We are looking to visit Yosemite in early June we have 3 children, 5,7 &9. We are looking to stay in either Curry village or Housekeeping camp in a tent or cabin. What would you recommend?
Housekeeping Camp is exactly like camping except you have a roof and are off the floor. The units are very very basic, really just three walls and a roof with a mattress to get you off the floor. Unless they have changed them the fourth wall is not solid but is fabric that ties together to close. Don't think of them as rooms in any way, they are primitive shelters. That being said, if you love camping and just want to be off the ground, they are perfect. The setting is lovely with the Merced river right there, you can cook at your site every night, etc. We loved the time we spent there but we knew what we were getting and wanted a camping experience. Curry village tent cabins are clustered closely together, they are tent structures on a platform off the ground with beds and a small table and a lamp, electricity, and they do close completely so they are a bit more private. No bathroom of course. A bit closer to a room, but again very basic, don't think hotel room, and you won't be disappointed. One tip about Curry Village tent cabins, they are fabric and if it's dark out and you have the light on people can see your sillouttes. :) The Curry Village hard sided cabins are a major step up from these, if you can swing for the Curry hard sided cabins they are still very rustic but more like an actual room and much better. Which you choose depends on what you need and on the fact that you have small children. We look fondly back on our Housekeeping experience and not so much on our tent cabin experience, but it depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for a camping experience Housekeeping is fine, if not, just know what you are getting with the tent cabins and if you can do the hard sided cabins, that's the way to go. Have fun, Yosemite is wonderful.
Thanks - thats very helpful, the housekeeping camp does sound like fun and in a lovely setting. My only worry was that I have read it can get very noisy and some reports of f not being very clean, how did you find it?
Noisy and not very clean. :) They do have a quiet hour after 10, one time when we stayed that was observed very well, the other time was a Memorial Day Weekend and it was quite noisy and people were frankly rude, so my experience was 50-50, can't say what the norm is. As for cleanliness, well, it's camping. There wasn't garbage strewn around or anything, it's just that it's really like living in an outdoor hut, everything isn't going to be immaculate, there'll be some dust, an occasional spider, etc. The mattress was old and had some tears, I don't remember them providing sheets, I'm pretty sure we brought sleeping bags to lay on. I think they are single mattresses, I don't remember any doubles, but it was a long time ago, we've mostly stayed at the hard sided cabins for ages, so I really don't know if they've made changes. Perhaps someone who has stayed there more recently can say. Just think camping with a mattress and roof, and you'll be fine. We found the campgrounds and the tent cabins a bit noisy when we stayed there too. I'd still vote for the hard-sided cabins, but then that's our preferencce nowadays. I assume you've read some of the reviews to get more information, if not, that might help. Have fun!
Housekeeping Camp is dirty because you are basically camping. Think sticks, leaves and dust, not grime and gunk.
We definitely prefer Housekeeping to Curry - there is more space between cabins at Housekeeping and you can cook out and have a campfire. Curry always seems too crowded to me.
103,784 posts
194 helpful votes This traveler wrote an excellent description of their family stay at Housekeeping in Summer 09: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g61000-i315-k2868476-We_re_back_5_nights_at_Housekeeping_Camp-Yosemite_National_Park_California.html
I think your preferences here would really depend upon the type of vacations you are used to with your family. As you can tell, staying in Housekeeping really is a camping experience; you just don't have to bring the tent and will be on a platform. You can cook outdoors and will be in the midst of a natural setting. Curry is more structured- the tent cabins are still very rustic but more like a "room." You cannot keep food of any kind in a tent cabin, although there are food lockers for you to use (food lockers are necessary at Housekeeping as well.) Both places use community bathrooms that are located close by. Both places have noise issues as the accommodations are close to each other and there are no walls to filter out the sound.
As already mentioned, the hard sided cabins at Curry are more like small motel rooms; some have bathrooms as well. If you need an experience that is less like camping, then those may suit you better.
For a first time visit, I think you are wise to stay in the valley. It means that you and your children will be able to enjoy more of the park and spend less time driving. I think your family will enjoy even the simple pleasures of climbing on the rocks or wading in the river, right there where you are staying.
18,582 posts
130 helpful votes Those housekeeping cabins are the last vestige of what used to be the archetypal American vacation: camping. These days, you see mostly young and old couples camping - fewer kids. I have to say that kids like camping around kids. The area is fairly level, there are no cliffs or obvious hazards. The parents can relax - at any of the accomodations.
But the fun of cooking outdoors (is it clean? Well, there are trees, squirrels, dirt, plants, etc., all around you!) - cannot be surpassed. Everything tastes better. You watch what others cook, as well, and if you're social, you can be social (but if not, not).
It's sort of crowded, either place, by traditional camping standards (but not compared to camping in Yosemite Valley - all of it is fairly close together). But it is so fun, the granite gleams in the moonlight, you hear an owl or too or see a bear. I highly recommend the housekeeping cabins (but remember, it's just like camping without the effort of hauling and putting up a tent and bringing along a stove - you can use the camp ring).
For solitary types and couples without kids, maybe it's a bit loud.
I have stayed in both last year and find Housekeeping the quieter of the two. Maybe the cement walls help. More Bear Activity at Curry, we saw two in two days. One after returning from breakfast and one at 10pm leaving the cabin to go to the bathroom. Both have spiders, torn matresses etc but that is part of camping. I prefer Housekeeping so we can cook, the dining areas of Curry can get crazy; finding a table, waiting in line to buy food etc. However, they are both fun.
Thanks for all the advice - have booked housekeeping camp for 2 nights, so now need to now what to do there? Any key place to see etc Have 3 kids who dont mind a bit of a walk or getting dirty! Any suggestions?
103,784 posts
194 helpful votes Places to Go: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm
Early June is the transistion time for road openings. It is possible that Tuolumne Meadows road (Hwy 120) will be open, but there will be snow up there. It is slightly more likely that Glacier Point road will be open, and if it is, I recommend the Sentinel Dome hike. But with snow melt & dirt trails (mud!), expect your kids to get nice and dirty. The hike is only 2.2 miles round trip and ends up on top of a great dome. http://www.yosemitehikes.com/glacier-point-road/sentinel-dome/sentinel-dome.htm
In the Valley, you can hike/walk to Vernal Fall, to Nevada Fall for more of a challenge, or to Lower Yosemite Fall. You can rent bikes. The free Valley shuttle will take you around almost everywhere. Mirror Lake should have some water. The Junior Ranger program might be fun for your age kids. Read last June's Yosemite Guide for ideas on what might be happening in June 2010: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm
