The Ahwahnee

This landmark hotel has been closed for the past few months while undergoing a renovation for seismic stability, a kitchen overhaul and an update to its air-conditioning and heating system. Built in the 1920s on the site of a former Miwok village, with views of Half Dome, Glacier Point and Yosemite Falls, The Ahwahnee was designed for the affluent traveler, with luxurious Persian rugs, grand furniture, imposing beams and vast common areas with floor-to-ceiling windows and fireplaces tall enough to stand inside. It’s now on the National Register of Historic Places, and although it has been remodeled numerous times over the years, it still feels period-appropriate and lavish. Today’s decor leans more toward Native American chic, but several of the original rugs adorn the walls, and it’s no stretch to imagine guests dressed in 1930spopular butterfly sleeves and boleros. Reserve one of the rooms or suites in the main hotel or a cottage on the property. The majestic dining room was not yet open at press time; when you can (maybe as soon as July), go for dinner. It’s simply gorgeous.