by AlmostThere » Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:24 am
"Main hiking area?" Not sure what that would be. There are trails throughout the park.
If it is your first time, and you'd like to rent a cabin, you have a lot of choices - visit yosemitepark.com for some of them. You could also get a tent cabin in Housekeeping or Curry. I'd suggest something at the Lodge or Housekeeping in the Valley to any first timer, so you can spend a lot of your time walking around the valley taking it all in, visiting museum, visitor center, and places like the LeConte Memorial, take shuttle tours, etc. A drive up Tioga Pass and a drive up 41 to Wawona and Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point would be two more days worth of activities.
All hikes out of the valley are strenuous but worth doing at least part way - there are viewpoints on all. Short hikes on Tioga Road that are more than worthwhile are Gaylor Lakes (I won photo contests with pictures taken here, and I'm not a photographer), May Lake, Olmstead Point, Mt Watkins (more moderate than easy/short but great views) and strolling in Tuolumne Meadows. You can't really miss with anything you do. Some of us go back year after year and there are still plenty of new places to see. If you have time to do the long drive Hetch Hetchy is also worthwhile.
Sonora and Groveland are going to be at least an hour's drive to the park gate - there are options within the park, or hotels at El Portal, that will be closer. Also check Yosemite Bug - they have awesome food, a kitchen where you can prep your own, and a variety of rates for various accommodations including hostel beds. Coming back to sit in the common area near the fire and play games in the late evening was fun for the women's retreat I attended there. Very nice ambience and people from around the world gather there.