California Official Visitor's Guide 2025 - 106

FROM TOP: COURTESY WILDHAVEN YOSEMITE; COURTESY VULCANIA
high sierra
Wildhaven Yosemite, Mariposa
safari-style tents, en suite
bathrooms, and private
decks, and Outbound
Yosemite, which will
feature 135 cabins, a bar
and restaurant, and a
pool near the southern
entrance of the park.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Yosemite visitors have
multiple new lodging
choices in gateway
towns near the park.
Wildhaven's 36-acre
site in Mariposa has
12 studio and onebedroom
cabins and
30 glamping tents,
plus gorgeous sunset
views of the undulating
foothills. Firefall Ranch,
set on 300 acres east
of Groveland, offers
one- and two-bedroom
cottages and threebedroom
villas, plus a
mountain lodge-style
restaurant. Also slated
to open in Groveland
in 2025: Under Canvas,
a glamping spot with
RESTAURANTS
In South Lake Tahoe,
Maggie's serves
contemporary cuisine in
an indoor-outdoor space
on the third floor of the
Desolation Hotel. The
rustic-chic dining room
has a vaulted ceiling,
backlit wine wall, and
a Jeffrey pine growing
through the deck. Show
up for dinner or brunch,
and be sure to try the
fried stuffed olives. In
Kings Beach, the upscale
Japanese-inspired Smoke
Door Lake Tahoe Saryo
uses wildfire cooking
methods that highlight
seasonal ingredients from
Japan and the Tahoe
region. Try the six- or
10-course tasting menu
to sample things such
as golden osetra caviar,
a sophisticated take on
avocado toast, and handpicked
fish from the
Toyosu market in Tokyo.
Celebrity chefs Bryan
and Michael Voltaggio,
brothers and Top Chef
stars, have opened
Vulcania in Mammoth
Lakes. Located near the
gondola in The Village at
Mammoth, the modern
Italian menu focuses on
wood-fired pizzas and
homemade pastas. In the
winter, nab a spot in a
patio " igloo " and you can
dine outside in
your ski clothes.
REVAMPED,
RENOVATED
Beautiful Caples
Lake, near
Kirkwood Ski
Area on Highway
88, is known
for outstanding
trout fishing
and Caples Lake
Resort, a lakefront
gathering place
that has welcomed
visitors since the
1940s. In the last
two years, new owners
Mike and Gwen Niccoli
completely renovated the
resort's eight cabins, six
lodge rooms, and lakeview
restaurant. Reserve
a table for New York
steak or a charcuterie
board, then drink up
the lake-and-mountain
views. Yosemite National
Park has completed $32
million in renovations
to make the Yosemite
Valley more visitorfriendly
than ever. After
a five-year closure, the
Bridalveil Fall Trail
is open with new,
elevated boardwalks,
upgraded restrooms,
and an enlarged viewing
platform for the 620foot
waterfall. Two new
information centers also
opened in 2024: The
Yosemite Valley Welcome
Center, where visitors
can learn about trails
and activities, chat with
rangers, and purchase
trail guidebooks; and the
Yosemite Exploration
Center featuring science
and history exhibits.
Voltaggio brothers
at Vulcania
106 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
Noteworthy
New
ew &
http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
California Official Visitor's Guide 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Official Visitor's Guide 2025
