Our Sierra Region press trip included postcard views and exploration in Sequoia National Park and a lovely stay at Wuksachi Lodge.  Continuing on what some travelers to the area would enjoy as the Majestic Mountain Loop, we ventured to Kings Canyon National park headed to see the third largest tree (by volume) the General Grant.  Just before hiking through Grant Grove, we checked into John Muir Lodge, a newly renovated year-round stone and timber retreat surrounded by picturesque forests and meadows.

The lobby catches your eye with leather and wood furniture and a grand stone fireplace that immediately warms you.  Here you can read, work, play games, or enjoy a fireside history/storytelling presentation as we did with cocoa and s’mores!  Last year the 36-room received a renovation that included fresh furniture, carpeting, and bedding along with materials sustainably sourced from reclaimed wood and “green” textiles that adhere with their GreenPath philosophy.  New, thicker walls were updated for a more peaceful sleep and I can attest that we did not hear not a peep.

Our room was spacious and comfortable with plenty of seating at the dining table or sofa sleeper.  Wi-fi is best and available in the lobby and pretty iffy in the rooms, signals are minimal, but sometimes that’s best when you’re in the mountains on vacation!  Amenities like new flat-screens do provide comforts of home by way of DirecTV connection as well as delicious Keurig coffee and tea.

Take a stroll just down the parking lot to Grant Grove Village to the Grant Grove Restaurant for American style breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Our group dinner included Caprese bites that are so simple and delicious, they’ve become an easy appetizer for parties at home!  Just skewer a cherry tomato, mozzarella ball, and basil leaf and dip it into balsamic vinegar, and ouila!The Ribeye is incredible with an herby sawmill butter on top over mashed potatoes and veggies.  I ordered the Chicken Marsala over rice pilaf and the cutlets were melt in your mouth delicious.  Each portion was large and easily shared though we topped off both plates without pause.  I’m not sure how we had anymore room, but we both ordered cheesecake with berries and it was creamy with a perfect blend of sweet and tangy coulis.

In the morning, coffee was piping hot and my husband and I shared the Breakfast Taco with pork sausage, eggs, and potatoes served with pico de gallo and a cilantro crema.  I’m glad we shared, it’s a lot and considering we ate a huge dinner as well.

The Grant Grove Cabins are available in both timber and tent cabin styles (though the tent cabins do not have heating or electricity). The cabins and John Muir Lodge are all within walking distance of the Grant Grove and world-famous General Grant Tree.  Built in 1910, the oldest structure still standing in Grant Grove Village is Cabin #9, the Honeymoon Cabin..

For information on Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks, lodging, and more, visit VisitSequoia.com.

Our stay was hosted as part of a media trip, though all our opinions are 100% our own.