Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [386]
Local lumberman W. R. Spalding built this Colonial Revival home in 1901. Each of the three suites has a sitting room and private bathroom (one with a tub/shower combo, the others with showers only). The owners restored the entire home themselves, decorating it in the style of the early 1900s with Oriental rugs, antiques, and reproductions. Two suites have queen-size beds; the other has a double. We especially like the Spalding Suite, which has a four-post, colonial-style queen-size bed and a delightful sitting room with wicker furniture and lots of windows. Common areas include the library, which contains more than 1,500 books, and the music room, with a 1923 Steinway grand player piano. Breakfast is a major event here; the five-course meal includes hot entrees such as cheese blintzes, apple crepes, or omelets, and perhaps baked grapefruit, sausage or ham, or yogurt dishes. The inn is totally nonsmoking.
Where to Dine
INSIDE THE PARKS
In addition to the options that follow, every Wednesday through Sunday from mid-June to early September, "Dinner with a Ranger" (☎ 559/253-2199) takes place in the beautiful outdoor setting of Wolverton Meadow, just south of Lodgepole in Sequoia. It features an all-you-can-eat barbecue followed by an interpretive program. The cost is $18.95 for adults, $9.95 for children 12 and under. Buy tickets at the Wuksachi Lodge or Lodgepole Market. The pizzeria at Stony Creek Lodge, on Generals Highway between Grant Grove and Wuksachi (☎ 559/452-1081), serves lunch and dinner.
Cedar Grove Café
Cedar Grove, Kings Canyon National Park. ☎ 559/335-5500. Breakfast $4–$9; lunch and dinner $5–$15. AE, DISC, MC, V. Mid-June to early Sept daily 7am–2pm and 5–9pm; early Sept to mid-Oct Mon–Fri 8–10:30am, Sat–Sun 8am–2pm, daily 5–7pm. Closed mid-Oct to mid-June. AMERICAN.
The only dining option at Cedar Grove, this glorified snack bar offers a simple but adequate and affordable menu. Those staying at the lodge here for several days will quickly tire of the limited choices. The breakfast menu offers eggs, cereals, fruit, and pastries. Lunch and dinner include burgers and a few sandwiches, plus several meals such as fish and chips. The cafe has a pleasant outdoor balcony seating area that overlooks the river.
Grant Grove Restaurant
Grant Grove Village, Kings Canyon National Park. ☎ 559/335-5500. Breakfast and lunch $4–$10; dinner $7–$24. AE, DISC, MC, V. May–Aug daily 7am–9pm; Sept–Apr daily 7am–8pm. AMERICAN.
This pleasant cafe-style restaurant, located in the hub of activity in Kings Canyon National Park, is a good choice for a sit-down meal. It offers a simple but adequate menu, well-prepared food, and good service. Breakfast ranges from omelets and pancakes to cereal and fruit; at lunchtime, you'll find sandwiches, salads, and hot entrees. Complete dinners include our choice—a grilled New York strip steak topped with sautéed mushrooms and served with soup or salad, potato or rice, and the vegetable of the day. Also available at dinner are pasta, chicken cordon bleu, and tasty trout sautéed in white wine and butter and topped with roasted almonds.
Lodgepole Deli & Snack Bar
Lodgepole Market Center, Sequoia National Park. ☎ 559/253-2199. www.visitsequoia.com. Most items $3–$7. AE, MC, V. Daily 8am–8pm. Snack bar year-round, with shorter hours fall through spring; deli closed Nov–Apr. DELI/PIZZA.
At these counter-service fast-food restaurants, you'll find kids' favorites such as burgers, hot dogs, pizza, and the like in the snack bar, and less fun but healthier grown-up fare nearby at the deli, which specializes in made-to-order deli-style sandwiches, wraps, salads, and ice cream.
Wuksachi Dining Room
Wuksachi Lodge, Sequoia National Park. ☎ 559/565-4070, ext. 608. www.visit sequoia.com. Dinner reservations required. Sandwiches and salads $4–$9, dinner main courses $13–$25. AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 7–10am, 11:30am–2pm, and 5–10pm. AMERICAN.
The Wuksachi Dining Room is a delightful spot for a refined and relaxing meal. The upscale