Hotel at a Glance: The Miners Inn

California’s Highway 140 provides year-round access to Yosemite National Park, letting you see pines and craggy peaks bathed in fall’s sunlight or covered in winter’s snow. The Miners Inn is located right off of the highway; from there, you can reach the park in about 45 minutes by car.

• Where you’ll stay: Guest rooms are clean and comfortable.
• Fuel up for adventure with a free continental breakfast.
• Pack a picnic lunch with wine and gourmet snacks from the gift shop, or grab a boxed lunch at the local Jantz Bakery.
• On-site dining: The Miners Roadhouse serves a hearty American breakfast until 4 p.m., plus lunch and dinner with vegetarian and kid-friendly options.
• Sing your heart out or work your brain during Wednesday and Saturday karaoke or trivia nights.

Yosemite National Park, California: Giant Sequoia Trees and Waterfalls

Yosemite National Park is a place of superlatives: it’s home to one of the world’s tallest waterfalls, the largest piece of exposed granite in the world (climb to the top on a Half Dome hike), and a grove of ancient sequoia trees that are among the largest living beings on the planet. So it’s no wonder why this swath of wilderness in central California welcomes nearly four million visitors each year.

Crowds at Yosemite are much smaller in winter, so visitors can typically experience the park’s natural wonders at an unhurried pace. In cold weather, one trek worth making is the 1.2-mile Bridalveil Fall hike, which leads right up to the roaring cascade. It can be icy during winter, but it’s a trip that’s both easy and rewarding.