Think the only way to keep kids happy on vacation is a bucket full of sunshine coupled with beaches and rollercoasters? Let me introduce you to Yosemite National Park and the Ahwahnee Lodge. I guarantee your kids won't miss the cotton candy.

Ahwahnee in the FallYosemite Valley, the showstopper of Yosemite National Park, but the Ahwahnee Hotel is the jewel in the crown. In the early 1920s, Park Service Director, Stephen Mather realized that the park needed a spectacular hotel if they wanted to attract the "In Vogue" travelers of the time.

The site for the hotel was chosen in the village of the native Miwoks because of its stunning views of Half Dom, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point. For families that prefer to pair their outdoor adventures with luxurious accommodations, the Ahwahnee offers the best of both worlds.

If you're considering a trip to Yosemite, summer offers ideal temperatures, more activities and services and the opening of all campgrounds and trails.

But it also might be the most overrun season, with peak-season traffic jams, road rage and campgrounds overrun with litter, noise and far too many people looking for their own piece of nature. Even though you'll find wonder in every corner of Yosemite this summer, don't limit yourself. Consider an off-season visit (before Memorial Day in May or after Labor Day in September).

Not into Ahwahnee type lodging while you're exploring nature? Think outside the park and check out other options in the High Sierras. Test your survival skills in one of the nearby State parks or choose an RV park that's closer to civilization and offers amenities like toilets and running water.

You can always visit Ahwahnee for Sunday Brunch. The food is wonderful, the views breathtaking and the dinning room a study of understated elegance.

Need more info? Check out these resources:

• Yosemite National Park
• California Department of Parks and Recreation
• National Parks Service Information Center

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