Over the past couple of editions, I’ve shared a few favorite holiday outings – from Solvang’s Julefest to the annual Cambria Christmas Market at Cambria Pines Lodge.  Each has its own charm, and both are great ways to get into the holiday spirit. But this time, I want to tell you about a truly magical Christmas that topped them all – one that gave me one of the most satisfying holidays I can remember, even though I technically spent it “alone.” 

 

It happened to be a Christmas unlike most in my life. Just weeks earlier, my family had gathered to honor my mother in a special celebration of her life. Afterward, my siblings and kids scattered in different directions for the holidays. Rather than sit at home staring at the same four walls, I decided to find a quiet getaway — somewhere with snow, crisp air, and the chance to reset. 

 

That’s when I stumbled across a familiar name online: Tenaya at Yosemite, just outside the south entrance to Yosemite National Park. I’d stayed there before, but never during the holidays. Knowing Tenaya’s reputation for warm hospitality and comfort, I decided it was the perfect place for a quiet but memorable Christmas. Within minutes, I booked a few nights over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

 

Tenaya is an award-winning, upscale mountain-lodge resort with a prestigious AAA Four Diamond rating. Spread across 75 wooded acres, the property offers something for just about everyone – cozy rooms and suites in the main lodge, forested Explorer Cabins for couples and small families, and private cottages that can handle larger families, including the family dog. (Their website explains all the options better than I can in this one story, but trust me, there’s something for everyone.) 

 

My plan was simple: a relaxing and quiet holiday getaway. I packed my heavy jacket and snow boots (just in case), a bottle of Bardstown Wheated Bourbon (a birthday gift from my buddy, Hassan), and Under a Scarlet Sky, a novel my granddaughter had given me. I imagined hours in a comfortable chair, reading by the fire, with the occasional sip of bourbon. 

 

The drive up was easy, and as if on cue, about a mile before Tenaya’s entrance the snow began to fall. A white blanket covered everything around me, instantly confirming that I’d made the right decision. When I parked my truck to unload, I caught the smell of a outdoor mountain fireplace in the Valet area, where guests were already sitting in Adirondack chairs, bundled up and swapping stories. 

 

The holiday magic hit me the second I walked inside. Two life-sized toy soldiers greeted me at the entry doors. Inside, garlands with twinkle lights framed the lobby, poinsettias were seemingly everywhere, and a fire crackled in the massive stone fireplace. Christmas trees glowed in every corner – including one in the grand lobby, towering nearly three stories tall, strung with what must have been over 30,000 lights. (Don’t quote me on the number, though – Tenaya holds a contest for guests to guess the exact count. I even overheard one genius ten-year-old mathematically working out his estimate with what he thought was some very clever calculations.) 

 

More than the decorations, though, it was the people who made the welcome special. From valet and bell staff to the front desk, every team member greeted me warmly, taking time not just to hand over a room key but to share what was happening around the lodge for the holidays.  It’s the kind of over-the-top hospitality that brings you back to Tenaya repeatedly. 

 

This is where Tenaya truly shines. Christmas seems to mean something here – not just decorations, but experiences. Families staying longer than I did could enjoy Breakfast with Santa, gingerbread house workshops (complete with tables loaded with cookies, candies, and frosting), and snow globe–making sessions. I loved wandering past displays of gingerbread houses; some built with so much creativity they might have made it onto a Food Network special. 

 

For kids, the lodge felt like a dream. Complimentary snacks like pretzels and goldfish were set out during the day, and the complimentary hot chocolate bar was irresistible – every child who walked by was instantly hooked. 

 

On Christmas Eve, armed with my book and bourbon, I settled into a chair in the lobby, but I couldn’t help getting caught up in the excitement swirling around me. Families gathered for pizza from the deli, kids unpacked new board games on the tables, and the air was filled with live holiday music – first from a guitarist, then from a pianist, as some guests hummed and softly sang along. 

 

Jackalope’s Bar & Grill, Tenaya’s main eatery, was buzzing for hours with group and family gatherings, sharing stories, Irish coffees, appetizers, and dinner.  

 

Then, as if plucked from a storybook, two women dressed in Dickens-era costumes strolled the lobby, handing candy canes to wide-eyed kids.  

 

Later that night, when I returned to my room, I found another unexpectedly thoughtful touch, a Christmas stocking placed neatly on my pillow – a little gift from Tenaya’s “elves.”  I couldn’t help but smile and unpack it with the excitement of a little kid.  It’s Tenaya’s simple & creative attention to detail that keeps the Christmas spirit alive in all of us.  

 

Christmas morning carried the same holiday excitement. Families dressed in matching pajamas filled Jackalope’s for the breakfast buffet, while others gathered in the lobby to open gifts together. Some families were already loading onto smaller, intimate tour buses for an early trip into Yosemite, an experience easily arranged through the on-site concierge. 

 

I decided to make the drive into Yosemite myself. While the mountains were blanketed with snow, the roads were clear enough to avoid using the snow chains I had packed “just in case.” As I headed toward Yosemite Village, I stopped now and then to take photos of the stunning winter scenery. By the time I reached the village, though, the parking lots were already overflowing. Rather than fight for a space, I drove the loop, enjoying the sights from the warmth of my truck. On the way back, I passed the South Entrance again, where the line of cars waiting to get in stretched nearly two miles – I didn’t envy the folks at the back of that line, wondering when, if ever, they might make it into the park. 

 

That afternoon, I treated myself to a massage at Ascent Spa, Tenaya’s 10,000-square-foot world-class wellness retreat complete with saunas, steam rooms, and treatment rooms. On Christmas Day, it felt like the ultimate indulgence. 

 

Afterward, I wandered the property: an outdoor covered ice rink, where families skated hand-in-hand; the bustling game room with free hot popcorn; and the indoor pool, packed with delighted kids who couldn’t believe they were swimming on Christmas Day. 

 

Christmas Dinner is another highlight at Tenaya, where their Grand Ballroom hosts a lavish Christmas buffet with carving stations, entrees, soups, sides, and holiday desserts. Reservations are a must for that one – the room was full all afternoon and evening. Since my appetite wasn’t up for a full buffet, I opted for the holiday menu at Jackalope’s instead, where I shared a table and some conversation with a friendly couple from Madera who had driven up just for dinner. 

 

Later, I returned to the lobby for more live music, just a “tad more” bourbon (in case my doctor is reading this), and the last chapters of my book. As I sat there, surrounded by families laughing, kids running about with candy canes, and the hum of holiday cheer, I realized something: I had given myself an unexpected gift. What began as a way to avoid what might have been a lonely and boring Christmas, had turned into a memorable and heartwarming holiday that I truly enjoyed. 

 

If you’re considering a holiday retreat – whether it’s just you, your partner, or a whole family gathering – Tenaya at Yosemite is worth putting on your list. The staff delivers true hospitality and magical holiday ambiance in equal measure, creating an experience that feels intentional from the top down. Think Disney-style holiday spirit, only without the $800-per-night price tag at the Grand Californian, and without being surrounded by 30,000 of your “closest friends”. And of course, unlike Disneyland, the snow here is real. 

 

If you want to experience Tenaya at Christmas, you’ll want to plan ahead. Rooms, suites, cabins, and cottages sell out quickly. (A little secret: I booked mine, last minute, over Thanksgiving and lucked into a Black Friday deal that saved me about 30%.) 

 

For me, it was the perfect Christmas getaway – part relaxation, part celebration, and a reminder that sometimes the best gift you can give yourself is the chance to step away, breathe, and let the season wrap itself around you in ways you may not have even imagined.  

 

You can start planning your own holiday journey now by visiting visittenaya.com.