On August 20, 2020 we received a mandatory evacuation notice for Scotts Valley, CA due to a raging…read moreforest fire close to our home. We worked our way east and spent two nights at the Tenaya Lodge, just outside the South entrance to Yosemite National Park. This is supposedly a very up-scale hotel and the facilities were very nice, but not worth the several hundred dollars per night that we paid. The restaurant food was just so-so. Access to the Park is severely limited due to the virus. An advanced reservation is required to enter, but we found it to be impossible to get one. We even drove to the Park entrance and pleaded with the staff (claiming we were forced evacuees) but to no avail. To be so close and not be allowed in was extremely disappointing. I went to Travelocity to book subsequent nights and found the River Rock Inn in Mariposa, CA. This historic inn is Mariposa's oldest motel and was constructed in 1941. It is about a block off the main road (hiway 140) and is quiet and peaceful. We did not know when we would be allowed back to our home, so our reservation had to be open ended. I talked to Stephanie Erikson, the owner, about not specifying a check out day and she was very accommodating. Our room, actually a two-room suite, was great; very clean with comfortable beds. Free Wi-Fi that was very reliable, Direct TV, refrigerator, and a wall mounted air conditioner that was quiet - unlike the AC unit in the Tenaya Lodge. The housekeeping was excellent and our hosts, Stephanie and Keith made us feel very welcome. Their customer service was excellent also. We liked it much better than the Tenaya Lodge. There are several good restaurants in town so we ate well! We discovered a great way to get to Yosemite: a bus service called YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transit System) runs frequently from Merced to the Yosemite Visitors Center. There are three stops in Mariposa - one only 80 yards from our room. It takes about 90 minutes from Mariposa to Yosemite Valley. AND, the best part is that no Park reservation is required. Just get on the bus, pay the driver, and you are delivered to the Visitor's Center. Since the park shuttle bus is not running now, you can rent bikes at the Center (with a smart phone app) or hike around the Park. YARTS told me their busses have room for only one bike. Finding the River Rock Inn was the best part of the evacuation. After 5 nights there, we were allowed back to our home. Actually, the fire never got closer than 5 miles from our house. We were very lucky and grateful.

stayed there 2 days Aug this year. Room had cobwebs & dust everywhere. Broken tiles on floor. Major…read moretripping hazard, No Fire detector. Violation of State law. Furniture in need of repair. Manager never on site . Keys in door when we got there. Housekeeper said usually doesn't use this room

Papillon Cellars was a welcoming, comfortable accommodation for our trip to Yosemite National Park…read more The hosts were friendly, helpful and all around wonderful. I highly recommend!

What a fantastic location! Beautiful loft, very clean, very nice design, very complete and very…read morekind and helpful owners. Great terrace with barbecue, firepit overlooking the vineyard and sunset in the evening. Good location as a basis to visit Yosemite, also Mariposa is a nice village. I can recommend this to anyone, and you will not regret to visit this. Absolutely worth the full 5 stars! Karel & Karen May 2024 the Netherlands

Great experience. Our host family was friendly and helpful. The accommodations were warm and…read morefriendly - our room was cozy with every attention to detail. The main dining/living room was hard to leave. I stayed up there every night ready and just enjoying the environment. The breakfasts were wonderful and unique. Very good. Sherilee's advice and insight into Yosemite made our 1 1/2 day visit very productive. We would highly recommend the Nature's Inn B&B! David and Denise Hamilton

The DREAM VACATION nest near Yosemite Park. This lovely B&B was a total discovery and we will…read moredefinitely go back as soon as we get vacation time from work!!! Beautifully located and super host Sherlee has a generous soul that guides you with trips for trails, places to visit and it is amazing what her family is doing in the region! The breakfast in the patio is unforgettable, and truly every detail of the cottage -the films and books available of the evening entertainment as well as table games and the fire place- is perfect!!! Every detail here speaks of the love and care they put to build and run it, and I guarantee the same love and care they will give you for your holidays, gifting you the best time in nature. We spent 4days with family and small dog and we didn't wanna leave! Cottages are Fully equipped, mattresses super comfy and the tables outside make even the dinners home very special. Their garden is rich in colors and even the herbs section is magical. Nice pool and jacuzzi for evening relaxation. Get there and you will live an unforgettable experience. Bravissimi!!!!

What an amazing place, the house the property, just the perfect package, the house felt so much…read morelike home we never wanted to leave, the property itself gave us plenty of opportunity to laugh and play, the owners were johnny on and the spot when a storm took out or electricity with a generator​, even though mother nature tried to rain on our parade we still had a wonderful time, thank you so much for allowing us to experience your wonderful sanctuary, it definitely lived up to its name

Great place to stay when visiting Yosemite. Jennifer and Luis made us feel at home. We were treated…read morespectacularly.. The b&b is a special place to relax after sweating all day in the park. Even if you don't go to the park this is a great place to unwind. Our daughter got stick during this trip and she was very kind to help and comfort her. I really can't say enough good things. Can't wait to come back.

My husband & I are in our 30s & we had THE best stay at this B&B (our first experience in an actual…read morebed & breakfast). We were able to hike in Yosemite using the YARTS bus system ($30 round trip) & came home to a freshly made bed & homemade cookies every night after hiking all day. Liz made us a delicious breakfast at 8:30am (although she did ask if we wanted it earlier) & we caught the YART into the park at 9:15- hiking by 10am. Our hosts were fantastic, the room (top floor) was HUGE & definitely cool- even on a 95 degree day (those other reviews are ridiculous- Liz had no issues keeping us comfortable- in both AC use & shade for breakfast). On the last day of our trip the YART busses didn't show up for our trip back & Ron rescued us from the park late at night (we were literally stranded in Yosemite). I will say If you are in your 20s, looking to party this isn't the place for you. If you are a recluse not wanting to socialize, this isn't the place for you. But If you have 4 kids & plan on leaving them at home- this is totally worth it. In every aspect. My husband & I played scrabble at night with white claws & listened to the river... we slept in... someone else cooked for us...we hiked all day & came home to a cozy bed & friendly faces. Ron & Liz are definitely "chatty" as some have mentioned in other reviews, but you're staying in their home- so we felt it was all apart of the B&B adventure/experience. We will 100% stay here again and recommend it to all of our friends.

A Disappointing Stay: Misleading Claims and Little Regard for Guest Comfort…read more We paid $350 per night for three nights at this property, and unfortunately it was not worth the cost. In hindsight, we wish we had given more weight to the one star reviews before booking. We were also struck by the pattern in the owners' responses to negative reviews: rather than acknowledging the feedback, they tend to respond defensively toward the reviewer instead of addressing the underlying issues. **Dietary Accommodations** One of our party has celiac disease and cannot eat wheat. We informed the owners of this by email in advance and again upon arrival. No accommodations were made; instead, we were told about a friend of theirs who also has celiac disease. This turned out to be moot in any case, since breakfast was not served until after 8:30 a.m., too late for guests heading out early to hike. Guests leaving before then were offered only one cereal option, presented in an unlabeled plastic container with no way to confirm it was gluten free. Given that breakfast was included in the room rate, we did not feel we received what we paid for. **Room Temperature** Upon check in, we were told that California law requires thermostats to be kept at a minimum of 78 degrees. Our second floor, southwest facing room was extremely uncomfortable in 105 degree outside heat, and we were advised to leave the door open and use a fan, which did not resolve the issue. We researched this claim afterward and found no such mandate for private residences or businesses. California's Flex Alert program, which recommends 78 degrees during grid strain, is voluntary and time limited, not a legal requirement. When we asked the following day whether the temperature could be adjusted at night, the owners told us they were comfortable at that setting and suggested we take a cold shower before bed. As paying guests at a premium rate, we expected a reasonably comfortable room regardless of the property's utility costs. **Overall Impression** We have traveled extensively, including all 50 U.S. states and destinations across Europe, South and Central America, and Africa, and this was an unusual experience. Based on what we were told about the thermostat policy and our overall treatment as guests, we would encourage prospective visitors to read the critical reviews carefully and to weigh the owners' responses to them accordingly.

First of all these people are genuinely nice folks! Clay & Joy really know what they are doing and…read moretruly made our 3 night stay incredibly relaxing! There is a lot of wildlife (deer, birds, turkeys and bats at night) on the surrounding grounds that are made to feel welcomed and provide such enjoyable entertainment it was a must to sit on the back deck each night. Our room was clean and kept nice and cool for us as we visited in the month of July when it was in the mid 80-90's. After a day of exploring Yosemite that was a comforting touch. Breakfast was outstanding with everything homemade and served so nicely by the bay window in the kitchen. Trays of bird seed on the deck beckoned woodpeckers to finches. Many hummingbirds were also seen daily. Needless to say we really enjoyed our time here and will come again and recommend staying here to all who visit the area.

Had the pleasure of spending several days at Clay and Joy Blacks wonderful bed and breakfast. We…read morestayed in The Sierra Room and found the room both comfortable and private. All the rooms have well equipped bathrooms and private outside doors. The room was very comfortable and included a coffee maker with coffee, a hot pot with teas/hot chocolate, bottled waters, a small refrigerator, Wi-Fi, and satellite TV. Oh, and a pool to cool off in. Bonus if you are traveling with children. The grounds are well taken care of and I found it to be a great setting to sit with my morning cup of coffee and read a good book while awaiting our lovely 9am full American style breakfast, prepared by Joy. Served on fine china. If you're planning on visiting Yosemite, as several other guests were doing, it's only about a 40 minute drive to the entrance of the park. I imagine after spending the day seeing the sights at this beautiful yet tourist packed park, coming back to Yosemite Bed and Breakfast, would be a very welcoming place to chill. There is a barbecue to grill up dinner, or you can drive back to town (Mariposa), about 10 minutes, and have dinner at several restaurants. We like the pizza at The Pizza Factory. Maybe pick one up on you're way back from the park. Clay and Joy, themselves, have frequented many bed and breakfasts in their travels and have taken the best from their experiences and turned it to Yosemite Bed and Breakfast. As I said to Clay as we were reluctantly heading back to the SF Bay Area, I wouldn't change a thing.

HUGE SHOUT OUT!!! Thank you so much for housing my nephew and his wife during the Oak fire. May God…read morebless you with health, happiness and good fortune!

We had a wonderful, positive experience at the Restful Nest B&B. At the heart of our enjoyment and…read morepleasurable time were our hosts, Lois and Jon. They were accommodating and caring people. They provided our dietary preferences and were helpful in planning and suggesting ideas on our trip to Yosemite. Lois was passionate in her cooking and offered a variety of baked and cooked foods every morning. Lois and Jon are exceptional with their hospitality and passion in making sure their guests have a great experience on their trip. For most 5-star locations they are most credited for their accommodations. With a Restful Nest B&B, not only are the accommodations great... they are best remembered for their heart! - Debbie and Peter

The Black Oak Bed and Breakfast is relaxing, beautiful and the most serene getaway. The owners John…read moreand Kathy are the epitome of hospitality. They are such generous and special people. They have opened up their home to travelers and do an incredible job at making you feel welcome! I would highly suggest stay here if you are going to Yosemite. John makes breakfast every morning and it is delicious! We are so pleased and we can't wait to come back! Thank you so much for hosting us! P.s. their dogs are the cutest

Loved Black Oak! One of the finest and most beautiful places Michele and I have ever stayed, during…read moreour travel visits. The atmosphere is incredibly charming, and the hospitality is a bit on the European side, which is of-course wonderful. The breakfast was divine...he does know his way around he kitchen, chef style at that. John and Kathy are a lovely couple, and we were delighted to spend our time in their welcoming home, while on our Yosemite trip. We are both looking forward to our return visit.

Delicious and beautiful craft cocktails at The Cellar Bar. Steak frites are absolutely delicious…read more Sit outside on the patio when it's nice or stay comfy inside---get there early to get a seat if you want the bar. They are popular for a reason.

Where to begin? I have been enjoying the restaurant associated with this hotel for many years now…read moreon my visits to the area which is a treasure near Yosemite. The town of Oakhurst is my favorite as it offers great amenities that are the closest to the best entrance to Yosemite in my opinion. Lets start with the food. This is one of the best culinary experiences I have had and it is consistently good. The three course or five course dining service is stellar. These chefs are some of the best in the world and Ive been all over the world. The leadership of Erica is not to be surpassed. She has an incredible calm spirit with a smiling happy crew that provides top notch service with warmth and class. The bartender Jordan is a delight with his great smile and kind eyes. The food experience made me feel like I was being nourished from the inside out not just with nutrition but with love and flavor that was new and revitalizing. This was my first stay at the Chateau Sureau. Oh my heart. I feel that I was healed and restored from a level of stress I dont think I realized I was carrying from our busy crazy noisy world at home. The property is exquisite with old world charm and the perfect patina of age that makes you feel you are in the old country of Paris or Austria or England. The landscape is stunning and it was raining so the fireplaces were roaring and the pines were glistening with silver drops backlit by an incredible sunset. The breakfast service is top notch and the staff is incredibly attentive. You know its good when you know each others names. Thanks to Lorenzo, Sienna, Logan, Jissel and Lori for incredible Chalet guest service. Then, there is the spa. I just had to go since I was feeling like my life was coming back to my ownership again. The Spa is gorgeous. The spa. director Way has been on this property for 20 years. I had the best facial and conversation with her. What a treasure she is. Kim was my massage therapist and she is one of the best I have ever had and my son at home is a therapist as well so I feel qualified to say so. I got to spend my time in the couples massage room which has stunning views, a balcony that looks out from the hot bubbling soaking tub that you get to use after your massage. I had a choice of oils to add and we went with elderberry which is incredible for soft skin. Its absolutely wonderful. The small scale in size lent itself to making connections with other guests that were fantastic and I made friends here while staying that will last! I will be back everytime I am in town. I was here on a rainy weeks end and it added to the magic. I can imagine what it is like in spring when the gorgeous grounds are covered in flowers blooming. I cant wait to see it again then or even next month for the holidays! Some may say there is some aging to the rooms but I say its perfect and if you have traveled to the Old Country in Europe this is part of the actual beauty and experience. Relish it!!