Whimsical Cottage Nestled in the Pines from $195/nt for 2

We, Neal and Carol first built our own home here in Yosemite West and we had planned on spending our retirement (golden years here.) Then, life stepped in and Neal's job of 27 years came to an end.

We vacationed in beautiful Yosemite every year with our children and wanted to live here more than anything and now we had the opportunity to make our dreams come true. Initially it was scary making the move because we still had one child at home but it turned out to be the most beautiful and exciting adventure of our lives. Cozy Bear Cottages has really been a labor of love including building and decorating it ourselves.

The area that we were from became gang infested and we didn't want to raise our last child (twenty years difference between our first and last child) in a dangerous environment. It took some time to be able to make the move up here but when Neal's job came to an end we thought that it was the worst possible thing that could happen to us and it turned out to be the best possible thing that could have ever happened! We had one child at home who was eleven years old and didn't want to come up because all of her friends were down South. It didn't take long for her to make friends up here who are still her best friends ever!

We have one daughter who married a young man from Yosemite and they also have vacation rentals up here. and do what we do.

We have another daughter up here who works for the company and is the retail manager of the South end of the Park.

Having two children already up here made it easier for us to re-locate. We have a son and daughter in Southern California who come up whenever possible and our youngest daughter has a real love for animals and will be graduating from UC Davis as a doctor of veterinary medicine. She loves coming up here and studying all of the wildlife.

Living in Yosemite has proven to be a wonderful and fulfilling life for Neal & me, our children and grandchildren.

Each season up here in Yosemite has its own beauty. Spring time we witness the falls in all of their glory. It is amazing to us the power that is in those falls.

Watching the rainbows as they paint a spectacular picture across the magnificent falls

Summer, we enjoy the hiking and rafting. Floating down the river and watching Half Dome and El Cap. and watching the families as they raft, picnic, and enjoy all of the beautiful flowers in the meadows and throughout the Park.

Driving and walking through the 'Big Trees' and remembering a poem that the man who built the Golden Gate Bridge who said 'Fall down oh traveler, on your knees, God stands before you in these trees.'

Fall, is so beautiful and funny! The colors are changing and leaves are falling. Squirrels are gathering food for the winter and we watch them as they build under ground condos throughout our property and claim it for their own. They drop pine cones from high up in the trees and sometimes it seems like they are waiting and aiming for us so they can drop the pine cones directly onto us. They are adorable!

Winter, is the most beautiful time of all. We feel like we are in a Currier & Ives setting but more beautiful than any hand-painted picture could be. We watch as snow falls and icicles form in front of our windows and off from our deck. Badger Pass is running full steam and children are learning to ski. It is a very quiet and awesome experience that we feel so blessed to be a part of.