We like visiting Yosemite at least twice a year and a fun and economical way for us to do that, when we're not camping is to stay, in Oakhurst. Its about a half hour drive from the southern gate, so it pretty conveinient.
We always set up headquarters ath the Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn. Its located in a tree filled park like setting. We like to get a room up near the indoor pool, away from the highway, where its very quiet. The rooms are nice and usually have a small refrigerator and microwave. Prices are very reasonable for the resort like setting. We've always managed to stay for 80.00 or less for a double queen room. If you come on off days you can sometimes get a two room family unit for the same price.
Since we always bring my daughter and one of her friends we need to stay somewhere that has activities to occupy them. Obviously the pool is the biggest attraction, its indoor and the temperature is always comfortable and its open late. When that runs out there is a movie theater and bowling alley nearby.
During winter we have driven up to Badger Pass in Yosemite where we can ski and if we're there to just experience the snow that's nearby too.
Eating options are abundant too. The hotel restaurant was offering a 20% discount for breakfast which was nice. This restaurant is run by the hotel and is really quite good. Very fresh and there's a nice variety.
For dinner our favorite place to eat is El Cid, a Mexican restaurant which offers excellent value for the money. A two item combo meal is $10.95. If you order ala carte it really gets cheap. I usually have three tacos, which are $2.00 ea. Really filling and very tasty.
Personally, I love their tacos, expecially the chicken taco. They are made the way I grew up eating tacos and may not be for everyone, the corn tortillas are fried semi-hard. Not a crunchy shell or just a warmed up tortilla. Very tasty and addictive. Their guacamole is fresh and as is their salsa. Chips are definitely homemade and have always been warm and fresh. The place is usually packed, so its best to come early or late.
BTW best setting is on the closed in deck overlooking the Foothills, especially nice at sunset.
There was a great, but overlooked Japanese restaurant, that we used to go to but they recently changed hands, so we're going to have to go their when we're in a more adventureous mood.
UPDATE: On the way out of town, we had four hungry people with entirely different ideas of what we should eat. What to do? At times like these a buffet comes to mind, but I'm not big on buffets, but I was outvoted as there was a buffet at the Chukchansi casino, right on our way. My expectations weren't high, but the price was right 8.99 each. Not a huge buffet but a lot of variety. American classics, Mexican, Italian, Chinese and a Mongolian Barbeque. First thing I do is cruise the various cuisines and give them a visual inspection. Right away I was totally impressed with the Chinese section. In most buffets, this is the most pathetic looking part of the buffet. Wow, the selections, looked great, extremely fresh and very appetizing, and they were, high marks here. In the Mexican it was the usual build your own taco, burrito, or nachos, fancy Taco Bell, except for two standout items, the cheese Enchiladas and the tamales. The enchiladas weren't oversauced but were light and flavorful in an authentic sort of way. The Tamales, were mini versions of the real corn husk type of tamale, TASTY. I went back for seconds on both these items. And that's saying something, because my family makes some of the best of both these items and I'm not prone to putting up with second rate quality. In the Italian there was the usual, not bad but not haute cuisine. The ravioli were nice, laid out plain and nicely cooked and fresh, leaving you the option sauce as desired.
The rest of the selections looked nice, fresh turkey breast and a bunch of comfort food. Sure to please someone in your party. So I won't write this place off and if I'm in a similar situation when we return to Oakhurst we'll probably make another visit.
http://www.elcidmexicancuisine.com/
Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn
