Melody & Kathleen's Guidebook
Food scene
Our weekend guests LOVE this place! From our home, it is a 15 to 20 minute drive on your way to the parks for coffee and homemade scones or bagels. Their hours are 8 am to 2 pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday only. They can also pack you an open faced turkey avocado sandwich to take with you.
25 locals recommend
Clingans Junction- cabins + coffee
35591 E Kings Canyon RdOur weekend guests LOVE this place! From our home, it is a 15 to 20 minute drive on your way to the parks for coffee and homemade scones or bagels. Their hours are 8 am to 2 pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday only. They can also pack you an open faced turkey avocado sandwich to take with you.
People from the valley LOVE coming here on the way to or from the parks! They not only serve pizza but offer other American food as well. At 10 am they serve delicious, large cinnamon rolls or order with your evening meal and heat it up in the morning!😉Phone ahead only due to COVID 559-332-9696 (Before 7:00 pm)
24 locals recommend
Bear Mountain Pizza
31074 E Kings Canyon RdPeople from the valley LOVE coming here on the way to or from the parks! They not only serve pizza but offer other American food as well. At 10 am they serve delicious, large cinnamon rolls or order with your evening meal and heat it up in the morning!😉Phone ahead only due to COVID 559-332-9696 (Before 7:00 pm)
We love this place. Their prices are moderate and food tasty and portions generous. A busy place usually in the summer. Open 11 am to 7 pm in the summer and weekends in the fall. Great ice cream choices, milk shakes, hamburgers etc. And the scenery is exquisite!!
There is also a restaurant on the premises. We have never tried it but reviews are quite favorable. Apparently have quite a chef! Give it a try! Hours may be sporadic with COVID, etc.
Hume Lake Snack Shop
64144 Hume Lake RoadWe love this place. Their prices are moderate and food tasty and portions generous. A busy place usually in the summer. Open 11 am to 7 pm in the summer and weekends in the fall. Great ice cream choices, milk shakes, hamburgers etc. And the scenery is exquisite!!
There is also a restaurant on the premises. We have never tried it but reviews are quite favorable. Apparently have quite a chef! Give it a try! Hours may be sporadic with COVID, etc.
Advertising open for breakfast daily at 7am starting April 17, 2023.
16 locals recommend
Genas Sierra Inn and Sequoia Tasting Room
37692 E Kings Canyon RdAdvertising open for breakfast daily at 7am starting April 17, 2023.
Blossom Trail Cafe
922 N Academy AveGrant Grove Restaurant
83923 CA-180Pinehurst Lodge
53783 CA-245Sightseeing
For information about nearby TRAILS a very useful website is alltrails.com. ------------------------
For Sequoia & Kings Canyon Park latest ROAD CONDITIONS update recording: Call (559) 565-3134, then 1 & then 1 again when prompted.
Only 45 minutes away from the Park entrance. (Make sure you do NOT have avoiding tolls set on google maps! )We love to see these beautiful trees at Grant's Grove an easy walk for anyone, even with handicap access. Sit on the park bench before arriving at the tree and get a fuller view of the tree. For up to date information on Sequoia and Kings Canyon visit https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
13 locals recommend
Kings Canyon Visitor Center
83918 CA-180Only 45 minutes away from the Park entrance. (Make sure you do NOT have avoiding tolls set on google maps! )We love to see these beautiful trees at Grant's Grove an easy walk for anyone, even with handicap access. Sit on the park bench before arriving at the tree and get a fuller view of the tree. For up to date information on Sequoia and Kings Canyon visit https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
Our family local favorite to visit. Weather is usually cooler and if not, we jump in the lake! There is food available at the Christian Camp Canteen. There is also a small grocery store and gift shop there. And there is a gas station here as well. COVID may impact availability however.
44 locals recommend
Hume Lake
Our family local favorite to visit. Weather is usually cooler and if not, we jump in the lake! There is food available at the Christian Camp Canteen. There is also a small grocery store and gift shop there. And there is a gas station here as well. COVID may impact availability however.
We have a lot of guests either coming from or going to Yosemite. .. and happens to be where my husband asked me to marry him : ) But I haven't been there myself for years. So let us know what you think!
995 locals recommend
Yosemite National Park
We have a lot of guests either coming from or going to Yosemite. .. and happens to be where my husband asked me to marry him : ) But I haven't been there myself for years. So let us know what you think!
Project Survival Cat Haven
38257 E Kings Canyon RdMoro Rock
Mist Falls
There’s a nice little gift shop, a little grocery store, post office and restaurant, visitors center etc. , not to mention a bit of WiFi and cell service for some.
19 locals recommend
Grant Grove Village
There’s a nice little gift shop, a little grocery store, post office and restaurant, visitors center etc. , not to mention a bit of WiFi and cell service for some.
Activities
2020 Information: Summer
open 1 pm to 5 pm.
Kayak, canoe, paddle boards $20/hour
Row boat $30/hour
~NO POWER BOATS ARE ALLOWED ON THIS LAKE~
BRING A TOWEL, SUN LOTION AND ENJOY!!
Hume Lake Boat Launch
2020 Information: Summer
open 1 pm to 5 pm.
Kayak, canoe, paddle boards $20/hour
Row boat $30/hour
~NO POWER BOATS ARE ALLOWED ON THIS LAKE~
BRING A TOWEL, SUN LOTION AND ENJOY!!
Cedar Grove Pack Station
108300 Cedar LnEnjoy the parks on horseback!
Neighborhoods
This a view worth driving to this spring (March 2021)! Honestly this is the most amazing we have witnessed the wild flowers in the 10 years we’ve lived here. These pictures were taken in early evening when the shadows were long. There are small areas to pull off the road but not advisable after dark.
Sand Creek Road
Sand Creek RoadThis a view worth driving to this spring (March 2021)! Honestly this is the most amazing we have witnessed the wild flowers in the 10 years we’ve lived here. These pictures were taken in early evening when the shadows were long. There are small areas to pull off the road but not advisable after dark.
Grocery Stores
This is the nearest grocery store with fresh produce approximately 20 minutes in a Hispanic neighborhood.
A C Market
1145 Park BlvdThis is the nearest grocery store with fresh produce approximately 20 minutes in a Hispanic neighborhood.
This store is about 10 minutes from our place and has just a little bit of everything except fresh food. It does have frozen and packaged foodstuffs.
6 locals recommend
Dollar General # 19853
30757 E Kings Canyon RdThis store is about 10 minutes from our place and has just a little bit of everything except fresh food. It does have frozen and packaged foodstuffs.
This is a very small store that sells a lot of Walmart products sold at a higher price. If you forgot something they might have it. Not a fresh produce store.
6 locals recommend
Country Store
36822 Sand Creek RdThis is a very small store that sells a lot of Walmart products sold at a higher price. If you forgot something they might have it. Not a fresh produce store.
If you are traveling from the south or Los Angeles area, this large grocery store has about anything grocery wise you may need at good prices.
WinCo Foods
3939 W Caldwell AveIf you are traveling from the south or Los Angeles area, this large grocery store has about anything grocery wise you may need at good prices.
Traveling from the north or San Francisco area you have the opportunity to shop here for more high quality, organic products.
13 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
1077 N Willow AveTraveling from the north or San Francisco area you have the opportunity to shop here for more high quality, organic products.
Walmart Supercenter
2761 Jensen AveTraveling from the north, this is the nearest Walmart.
Traveling from the south or Los Angeles area, this is the nearest in the way big car hall store.
Target
Traveling from the south or Los Angeles area, this is the nearest in the way big car hall store.
Traveler advice
Getting around
Current information about California fires:
Fire information: go to https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/
There have been a LOT of fires in California in August 2020. So far we have only been affected by smoke. But we have gotten many calls asking if there is a fire in our area. Cal Fire is the most accurate place to look. It's where we go to. Hopefully we won't have to worry about any nearby fires, but want people to be informed.
Book before you go
Air Quality Information
For current air quality information: go to https://www.airnow.gov/?city=Squaw%20Valley&state=CA&country=USA
With the over 12,000 lightening strikes all over California in August 2020, many fires are effecting the air. If you have asthma or health problems here is a great website to get accurate, up to date information about the air quality. : )
What to pack
Hydration
Please plan your trip with plenty of water as you travel into the parks. We are happy to share our water with you!
Ways to save
Gas up (Valero)your vehicle before heading into the parks.
There is a gas station at Hume Lake... very expensive and not always open.
Getting around
Download maps before coming up the hill.
Cell service and wifi can be very spotty and not always reliable. .. especially if you are coming from the south (Los Angeles) The road up to our home goes through several miles of ranch land on the way up the hill and there is no cell service. So being prepared ahead of time with maps (Google maps works great!) is always a good idea. THE SCENERY is beautiful!!! If you are headed into the Sequoia/Kings Canyon Parks they will give you a hard copy map of the area at the park entrance (which is approximately 40 minutes from our home).
What to pack
Before relying on places being open, call first!
Many places in Yokuts (previously Squaw) Valley and up in the parks are seasonal &/or are responding to COVID-19 differently at different times as government recommendations are rather fluid. We are reluctant to tell you anything is for sure open or closed, at any one point in time. Please check ahead of time or simply come prepared with your own food or back up plans. We will be happy to help you out in a pinch. ; ). I know this seems like old information but I hesitate to remove it quite yet.
Getting around
Up to date Sequoia Kings Canyon Park information
https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
The above site has information about the Sequoia Kings Canyon Park travel advisories. Please read requirements.
WINTER DRIVING: For the latest ROAD CONDITIONS update recording, call (559) 565-3134, then 1 & then1 again when prompted.
Don't miss
SNAKES
Please be aware of your surroundings. We have seen several snakes last spring, one of which was a rattlesnake. (He is no more... sorry snake lovers... We do not share our property with rattlesnakes!)
Traveling with kids
Car Wash
Have you driven a long way and he car is a mess and needs vacuuming too? Look for a Surf Thru Car Wash. There are several to choose from. It’s a drive through car wash, but you do your own vacuuming and they work great! You’ll feel better with things all tidied up! ; ) We nearly always wash up here whenever we go into town.