our pleasure meeting you and benefitting from your wonderful hospitality & your wonderful tree house surrounded by birds, branches & peace all weekend. So many thanks! Hope to see you again - maybe on the E side? - Lisa
June 2, 2008
Fantastic place! Beautiful weather, beautiful views! We had a wonderful stay at your lovely home; would recommend it for anyone.
I H
Gettysburg, PA
31 May 2008
Excellent accommodation and facilities in a magnificent environment. Many thanks.
D B & S D
H & H M
May 24, 2008
Thanks!
R & Friends
Dear Dave,
Thank you for the use of your beautiful home. It was way better than the pictures! I love the trees & the camp ground below.
We went horseback riding Chilnualna Falls, hiking Taft Point Sentinel Dome & Glacier Point. Saw a Black Bear & a Yellow Bellied Marmot, lots of birds & butterflies & a few spring flowers & lots of Dogwoods in bloom. There was snow on ground in lots of places & I sledded down Sentinel Dome on my fanny. Weeeeeee...
Thanks again,
J & B A
5/11//2008
Thank you for accommodating us in such a lovely abode in order for us to enjoy the nature.
The house is beautiful and the views are breathtaking and spectacular.
Every smallest ammenities have been take care by you.
We had a wonderful time here. The memories we made here will be there in our memories/mind forever.
You were godsend.
We would love to come again every year for a larger duration.
:-)
Thanks and Warm Regards
N, S, A, M, N
S, S & D
4-14-08
David & Suzanne,
Thank you so much for opening your doors to our family. I had never been so relaxed & enjoyed as the way I felt here in your home. My children enjoyed it very much. They had a blast here with all the beautiful views everywere & especially the hot tub of yours. It's so relaxing there. I hope later in the future to experience this again.
Love Family G
4th, 5th, 6th April 08
Thank you for providing us with such a lovely base to explore this magnificent natural wonder. It's not often words fail me but the view as you drive through the tunnel (if you haven't yet been you will know which I mean!) was magical. Anyway off we go, back too blighty soon, we will take some unforgettable memories of this amazing country with us.
Thanks again,
The W-H & H families
March 28-30
Great Friends...
Great House...
Great Times...
C J C M V A C
2008
3/30/08
Dear David,
We loved the place! Hospitality was great! Enjoyed the hot tub very much! The view was amazing! We hope to come back!
J & crew :-)
Real world Yosemete (hearts)
Thanks for the memories!
Spring Brake 08
We loved It!
C & C
3/28/08
Thank you for a great week.
Ss and Ts
2/18/08
Thank you. -Z
We had fun. -A
The kids enjoyed the space, we enjoyed the view. Great cabin!
Thank you,
C (and B)
1/4/2008
Thank you Thank you
for a wonderful vacation in the mountains - with some wonderful friends! You gave us an incredible escape from everyday life with lots of relaxing visiting and, of course, eating! We loved it all - hope to see you soon up in Pleasanton!
Lots of Love from
L & family
2008!
1/1/08
What an amazing trip we had at the Logger's Retreat!! Plenty of food, champagne and laughs! The views are breathtaking and the house is awesome. We rang in the new year in style!
K & A
Los Angeles, CA
Thanks for providing the perfect place to welcome in 2008! We had an amazing time - loved the fire pit, hot tub & views from the living room in particular. We hope to be back again next year!
L & T
San Francisco, CA
Dec 26-30
David & Suzanne,
What a wonderful place you have! The views are stunning & it is so convenient for Yosemite. All six of us had a great time.
J, S, B, I, H & N
Nov 30-Dec 2, 2007
Dear Logger's Retreat Owners,
Your place was beautiful, homey and a Godsend. Our leadership was able to get a lot accomplished because of the natural calmness and serentiy of the location. Thank you for opening your home to everyone. We were refreshed, renewed and can now start a wonderful new year.
Thanks for being a wonderful blessing!
Sincerely,
K C M Leadership Team
Nov 23, 2007
Thank you so much for letting us stay at your vacation home! The house is warm, comforting and fun! It was the perfect place to have Thanksgiving break. My family and I saw sequoias, waterfalls,mountains and lots of other thinkg I can't see back where I live. Yosemite, falls under my list of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen! We got exelent photos too.
K, age 10
P.S. Please can you place floresant lightbulbs in place of the regular onse. (you will conserve energy and save money!)
my families autographs (in a box)
October 27, 2007
We hate to leave your beautiful home! Thanks so much for the wonderful accommodations. We have family visiting from Japan and they have so many specatcular memories to take back with them! We decided to make S'mores in the oven instead of the fire pit due to high fire conditions :-). We enjoyed every minute we were here!
Thank you very much,
S, K, T, & C S
(Vista & Oceanside, CA)
Oct 27,2007,
(Japanese Kanji)... (Dear David & Suzanne) (more Japanese)...San Diego...Atlanta...San Diego..Oceanside...Giant...1500...valley...El Capitan...Half-doom...Bridelveil ...David..."Preserve & Protect...simple...
First visitor to this house from Japan/Tokyo
J H, M H
(Atlanta, Georgia)
September 30th, 2007
We had a terrific time and loved this house. The views are spectacular and couldn't have asked for more. We will definitely be back for more hiking, biking and water skiing.
Thanks!
J, C, T and N
Sept 27,2007
What a wonderful home with spectacular views. We spent two days in Yosemite hiking (Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome, and the Vernal & Nevada Falls) and shopping. Enjoyed the hot tub after the long hikes. The well equipped kitchen made for hearty suppers. The weather was stupendous.
Thanks again,
T, B, S & R families
Sept 24, 2007
Dear David & Suzanne,
Thanks so much for the opportunity to celebrate our anniversary in such a special place. The setting is FANTASTIC and we had a wonderful time.
M & T L
Buster too!
Aug 22-26 2007
Dear David & Suzanne,
We had a lovely time in you mountaintop retreat. We had two families here, and visited Bridalveil Falls, Tunnel View, Yosemite Valley, and we loved Glacier Point. We checked out Big Sandy and fished both at Bass Lake and off the 140 in the Merced River after Foresta Bridge. The boys enjoyed the dirt path with their bikes, and soaking in the jacuzzi afterwards. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy this view and for helping us appreciate Yosemite!!
The C Family J, M, & R; The B Family J, E, L
We also did a bit of stargazing, spotted the Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy & all the 4 moons of Jupiter. Its quite a place you have here! Thanks again, -JB
August 19, 2007
David & Suzanne,
We really enjoyed staying at this wonderful place! Thank you guys so much! We had two families stay here, and we all fit! It was so comfy and clean, but we suggest you get shades in the kids bedroom!
Thank you, The D Family, The R Family
Aug 9-12, 2007
David & Suzanne,
Our family really enjoyed our stay in your delightful retreat. Glorious area, we walked our legs off! Soaked them afterward in the warm hot tub and thought the night skies were magical. The kids liked the hike down to the campfire where the could see bits & pieces of the old railroad.
Many thanks, The A Family.
P.S. You might want to add a toaster to your amenities!!
Our stay here has been so great for all our family who have come from all over the country for one of our rare gatherings. The Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point were especially enjoyed and a drive up the Tioga Pass Rd was another trip of beautiful views. There is so much to see and do - so little time. I gathered pine needles for basketry which will be a memento of our stay. A small suggestion is a photo of the view in winter. I lived in Sonora 13 years and have seen Yosemite in winter - it was so wonderful to return to California once again!
- M B
This beautiful house in this amazing setting was perfect for our rare family gathering coming from WI, IL, NM, and NH, we all settled in and enjoyed each other's company as well as escaping for private reflection -- so many great decks here with great views! Lots of good memories were made here...we hope we can all come back again.
S B, Newmarket, NH.
Aug 4-7 2007
Dear David & Suzanne,
We have all had a wonderful time in your home. What superlative views! Great walks through the forest! Home well equipped! Trips of interest we have done inc: Mariposa Grove Tram Tour - well informative and recommended $17 each time, 1 hr 30 mins Logger's Sugar Pine Railway trip - Highly recommended for youngsters, and only 2 mins away from lodge - $18 - Plus other things to do e.g. gold panning. Glacier Point - Well worth a full day trip. Starting the day off with a leisurely bike ride. Bikes hired from Yosemite Lodge at $7.50/hr We found 3 hrs was sufficient. Don't forget your picnic! Then follow this with trip to Glacier Point to marvel at the spectacular views and great photo opportunities. We recommend: Blinds in bedrooms; gas bbq to avoid charcoal use (due to forest fires); also we found the fan above the bunkbed is very close and slightly dangerous. Can't wait to return in the future!
Thanks, S's & J's x-x-x
The memories we made here will be in our thoughts forever. The house is beautiful and the views are breathtaking. We had so much fun from Glacier Point to Touloume Meadows. Swimming in Cascade Creek ended our wonderful trip to Yosemite. To end our vacation we rented a party barge on Bass Lake which was very relaxing.
Thanks again. Love, the M's - H, R, H and M, R and N C, J P. New Orleans, LA.
6-30 to 7-7-07
Thank you for opening your beautiful home to us! We really enjoyed it. The fire pit was great for S'mores on the 4th of July! We rode our bikes along the dirt road behind the house. It was fun, but very bumpy. We really think your need a swamp cooler for the summer. We had temperatures into the 100's The house was just as hot as outside and in the evenings it was hotter. Curtains on the windows might help with that too. The view is beautiful, but the sun through the windows was way too hot! We'd love to come back sometime when the weather is a bit cooler.
- The A Family
June 12, 2007
My daughter just turned 1 year old today here in this dining room surrounded by grandparents, her uncle, aunt and nephew and I can’t imagine a better place to bring my family together than here. She may not remember the experience, but we surely will and they will be plenty of photos to remind her. The place is wonderfully equipped. The only thing I longed for was a high chair and some shades for the upstairs bedroom windows. It’s lovely to wake up to that gorgeous panoramic view of the mountain but it would be nice to pull a blind down as others trek to their cars or the hot tub. All told it is a breath-taking place. Best,
- T & the W Family
P.S. I can’t believe you have a DVD of Mr. North! Wonderful!
Found you on the net! Could not have made a better choice. Everything surpassed my expectations! Just wonderful! Our first family reunion! Perfect! Highly recommend night train dinner and ride! Hope to return soon.
-S A W
P.S. Climb a mountain! -From Tampa, Florida
June 8 & 9th
Fantastic views! The home was much bigger than we needed, but the upstairs turned out to be perfect for the two of us. We worried about the white carpet, but all worked out fine, the layout on the first floor worked perfect and all amenities were provided. Thank you so much for being so thoughtful. We didn’t get the chance to explore outside because our trip was planned around a 1929 Model A car rental in Fish Camp at Model T Tours. What a fantastic and unique way to tour a national park. The house was so peaceful and relaxing. We didn’t have much time to spend in the house, but when we did, we just relaxed. Thank you for sharing your home with others.
-T and P
June 4-7
We “stumbled” across your vacation home when we decided to take a side trip from our 8-day vacation in San Francisco. We thought our family might need a diversion from the city. To say we have been incredibly “wowed” by our time here in Yosemite is an understatement. Your place is an incredible blessing. Each room provides a view of God’s magnificent creations. The furnishings, the movies and all the fun games added to our “down time” in the home. Yosemite National Park was an experience we will never forget. Our family cannot decide whether we liked Glacier Ridge or Yosemite Valley more. When I think of the splendorous sights we took in with our eyes and reflect on the grandiose creation as well as the tiny details that went into this creation, my mind calls up the old church hymn, “How Great Thou Art.” This is a creation beyond my imagination. I wish I could say that we will come back to your home. But, being from Michigan and having 9 airplane tickets to pay for makes me believe that this was a once in a lifetime adventure. Thank you for bending over backwards to make our accommodations work. We want to thank C J too! God’s blessings to you in this wonderful place!
-The L's: T, K, K, M, A, A, G, M and L.
I had an awesome time in your house! The views were great and I had a lot of fun exploring and looking for bears. Thank you so much for letting us stay here. And I loved the bedroom downstairs with the bunk and trundle. It was one of the best parts of my whole trip to California! Yosemite is so pretty! Thank you!
-M L, age 12
I had an awesome time in your house! Even though I got scared of the moutin lions, and the bears.
–A L, age 9
5.26.07 Memorial Day weekend
Had a great three nights. Especially great to have the place set up nicely for our two year old (with the exception of the acres of white carpet we worried about; Alas, no spills!) It was wonderful to discover that if you walk far enough on the road above the house you eventually reach Fish Camp! The Narrow Gauge Inn was a fun discovery too. Gardens were simple but beautiful, fun firetruck for our little one to look at, and the restaurant looked quite promising for a better-planned return trip sometime. Tenaya Lodge wasn’t as charming. But the beer was good. Long lines to get into the park on this holiday, but the golf course was surprisingly uncrowded. We’re off to look at one of the cabins for sale in Fish Camp (these prices seem nuts!) then a quick spin on the railroad before home. Thanks for being good hosts. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
-K, J, and O F
Great Spot! Wish we could have stayed for two weeks. We will be back. Thanks so much. –M & C P
May 06-8,2007
Dear David & Suzanne,
Your website promised much, in reality your beautiful home is nothing short of PARADISE! Your home defies description and adjectives could flow as smooth as the Merced River if it were not for the control one has to eventually maintain. The wonderful patio was our permanent hangout when at home and the sylvan surroundings our constant companions. It was only the gently creeping evening chill and the breathtaking beauty of the northern skyline that reminded us to retreat into the coziness of your beautifully kept and extensively equipped home. As my son rightly said “Daddy this is better than our hotel in London!” We are visiting from India and this is one of the best memories we will preserve of any of our numerous trips to the U.S. None of us expected anything so beautiful and pristine in surroundings that would any human wish to paint. We only wish we could have stayed more than we have coz its been a weekend that all of us will cherish for many years to come. Thanks for opening your beautiful home to us and making our short family holiday to Yosemite a memorable one.
P Family India and Irvine CA.
April 29-May 6, 2007
This week has been one of my most memorable weeks of my life. My husband and I stayed here for our fifth wedding anniversary. We experienced warm weather, cold weather, rain and snow…beautiful sunrises and starry nights. The moon rises were beautiful too, especially when it crested over the north mountain range. The house is wonderful and has so many luxuries and necessities that a person would / could ever need for a fun filled relaxing vacation away from home at any time of year or season. My husband and I want to thank you D & S for opening your mountain home to folks like us to experience the true beauty this great area has to offer. Much Enjoyed!
D & A S San Jose, CA
4/28/07
Dear David & Suzanne,
We’d like to thank you for such a lovely stay, this is truly a “home away from home.” It is such a lovely and beautiful place. We had a very memorable stay and hopefully will be able to return in the future. Thank you!
– N H, etc
Dear Suzanne & David
We enjoyed our weekend immensely. We love your home on the hill and nestled among the trees! We will return! We did take great care of your home and you actually have a lot of the same taste we have! Thanks again,
- The S Family
Dear David & Suzanne,
What a beautiful home – very comfortable and well equipped. Perhaps a few more saucepans to facilitate cooking for 10! The weather wasn’t the best so we couldn’t do the sugar-pine railway which was disappointing for the kids – however it gives us an excuse to come back again sometime! Thanks a million
– S B, CA
April 16
We enjoyed our stay in your lovely home. The weather treated us to winter snow and summer sun. We hope to come back soon. Thanks!
- The L Family
We enjoyed our Easter weekend getaway very much in your lovely mountain home. What a beautiful, peaceful view! We visited the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley as well as Bass Lake. It’s a big difference from Orange County!
The W Family, Newport Beach, CA
April 6, 2007
We’ve had a wonderful vacation. Thanks for opening your home to us. The views are fabulous and the house was great. Yosemite was beautiful. We recommend if you want to get away from the crowds, the hike to Wapama Falls off Hetch Hetchy road was great! Thanks!
The S Family (Michigan)
1 March 2007
I know that everyone who reads these is looking at “driveway tales.” We weren’t excluded either. By the time it was all over it was 1-2. By the afternoon today we’re hopefully 4-0. Fabulous home, views snow and overall ambiance. Driving in through Yosemite was the best – gorgeous & no cars. Hiking to Mariposa Grove through the snow tomorrow hopefully! Great Place!!!
- “The Quilters” LWW2007
P.S. Sunday packing up but really had a great time!!! Hike to Mariposa Grove was full of snow strenuous and loads of fun. Wish we had snow shoes to forge ahead thru the grove. Again, love the home, amenities and surroundings. The icy driveway truly sucked – but it worked out, after 2 groups had to huff their gear coolers, etc up by hand. 4WD IS A MUST!!! Would love to come & enjoy this in the Fall. Peace
2/16-18
President’s Day Weekend! Had a great time! We enjoyed the incredible views and comfort of the home! Thank goodness we did not have ice! I’m in good shape but so glad we did not have to walk up the driveway! The weather was beautiful & sunny on Sat. The kids tried snowboarding at Badger Pass. J and I had a great snow shoe hike & the little ones just enjoyed the snow & sun! Sunday we had rain but not enough to keep us from some small hikes in the Park. I had not been to Yosemite since my teens and never with snow. We were all happy and impressed!! Enjoyed the hot tub & the stars! Look to come back maybe in the spring. Thank you,
- T, J & S S...
1-15-07
Dear David & Suzanne,
Thank you for opening your beautiful home to us. We will have so many great memories that we will not soon forget. The gorgeous views, great meals & the satisfaction of making it up that drive way with all of our silly luggage have made this one of my favorite birthdays yet. Thank you for providing a space for my favorite people to be together and have a great time.
Sincerely, E T
Happy New Years,
We had a very exciting trip up here because when we were on the driveway the car slipped on the ice and then when we backed up because one of the front tires was stuck in the snow on the side of the road, so we backed up but the car slipped and it turned sideways. So we had to get out and walk to the house witch wasn’t to far away but we only had the clothes we were wearing in the car so it was really cold. My mom and dad went to the car and we got most of the stuff out so we are pretty comfortable. Right now we are watching a movie and eating cornbread and drinking hot chocolate. It has been an eventful day and we hope to go skiing while we are up here. I also am excited about playing in the snow because I rarely get to see it because I live in Pasadena.
Sincerely, E G
P.S. I love this house it is really cool!
Jan 1, 2007
Happy New Year!! What a great way to bring in the new year. We got here on Saturday and played in the snow around the house. On Sunday we took the kids to the Snow Park down the road. Had a ball! We watched the ball drop in Times Square and called it a day. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous home with us. We will be back soon hopefully.
Sincerely, R & S A and girls A, B, S and J Merced, CA
Dec 30, 2006
David & Suzanne
My family and I had such a great time over the past 3 days. We love all of the snow, and trekking our stuff up in the sleds has been way more of a memorable adventure than an inconvenience. We had a great time sledding, making snowmen, hiking, playing cards and eating lots of Christmas cookies. I am definitely planning on coming here again, if not with my extended family, then with my immediate family. The kids do not want to leave. Thanks again for the amazing stay
Sincerely, the L Family
Dear M Family,
We had a fantastic time and the house is awesome! We enjoyed the breathtaking views, the tasteful and thoughtful furnishings, the wonderful hot tub, the majestic landscape… In short – we enjoyed every second! Thank you for the warm welcome and all the thoughtful little details! We sure will come back! Our boys enjoyed the steam engine and all the little allusions to it throughout the house and of course – the snow-plow in the garage! We had a fantastic weekend here and to make the day perfect it even started to snow! Thank you again for sharing this beautiful house with us!
All the best,
M, L, J and A K, Menlo Park, CA & J, Germany
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