Built in 1999, the Wuksachi Lodge (Hwy. 198 just west of Lodgepole, 866/786-3197, www.visitsequoia.com [1], $215–285, year-round) offers the most luxurious accommodations available inside Sequoia and Kings Canyon Parks [2]. With 102 rooms of various sizes, the Wuksachi Lodge offers ample luxury housing for tree-lovers who just can’t give up their creature comforts.
Guest rooms boast “woodsy-motel” decor, with colorful Native American print bedspreads and slightly more interesting Mission-style wooden furniture. Each room has a private bath, a TV, a phone, a coffee maker, ski racks, and daily maid service.
The Wuksachi’s superior rooms offer space and comfort, particularly for families who cannot imagine a vacation without digital entertainment readily available. An on-site restaurant (the best in the parks), a Native American thematic gift shop, and close access to the Lodgepole visitors complex round out the attractions of this popular lodge.
The shining new John Muir Lodge (Grant Grove Village, 866/522-6966, www.sequoia-kingscanyon.com [3], $150–200, year-round) brings together the concepts of a comfortable motel and a classic woodsy lodge. Expect big timber poles combining form and function in the huge common room. This space acts as a living room or lounge, with a fireplace, wireless Internet access, tables, sofas, and a number of board games.
Guest rooms are simply decorated in an alpine theme, complete with comfortable beds, clean bathrooms, and charming views out into the forest. Since you’re up at the edge of General Grant Village, you’ll find plenty of nearby food and services, including the Village restaurant, mini-mart, souvenir shop, and the Grant Grove visitors center. The lodge is convenient to hiking, and to the Generals Highway through the park.
Links:
[1] http://www.visitsequoia.com
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/california/yosemite-and-the-eastern-sierra/sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-parks
[3] http://www.sequoia-kingscanyon.com