The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.
Free Time Opportunities |
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| Oakhurst, CA |
Antiques & Galleries
Browse antique stores and art galleries (10 to 15 minutes from ECCO)
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Bass Lake
Fish or swim in Bass Lake (a 15-minute drive)
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California Mining & Mineral Museum
In Mariposa, about 30 minutes from Oakhurst. One of the finest gem and mineral museums in the country.
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Glacier Point
Glacier Point is a view of Yosemite not to be missed, and, except on rare occasions, we can't take you there. (Large buses are not permitted.) The drive is one and a half hours each way but well worth the effort.
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Golf
Golf in Oakhurst (15 minutes)
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Mariposa History Center
In Mariposa, 30 minutes from Oakhurst. This is a marvelous exploration of central California's early years.
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Nelder Grove
About 7 miles from ECCO, this is your opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with some ancient giant sequoias. Shadow of the Giants is an easy one-mile walking trail.
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Sierra Mono Museum
In North Fork, 30 minutes from Oakhurst. This Indian-owned and operated museum features one of the finest collections of Indian basketry around.
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| Evergreen Conference Center, Oakhurst (ECCO) |
Bass Lake
Fish or swim in Bass Lake's beautiful blue waters. For additional information, visit www.basslakechamber.com/
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California State Mining & Mineral Museum
One of the finest gem and mineral museums in the country. For additional information, visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=588
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Glacier Point
Glacier Point is a view of Yosemite not to be missed, and, except on rare occasions, we can't take you there. (Large buses are not permitted.) The drive is one and a half hours each way but well worth the effort. For additional information, visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_Point
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Golfing
1) River Creek Golf Course - www.rivercreekgolfcourse.com/ - 9-hole course in Ahwahnee, 5 miles from ECCO
2) Sierra Meadows Country Club - www.sierrameadows.com/ - 18-hole course in Ahwahnee, 5 miles from ECCO
3) Wawona Golf Course - www.yosemitepark.com/activities_warmweatheractivities_golfing.aspx - 20 miles from ECCO, within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park
If you are interested in golf, please consider our program, "Fore! Golf Yosemite & Two Great Courses in the Beautiful Sierra Nevada" - program number 17247. There are 3 dates in 2010 - May 22 to 27, June 19 to 24, and September 25 to 30, 2011
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Mariposa Grove
Mariposa Grove is a sequoia grove located near Wawona, California in the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park. It is the largest grove of Giant Sequoias in the park, with several hundred mature examples of the tree. Two of its trees are among the Twenty Five largest Giant Sequoias in the world. For additional information, visit www.yosemite.ca.us/mariposa_grove_of_giant_sequoias/
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Mariposa History Center
This is a marvelous exploration of central California's early years. For additional information, visit mariposamuseum.com/
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Nelder Grove
We find Nelder Grove the most peaceful and soothing of the Yosemite-area giant sequoia groves. It's in a narrow draw with a brook flowing through the center of it, and besides the giant sequoias, you'll find lots of other big evergreens, especially cedars, plus several dogwoods. For additional information, visit www.yosemitehikes.com/not-yosemite/nelder-grove/nelder-grove.htm
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Sierra Mono Indian Museum
The North Fork Mono Families first incorporated in 1966 to form the Sierra Mono Museum for the purpose of preserving Tribal history. The museum offers both static and living history experience. The doors have been open to the public since 1971.
Permanent collections include a wide variety of Native American baskets and cultural artifacts. Also on display is the Tettleton Wildlife Diorama Collection consisting of over 100 freestanding taxidermy animals of North America and Asia. Other collections include historical photographs, cultural items, beadwork and weapons.
Our gift shop is stocked with locally made authentic Indian Crafts, books and gifts.
Every Thursday, Elders gather to weave, bead and dine on potluck lunch. During the fall they can be found cracking acorn for holiday events or cleaning Sourberry and Redbud sticks for weaving supplies.
Guided tours offer a walk through the collections, stories, songs, and nature walk with signage explaining usage of indigenous plants.
Classes in language and Basketry are held throughout the year.
Visiting the museum offers a glimpse at Mono Indian lifestyles of yesterday and today. For additional information, visit www.sierramonomuseum.org/
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| Oakhurst |
Bass Lake
Bass Lake is one of the most popular vacation spots in Central California. The lake was created back in 1899. It was enlarged 6 years later, and work on the present dam began in 1909. At 3,500 feet in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains, the 4-mile long lake is on the north fork of Willow Creek which is a tributary of the San Joaquin River. Its waters turn powerful, electricity-producing turbine engines for Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), the world's largest non-government utility. Because of its altitude, it's not unsual for Bass Lake to have snow on the ground for several weeks during the winter--not tons of snow...but enough snow to carry chains in your trunk...and, as locals put it, enough snow to be beautiful but not bothersome.
Bass Lake is popular for all of the right reasons. It's close to California's Central Valley (1 hour from Fresno) via Highway 41 and only 20 minutes from Yosemite. Nature lovers appreciate the lake, and so do fishermen--it's stocked with trout, bass, salmon, catfish, crappie and bluegill. Water skiers appreciate the warm water--75 to 78 degrees in the summer. The lake has excellent marina facilities.
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Fresno Flats Historical Site
Fresno Flats Historic Park recaptures the flavor of 19th Century life in the Sierra Nevada foothills and mountains of Central California. Eastern Madera County is the southern end of the historic Mother Lode gold fields, but the people who settled here came not so much for gold but more to build their lives and raise their families, making their living as farmers, merchants and using the rich natural resources of the mountains.
The museum complex is built around two restored and furnished homes dating to the 1870s. Both have been designated by the State of California as Points of Historical Interest for their unique construction styles once common throughout Northern California, but virtually unknown today. They were saved from demolition, moved to Fresno Flats Historical Park and restored by the volunteers of Sierra Historic Sites Association, as were a pair of early-day one-room schools, two 19th Century jails and several other farm buildings.
For additional information, visit www.fresnoflatsmuseum.org/about.html
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Sierra Mono Museum
Sierra Mono Indian Museum
Roads 225 & 228, North Fork
9:00 - 4:00 Tuesday-Saturday 559-877-2115
Admission: $3/Adults $2/Seniors $1/Students
The North Fork Mono Tribe is the original inhabitant of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The tribe consists of two clans: the golden eagle and the coyote, both of which are represented at the entrance to the museum. The Mono way of life is featured in the museum through examples of fishing, hunting, acorn gathering, cooking, healing, basketmaking, games and ceremonies. Also featured is the Tettleton Wildlife Collection, one of the finest in California.
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Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a restoration of the old narrow gauge Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company Railroad. A section of the original railbed has been reconstructed using the same techniques used at the turn of the century. Two vintage Shay steam locomotives have been brought in from the Westside Lumber company and restored to provide authentic motive power for the trains.
Shay number 15 was built in 1913 and weighs 60 tons. Number 10, built in 1928 weighs 83 tons and is the heavest operating narrow guage Shay locomotive today. Railcars once used to provide transportation for logging and track repair crews have been refurbished and are now operated for passenger excursion. Antique Model "A" Ford gas engines power the trolley-like "Jenny" cars over the route.
For additional information, visit www.ymsprr.com/
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Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
Check out the Yosemite-Sierra Visitors' Bureau for the wealth of activities available to visitors to our area, from photo, art and antique galleries to outdoor recreation activities to many sites of historical interest. For additional information, visit www.yosemitethisyear.com
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