Tourists can transport themselves back to Sierra Nevada Mountains pioneer life by visiting the Fresno Flats Historical Park in Oakhurst, California. This park is home to the Fresno Flats village, which features two houses, a jailhouse, one-room school buildings and farm buildings dating back to the 19th century. Oakhurst has a variety of lodging options within 20 minutes of the park. These hotels are also less than 30 minutes from Yosemite National Park, one of the largest parks in California.
One of the closest hotels to Fresno Flats is the Oakhurst Lodge, a locally owned hotel approximately five minutes away. This one-level hotel features rooms with outdoor entrances; all rooms are nonsmoking. Amenities at Oakhurst include a swimming pool and picnicking area with tables and grills. Off-site dining is available less than a mile from the hotel at Crab Cakes, an eatery that serves seafood dishes. The Children's Museum of Sierra is a five-minute drive from the hotel; this museum features kids-themed exhibits, including the Artist's Corner and The Dig, which focuses on archaeology.
The Chateau du Sureau, located in southern Oakhurst, is a 10-minute drive from Fresno Flats Historical Park. Open since 1991, this upscale hotel is a AAA five-diamond lodging establishment. The hotel was built around the on-site restaurant, Erna's Elderberry House -- which opened in 1984 -- and the building resembles a luxury hotel in the French and Swiss Alps. The restaurants serves five-course prix-fixe dinners. Massages and yoga classes are available at Spa Sureau, the hotel's spa. Each guest room is named after a flower and features antique-style furniture, including canopy beds and wardrobes.
Fresno Flats Historical Park is a five-minute drive from the Queen's Inn by the River hotel, which is in northern Oakhurst. This family-owned and operated hotel is lodged in a building that was constructed in 1953. Guests have access to the Queen's Inn's Wine and Beer Garden, an outdoor patio area; the "Garden" serves more than 90 selections of Californian and international wines. Each room has a private patio or deck; the hotel has whirlpool tub suites. The Timberline Art Gallery is a short walk from the hotel and possesses pottery and Yosemite Park-themed paintings by local artists. Todd's Cookhouse, a five-minute drive from Queen's Inn, serves barbecue dishes for lunch and dinner.
The Pines Resort is in the heart of Yosemite National Park, a 20-minute drive from Fresno Flats. This resort is on the northern shores of Bass Lake and features an on-site marina with boat slips and fishing piers. The hotel provides boat and personal watercraft rentals. Pines Resort offers boat tours on the lake, via the Bass Lake Queen; this tour is available from May through September. Ducey's on the Lake, the hotel's restaurant, serves American cuisine, while the dining room offers scenic views of Bass Lake. The lobby and guest room's decors resembles log cabins; the lobby has antler chandeliers. Some of the suites offers private balconies with views of the lake and whirlpool tubs.
