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| Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau Newsletter |
February, 2014
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February, the month for lovers, brings wine, chocolate, fine dining and great weather to Madera County: California's Gateway to Yosemite. The celebration of the Yosemite Grant 150th Anniversary is also in full swing in our gateway communities, with activities, exhibits and features to engage all ages. Come join us!
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau |
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It's spring . . . in winter
Come enjoy the rare opportunity to experience spring/summer activities without the crowds. Activities normally not available in the middle of the winter months have reopened because of our mild weather: biking, horseback riding, hiking--even on trails normally closed at this time of year. It's a perfect time to visit.
It isn't the preferred circumstance that Yosemite's Badger Pass is closed due to lack of snow. But Badger's loss is your gain with the reopening of the Yosemite Valley stables and bike stands. Even the Four-Mile and Panorama Trails, normally closed in winter, have reopened to Glacier Point. Be prepared, though, for ice and snow on the upper ends of the trail. And be prepared to hike both directions. The road is still closed to vehicle traffic. Check current park conditions here.
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If It's February, It's Wine & Chocolate Weekend
Do something unique for Valentine's Day Enjoy an extraordinary wine-tasting experience on Wine & Chocolate Weekend.
The family wineries of the Madera Wine Trail will host this two-day wine-tasting event  on February 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Travel to ten wineries and taste a wide variety of award-winning wines, chocolate pairings, enjoy live music, gift shopping and indulge in gourmet food.
Read more to learn what activities each winery has planned.
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Find Love at Erna's This Valentine's Month
Erna's Elderberry House, Oakhurst's only five-star restaurant--and one of only fifty in the nation--looks forward to welcoming visitors and local residents a like to a series of festive Valentine-themed celebrations.
Valentine's Day Dinner - February 14
Each year Erna's looks forward to sharing the joy of exceptional food, fine wine and attentive service. It becomes truly magical  with the dining room decorated especiallfor additional y for Valentine's week. Candelight and beautiful harp melodies will touch the heart. Dinner details here.
Read here for more events at Erna's taking place during the month for lovers.
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Ducey's Observes Valentine's Day . . . or Not
The restaurants at Bass Lake offer a multitude of options for celebrating (or not celebrating) Valentine's Day.
At Ducey's on the Lake, Executive Chef Johnathan Frabotta presents a Romantic Valentine's Day Dinner on Friday, February 14 from 4 pm to 9pm, featuring the Sweetheart Special for $129 with a Steak and Lobster for two, served with steamed baby vegetables and your choice of appetizer, starter and a dessert. A Sunset Menu is also available. 
Afterward, join us for the Sweethearts Ball from 8 pm to 11 pm with D.J, dessert bar, photo booth and champagne. For prices and more information call (800) 350-746 or visit www.BassLake.com.
Don't feel much like Valentine's this year? Then think about the S.A.D. (Singles Awareness Day) Party on Saturday, February 15. It's not really sad, especially when you celebrate it at the Ducey's Bar & Grill! Come for the "Cupid is Stupid" Party with a D.J, drink specials and a lot of anti-Valentine's Day Decor!Enjoy FREE appetizers and bring your camera to take fun pictures in our photo booth! 9pm to 12am, $5 cover charge.
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Great News!
 Bring in a bottle of Idle Hour wine with you to Ducey's on the Lake to enjoy with your dinner-- and Ducey's will waive the corkage fee! Call Ducey's for a reservation today! 54432 Road 432, Bass Lake, CA 93604/559-642-3121, www.BassLake.com.
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Yosemite "A Gathering of Spirit" Burns Documentary Premiere!
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau and the historic Golden Chain Theatre in Oakhurst present  a premiere showing of the Ken Burns' documentary, Yosemite: A Gathering of Spirit, on President's Day Weekend, Sunday, February 16th from 4 to 7 pm.
The evening begins with a Cocktail Reception and photos with Abraham Lincoln. The Yosemite Conservancy will have the documentary for sale along with their commemorative 150th Anniversary products.
The 30-minute Ken Burns documentary Yosemite: A Gathering of Spirit will be introduced at 5 pm followed by a speech by Abraham Lincoln and a mini Melodrama entitled The Shagwood Secret or...Double Deal at the Dirty Dog Saloon, a tale about Snake and his devious followers. The audience is encouraged to "Boo" for the Villain and "Cheer" for the Hero and "Sigh" for the Heroine.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 4 to 12 years. $1 from every ticket sold will go to the Yosemite Conservancy. Go to Ken Burns' Premiere for more information.
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Vulture's View B & B Celebrates Yosemite's 150th with Special Guest Giveaway
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Judy Alexander of Yosemite's Vulture View Bed & Breakfast with Ansel Adams Giveaway
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Oakhurst bed and breakfast Yosemite's Vulture View has jumped on the YosemiteGrant 150th Anniversary bandwagon with a special giveaway that honors the occasion as well as a true Yosemite icon: Ansel Adams - Ansel Adams Images 1923-1974 book, Judy Alexander, owner of Vulture's View, has purchased a signed copy of but she's not going to keep it for herself. Stay at Vulture's View in 2014, and you have a chance to win the book for your own coffee table. Read more.
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2014 Yosemite Sierra Visitors Guide Available
The 2014 edition of the award-winning Yosemite Sierra Visitors Guide is now available for consumers, travel professionals, hotels and businesses. As the single-most valuable tool for visitors to California's Gateway to Yosemite, the fifty-page booklet is an indispensable part of every travel planner's toolkit.
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Lock in 2013 Moonlight Special Price Now!
(Only a Few Days Left!)
Change is inevitable, but sometimes it can be stalled for just a bit.
The Moonlight Special at Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad has long  been a bargain at $49 per adult. Come February 1 it remains a steal of a deal, but the price goes up to $55 for adults. Kids 3 to 12 continue to be half the adult price.
If you book your 2014 reservation before February 1, you can lock in the 2013 pricing for this special event. Call 559-683-7273 or go online to purchase.
The Moonlight Special, a three-hour experience, kicks off with a New York steak barbecue dinner accompanied by entertainment, followed by a train ride and campfire sing-a-long. For those who haven't experienced a train ride under the stars, it's a must-do.
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Yosemite "Rocks" at Timberline & Gallery Yosemite
The southern gateway, known as California's Gateway to Yosemite, honors the Yosemite Grant 150th Anniversary with many local events, including Yosemite "Rocks" - an Artistic Learning Series, which is among the first to kick off 2014.
Gallery Yosemite and Timberline Gallery in Oakhurst host this series of free events on the 2nd Saturday of each month (with special dates in April) from 2 pm to 4 pm thru September.
On February 8 the galleries present a children's event with drawing, beading and weaving.
Check out the complete list here. There's something for every age and every interest.
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Coming February 5th! The Lure & Lore of 19th Century Yosemite
The Lure and Lore of Yosemite is the most comprehensive exhibition to date of art, literature and ephemera relating to the history of the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Materials on display range from Lafayette Bunnell's account of the 'discovery' of the Valley, in 1851, to John Muir's famous Century Magazine articles (published in 1890) that led to the creation of Yosemite National Park.
The exhibit will be at the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau in Oakhurst throughout 2014. Read more. For further information, contact Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau at www.yosemitethisyear.com or call 559/683-4636 for further information.
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Recipe Corner
A Recipe for Love from Erna's
Elderberry House
Make Valentine's Day last all year long with a special cake dessert created by Erna's Elderberry House. Read here for all you need to know to recreate this special dessert for yourself.
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Fishing in February? YES!!!
According to Tommy Tuso at Bass Lake Water Sports, fishing has been off-the- hook good. from a boat or from shore. Rainbow trout have been the predominant catch with some kokanee mixed in. Night crawlers and power bait have been working well from shore, while trolling dodgers and flashers with night crawlers or corn are effective from a boat. Weather has been great for fishing and anytime has shown results, especially from the dock at Bass Lake Watersports (always free with a fishing license), but get there early space is limited!
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What's Happening on the Majestic Mountain Loop?
There's always something exciting going on in the three parks that make up the Majestic Mountain Loop: Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. To keep up with MML activities, watch for the quarterly newsletter to appear in your mailbox. Sign up here if you don't already receive it.
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Yosemite 150th Anniversary Schedule
Celebrate the Yosemite Grant 150th Anniversary by participating in the many scheduled events commemorating this significant time in our National Parks' history.
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February Travel Incentives
Warm Up with Your Special Someone at Yosemite 
Winter at Tenaya Lodge brings with it an unmistakable serenity - from the crush of the snow beneath your feet to the majestic white granite cliffs of Yosemite Valley. And it's against this magical backdrop that offers guests a fresh variety of outdoor exploration - from skiing at Badger Pass Ski Area to guided snowshoe walks and ice-skating at Tenaya Lodge.
Then when the sun goes down, the Four Diamond comforts of Tenaya Lodge give rise to a host of romantic indoor possibilities, like a relaxing treatment at Ascent Spa, followed by a cozy dinner at the Sierra Restaurant beside a glowing fire. Now is the time to share all the splendor of winter with your special someone.
TENAYA LODGE WINTER VIP OFFER
Deluxe Room for Two with Breakfast for $139 per Night
Weekends Just $50 More
When booking, refer to Promotional Code WINTERVIP
Yosemite Southgate Hotel Offers Valentines Dinner Special at Crabcakes Restaurant - Located in Oakhurst, CA just minutes from the south gate to Yosemite National Park and Bass Lake, Crab Cakes Restaurant specializes in fresh seafood, steak, chicken, pasta and features an award winning children's menu and homemade specialty desserts from Sweet Dreams Cakery. Crab Cakes offers full bar service from Roman's Bar featuring local micro-brewed beers and wines. Enjoy dining in the nautically-themed restaurant or the cozy intimate bar. Crab Cakes Restaurant is a short drive from Fresno, Mariposa and Merced, CA and is less than a minutes' drive from Yosemite Southgate Hotel. Yosemite Southgate Hotel guests who book the "Valentines Special" will enjoy a complimentary bottle of house wine OR two complimentary desserts with the purchase of two dinner entrees on Valentine's Day. Guests must bring in their voucher from Yosemite Southgate Hotel to receive this promotion. Treat your Sweetheart to the best and make your reservations as soon as possible before we sell out. Included: Complimentary bottle of house wine OR two complimentary desserts with the purchase of two dinner entrees on Valentine's Day. Special Conditions: Valid only on Valentine's Day. Voucher must be picked up by hotel guest at Yosemite Southgate Hotel. Must call restaurant for reservations.
Contact Details: (559) 641-7667
Stay & Play Package at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino $99 plus tax now through March 31, 2014 Sunday - Thursday. PACKAGE INCLUDES:
· $40 in eCASH
· One-night stay
· Fitness Center
· FREE WIFI
· Indoor/Outdoor Heated Pool
For reservations, information and to view the terms and conditions of offer, call 1.866.7.WIN.WIN (946.946) or visit www.chukchansigold.com.
Romantic Retreat at Narrow Gauge Inn
 The Narrow Gauge Inn in Fish Camp presents a two-night package, which includes accommodations for two in a queen room, champagne & chocolate -covered strawberries or a seasonal fruit basket and rose petals on the bed.
Wake up each morning to a warm breakfast of fresh made-to-order Belgian waffles, rosemary potatoes, sausage and an array of other delectable treats.
Midweek (Sun-Thurs) $199 Weekend (Fri/Sat) $269. Subject to availability. Rates subject to change during holiday periods. Call 559-683-7720 or visit www.narrowgaugeinn.com.
The Redwoods in Yosemite is for Lovers this February!
*Stay anytime in the month of February 2014 and receive 20% off of two nights OR your third night free PLUS a bottle of champagne or sparkling cider, two commemorative Redwoods champagne glasses and a box of chocolates!
Call 888-224-0785 and ask about our Sweetheart Special to receive this special offer at The Redwoods in Yosemite! *Offer is not valid on existing reservations or with any other discount.
Century 21 Ditton Vacation Rentals in Bass Lake offers "rent 3 nights, get the 4th night free" or take 20 percent off a full week's rental on applicable properties.
Come enjoy th e fireplace and the snow-covered hills in beautiful Bass Lake. We have year round rentals ranging from cute and cozy to large and luxurious. Call our office today to take advantage of our midweek rentals and discounts. For more information click here or call (866) 914-3888 toll-free.
Create Your Own Photo Safari
Yosemite Postcards with Photo Safari as Your Guide  Professional photographer Pat Althizer knows the best times and the best places to help you get those postcard-quality photographs during your time in Yosemite. Take advantage of the season and book your today. Contact Pat at 559/760-6124, www.photosafariyosemite.com.
Three for the price of two at Yosemite's Enchanted Forest 
Stay at Yosemite's Enchanted Forest for two nights and receive the third night absolutely when you stay November through April. Excludes Holidays. Super Savings Spectacular!  Book now with Yosemite West Reservations at 559/642-2211 (weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or YosemiteWestReservations.com 24/7 and SAVE BIG! Super savings are available in February, and March 2014 during non-holiday time periods, with even greater savings for Sunday-Thursday nights. It's a great park location between Yosemite Valley and Wawona. Apple Blossom Inn offers picnic package Enjoy the beauty and natural splendors of Yosemite National Park for a two-night stay at the award-winning Apple Blossom Inn. Ask for the picnic package to enjoy Yosemite National Park, luxurious accommodations and a delicious picnic lunch for a great price. |
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