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Best House on the HillHistoric Lodging • Dining & CabaretYour Lodging Gateway to Yosemite National Park

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Cover: Blue World Photos

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Savor a lazy morning in the most luxurious featherbed you’ll never want to get out of, snuggle into one of our

cozy bathrobes, enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee on our veranda and permit a gracious staff member to in-dulge your every request.

Each of our unique Victorian-style rooms includes a private bath, free high-speed/wireless Internet access, telephone/voice mail, down comforters, European antiques, a coffee grinder and brewer, a CD player and an alarm clock.

Enjoy incredible California-fresh cuisine, select from locally brewed beers and

hundreds of wine labels and delight in a delectable dessert while reliving your Yosemite adventure. Our menu includes crisp salads, fresh fish, pasta, melt-in-your-mouth steaks and daily specials, all created with fresh seasonal ingredients.

If you are simply in a rush to get to The Park, we invite you to grab an espresso or refreshing drink on your way through town.

18767 Main Street • Groveland, CA 95321209-962-4000 • 800-273-3314www.groveland.com

The ideal Yosemite lodging featuring the acclaimed Cellar Door restaurant.

Between our front door and Yosemite’s gates, experience world-class river

rafting on the Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River, hike and bike hundreds of miles of trails in the Stanislaus National Forest, cast a line in a multitude of rivers and streams, sled with some silly friends, cross-coun-try ski and snow-shoe. Bird watching and wildlife spotting is a local pastime. We boast great gray owl and black bear habi-tats and a whole lot of other wildlife.

More activities such as horseback riding, golfing and tennis are a

Your Innkeepers: Grover, Peggy & Rusty

Celebrate The Spirit of the Season

Fine Food & WinePeriod Costumed EntertainmentMusic, Carols, Vocals & Readings

DinnerFo u r C o u r s e sAppetizer • Salad

Main Course • Dessert

$69.00Per Person*/Tax & Gratuity Included !

Two Seatings OnlyFriday, December 3rd at 6:00 pm

Saturday, December 4th at 6:00 pm

The Cellar Door Restaurant18767 Main St., Groveland, California

209-962-4000 • 800-273-3314www.groveland.com

Event Subject to Change Without Notice

*Alcohol Not Included

PRESENTSFeast of the Season

_________

christmasThrough the Ages

_________

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The Best House on the Hill discoveries

Article and PhotographsBy Christine Tuohy

On a warm Summer’s evening, as I sat on a beautiful patio surround-ed by lush greenery, dotted with

umbrellas shimmering with twinkle lights, my insides warmed from chocolate lava cake and Zinfandel, I wondered for a mo-ment where I was. On vacation in Italy? At a resort in the south of France? As the heady rush of my recent plate of pasta and the conversation of my charming dinner companions brought me back to

reality, I couldn’t believe I was in Grove-land. So close to my Sonora home and a stone’s throw from Yosemite, I had found a worthy vacation spot right in my back-yard at the Groveland Hotel.

A Brief History Originally an adobe trading post built in

1849, the Groveland Hotel has had many incarnations over it’s 161 years - Gambling House, Saloon, Hotel, Ranger Station, busi-ness offices, and even a Greyhound Bus Stop. It was known as “the best house on the hill” during the Gold Rush, and the ho-tel may be the only Sierra Nevada Moun-tain building constructed in the Monterey Colonial architectural style popular during the late 1840’s and 1850’s.

The building, it’s interior stripped, sat dormant for many years, gathering dust, rainwater then only hosting feral cats in one of the original adobe walls. Under foreclosure and possible complete disin-tegration, it was rescued and revitalized by Peggy and Grover Mosley in 1990. They spent 2 years com-pleting a million dollar restora-tion of the property with the adjacent 1914 Queen Anne Vic-torian building. Now the only cat at this AAA 3 Diamond Hotel is Lola, the sweet cat who will fol-low you until you pay him a well-deserved petting of acknowl-edgement.

You are now officially a guest in his hotel.

The Memphis Belle and ElvisHave you ever met one of those people

who nonchalantly will mention things that make your jaw drop? Having dinner with Peggy Mosley was one of those experi-ences.

Over our red wine and shrimp, things were revealed that elicited smiles, laugh-ter, and amazement. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Peggy has Southern hospitality right down to her core. In addi-tion to being a gracious hostess and savvy entrepreneur, she’s a pilot who spent years working for Lockheed, has even logged time flying a classic Ford Tri-Motor.

She went to school with the most famous Memphis export, (jaw drop here….) Elvis Presley. They were child-hood friends and shy teenagers, living in the same neighborhood joining other kids and teens playing football and cork-ball and teasing one another with youth-ful charm.

As Peggy relates, “Elvis was a really cute and shy guy who was always strumming that guitar. None of us had any idea back then that he would become The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Now that’s something you just don’t hear every day in casual con-versation. When you visit the Groveland Hotel ask any of the friendly staff to di-rect you to a photograph of Peggy and her classmates which includes the very shy and unassuming, young Elvis.

Pillow talk… Chain hotels these days, with a few

exceptions thankfully, rarely have much room for personality if they’ve sacrificed service for amenities or convenience. The Groveland Hotel falls completely on the other end of that spectrum with not only the history and customer service, but also unique personality and charm.

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There are three vital elements in creating the perfect restaurant; ambience, the orchestration, and

most importantly the food. Oh, and did I mention the wine list? How about a wine list of nearly 600 labels that re-ceived the 2010 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for having “one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world”? In Groveland, too. Bet you didn’t know you could travel any nearer than San Francisco to find such a kudo as that, did you?

The Cellar Door is the impressive restaurant in the Groveland Hotel, and executive chef Greg Lutes crafts his dishes as an artist would, creating Cali-fornia-fresh cuisine worthy of the drive up the hill. This particular trip (which, I might add, is only my FIRST!), I started with a Bay shrimp stuffed California avo-cado with jalapeno lime dressing on a bed of greens and local tomatoes. Fresh and zesty with a jalapeno kick, it was as if everything had just come from the Farmer’s Market that morning.

My entrée of radiatore pasta with Dungeness crab in a lemon dill cream with spinach was equally drool-worthy. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and the tartness of the lemon and dill comple-mented the shreds of fresh crab to a tee.

One of my dining companions ordered the salmon special, which is an inad-equate identifier with Chef Greg’s deli-cate touch. I had to steal a bite, “…for the sake of the magazine!”, I exclaimed distracting him long enough to shave off a bite of this heavenly, moist filet.

I didn’t really have room for dessert, but I sacrificed myself for the greater good and ordered the chocolate molten cake with strawberry sauce and mango sorbet, which was a lovely way to finish off my glass of Zinfandel, I must say.

I snuck a bite of my companions warm apple tart in caramel sauce and almost fell out of my chair from culinary ecstasy. Between Chef Greg’s expertise and ta-bleside conversation, Lena, our attentive waitress, Tanya and Willow’s friendliness at the front desk, Peggy’s fascinating sto-ries, and the splendid patio ambience, I’d say I’ve discovered quite a little slice of heaven at the Groveland Hotel!

Christine Tuohy

The Cellar Door Restaurant food

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The Hotel endears its guests by featuring teddy bears in every room, snuggly robes, comfy, classy décor worthy of a seasoned international B&B traveler, with beds so fluffy you practically need a pole vault to get into them. Don’t assume that you will be missing any modern amenities, though!

All 17 hotel rooms have free high-speed wireless internet, CD players, telephones, tv’s, coffee makers, and a morning feast dubbed “The Innkeepers Breakfast”. So it’s equipped for your comfort in every

way, but if you really want to ‘get away’, you can always unplug the phone and sink into the featherbed with only the sound of birds carried on the soft breeze wafting in your window.

Life Is A Cabaret!In addition to trying everything on

the menu one trip at a time, I also plan on partaking in a little exercise to make room for more dessert. Put on your danc-ing shoes, it’s time for another step back into the days of yore with the Courtyard Cabaret! September 10th is one of many wonderful performances happening at the Groveland Hotel this season. This particu-lar show is a tribute to the music of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Nat King Cole, channeled directly through the fabulous

vocal cords of Steve Swan accompanied by the ivory tickling of Richard Hall. I fully plan on donning my best swing dress and strappy shoes and dancing the night away under Groveland’s clear and starry sky.

The Groveland Hotel is one stop shop-ping between the incredible Cellar Door Restaurant, the dreamy wine list, dancing the night away to live music, and falling into a deep slumber in the poofiest of beds. That’s my kind of vacation.

The Groveland Hotel is a featured lodg-ing partner in the celebration of Yosemite National Park’a 120th Anniversary– Vin-tage Yosemite; Then, Now & Forever Califor-nia’s Heritage Wilderness.

The Groveland Hotel18767 Main Street

Groveland, CA, 95321866-539-8430

www.groveland.com

OPEN 7 DAYS108 South Washington St.

Downtown Sonora209.588.8899

• APPAREL • SHOES

• ACCESSORIES• MANICURES • PEDICURES

• FACIALS • WAXING • BEAUTY

PRODUCTS

The Groveland Hotel & Cellar Door RestaurantThe Iron Door SaloonCalifornia’s Oldest, Continuously Operating Saloon

Mary Laveroni ParkPlayground, Picnicking, Concert Facilities

Yosemite Gateway Museum Complete history of Groveland, California and great Library with WIFI/computers

Pine Mountain Lake Golf Course,Tennis Courts & Stables

Mountain SageCoffee, Nursery, Photo GalleryHighway 120 Gateway to YosemiteStanislaus National ForestHiking & Camping

Hetch Hetchy DamHiking, Picnicking, SerenityGreat Hiking All AroundThe Tuolumne RiverWhitewater Rafting, Fishing, Swimming

Rainbow Pools Swimming, Picnicking

Pilot PeakHiking, Wild Flowers in Spring Pey Mosley

eGroveland List

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Vintage YosemiteYosemite National Park 1890-2010: Then, Now and Forever California’s Heritage Wilderness

HISTORYYosemite & Highway 120

ACCOMMODATIONSLodging for your Discovery

DISCOVER YOSEMITEThe Falls in Spring

Naturalist John Muir & Robert Under-

wood Johnson, editor of Century Magazine, lob-bied the US Congress for the Act that created Yosemite National Park on October 1, 1890.

During the Gold Rush, SR 120 was originally known as Big Oak Flat Road, after the village of Big Oak Flat through which it passes in the Sierra foothills.

It was a pack trail from Stockton which became popular with prospectors about 1849. By 1874 it was a wagon road, which extended to the Yosemite Valley.

Our Partner Hotels offer a wide variety of choices for your visit

to Yosemite National Park during the 120th Birthday Anniversary Celebra-tion from March 2010 through No-vember 2011.

You’ll have the opportunity to stay in Sonora or Groveland. Each community offers unique dining, shopping, recreation, cultural and historic discoveries.

Vintage Yosemite Lodging PartnersBest Western Sonora Oaks*

The Groveland Hotel*The Gunn House HotelThe Sonora Days Inn

Inns of California, Sonora*AAA 3 Diamond Hotels

Discover Tuolumne County during your excursion to Yosemite. Rates

are for One Night, a Standard Room with 1 Queen Bed, Sunday - Thursday.

Valid March15-April 30, 2011 Package DYS-120............$89.00

Additional nights............$49.00Package *3D-120...........$109.00

Additional nights - CALL FOR PRICING*AAA 3 Diamond Hotels

All Spring 2011 Packages Include:• Vintage Yosemite: Then, Now & Forever

California’s Heritage Wilderness Book and Discover Yosemite, Self-Guided Tour Map,• Park Entry Pass to Yosemite National ParkRound-Trip Transportation to Yosemite from

Sonora via LINKLINE CHARTER TOURS is available for groups of 8 or more for an ad-ditional $35.00 - $60.00 per person.

120 Yea

Yosemite National Park Celebrates its 120th Birthday this coming fall with a unique companion in California’s history: California’s

State Route 120, Tuolumne County’s Scenic Gateway to the north-ern entrance to Yosemite National Park. From the San Francisco Bay Area and Central California, Highway 120 is also the fastest route to Yosemite and one of Tuolumne County’s best kept secrets!

In recognition of Yosemite National Park’s importance in Califor-nia’s history, its preservation as a national park and its value as an international tourist destination, Vintage Yosemite 120/120 will be a year-long international celebration of Yosemite and its discovery via Tuolumne County’s historic route SR 120.

These tours will focus on Yosemite’s history as a tourist destina-tion in popular culture as captured by professional and amateur photographers for the past 120 years.

Visit www.vintageyosemite.com for all details or call209-533-4322 for information & reservations.

Vintage Yosemite 120/120 is presented by: Blue World Photos of Sonora; Explore Sonora Magazine; The Sonora Chamber of Commerce with support from the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau.

‘True Blue’ - Yosemite today. Photo Credit: Blue World Photos, Sonora, CA.

VY-Phase II 10/04/10

Call Karin Brown of Heritage Travel at 209-533-4322 for additional Information & ReservationsAll packages are limited in availability. All upgrades, room charges, taxes are additional.

Packages From

$89.00

Packages From

$89.00

2011 Stay & Discover Yosemite 120/120 Packages Se