Deciding where to stay in and around Yosemite National Park is no easy choice. From glamping tents to historic lodges, there are a number of great properties to choose from. Selecting the one that’s best for you comes down to knowing the type of traveler you are and the getaway you desire. If you’re a fan of the bed and breakfast experience, Blackberry Inn should be on your radar.
Accommodations
Owned and operated by an outgoing wife and husband team, Blackberry Inn is an adults-only property that features 10 rooms equally split between two buildings painted a sunny shade of yellow. Spread across 36 acres, the inn’s country setting just off of Highway 120, combined with the half-dozen Arabian horses that graze on its stretches of vibrant green grass, make it hard not to smile when you arrive at the property.
Check-in takes place in the original Blackberry Building. Alex will give you a tour, but it’s here that you’ll find a cozy public room with games and the formal dining room. You’ll also likely find her husband Steve, in the kitchen baking chocolate chip cookies or prepping tomorrow’s breakfast.
I stayed in the newer Ahwahnee Suites building, where all rooms are named after destinations in Yosemite National Park. The El Capitan suite was notably spacious; in addition to a king-sized canopy bed, there was a sitting area with two chairs, and a dining area with a table and seating for two. I wasn’t in the room long enough to put it to good use, but there was also an electric fireplace that ignited with the touch of a button. French doors opened to an expansive patio and views of the owners’ Arabian horses.
Along with photographs depicting the namesake of each room, all accommodations in the Ahwahnee Suites building feature a stained glass window created by a local artist. (There’s also a large stained glass window in the foyer of the Blackberry Building.)
The bathroom offered a pedestal sink and a shower with a huge soaking tub. Other perks included air conditioning and heat, 600+ thread count bed linens. a refrigerator, two chocolate chip cookies, and an electric tea kettle with a lovely selection of tea, instant coffee, and hot cocoa mix.
No two rooms at Blackberry Inn are exactly the same, but all have a similar design theme thanks to the owners’ collection of antique furnishings. None of the rooms have televisions.
The Most Important Meal of the Day
Breakfast is included with every stay and served daily at 8 a.m. Popular selections include baked apple French toast, roasted red peppers and goat cheese frittata, Eggs Florentine, and a baked vegetarian omelet. Guests can also anticipate a side of breakfast meat or potatoes, bread, fruit, orange juice, and coffee or tea. While only one entrée option is provided, guests with special dietary needs can typically be accommodated with advance notice.
Breakfast is delivered to guests staying in the Ahwahnee Suites building to enjoy in their room or al fresco on their porch. In the Blackberry Building, guests can eat in the dining room or at tables on the porch.
Good to Know
Blackberry Inn is approximately 13 miles from the Big Oak Flat Entrance to Yosemite National Park. For guests who prefer not to drive into the park, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the nearest Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System shuttle stop. Better known as YARTS, seasonal shuttles run into Yosemite Valley. There is a fee to ride, but if a park reservation system is in place, riders are typically exempt from needing a reservation.
Fresno Yosemite International Airport is a 124-mile drive, but travelers may find more robust flight options at Sacramento International Airport (138 miles) or San Francisco International Airport (154 miles).
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Rates at Blackberry Inn start at $295. Wi-Fi and parking are complimentary. Children under 13 are not welcome. A minimum $50 charge applies to all cancellations. Blackberry Inn operates seasonally, typically mid-March through mid-November 15.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by Blackberry Inn, but as always her thoughts and opinions are her own.
