Yosemite lodge is a nice, basic motel. Some rooms are called deluxe, which means they are newer, and nicer and many have views of Yosemite Falls from their balcony or patio. Their regular rooms are still fine, and back up to the meadow.
Curry Village has a wide range of choices, from soft sided tent cabins, hard sided cabins, to a row of motel rooms in the Stoneman house.
But anyway, I digress, as you can read all that online. You asked for our preferences. If price was no object, I would choose the Ahwahnee. If I had a fair amount to spend, but not a thousand for a few nights, I would choose Yosemite Lodge. If I am on a budget, then the tent cabins in Curry Village would be my choice.
I have stayed at all except the Ahwahnee.
I understand your desire to have a true, out of the city camping experience, but I wonder, what kind of gear will you have?
As wickett said, there is no place that you can walk a few miles and camp in solitude. To be honest, if you want to be isolated, Yosemite Valley is the last place to go in August.
If you decide to stay in the valley, then I highly recommend the Valley Floor Tour. It is conducted in an open air tram and the guides are knowledgeable and give a great tour. Do that your first afternoon. After your tour, use the valley shuttle bus to visit any of the sites of particular interest. Or better still, walk the valley loop trail to see it all. It will be light until 9PM so you'll have lots of time. NOTE: If you want to do the tour, book and pay well in advance. As soon as you decide, call the number for reservations and book your seats.
The next day, perhaps drive up to Tuolumne Meadows for an easy hike to the top of Dog Dome, or a very slightly more difficult trip to Dog Lake
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road ... g-lake.htm and the top of Lembert Dome
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road ... t-dome.htm, the latter being doable by most anyone who can walk a few miles. While up there, walk along the river and just soak up the scenery. It will be less crowded compared to the valley.
You can also drive further, past the meadows to just before the Tioga Pass entrance station where you can hike to Gaylor Lakes.
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road ... -lakes.htm It is a steep uphill climb at the beginning, but it isn't terribly long. This is a great hike with few crowds everytime I have gone.
Drive back to the valley in time to catch a performance by Lee Stetson if he is giving his one man show when you are there. He becomes John Muir and gives an amazing performance, acting out several of Muir's adventures in Yosemite. Get your tickets early, as the theater is small.
The third day you can head south to see the Mariposa Grove of giant Sequoias near Wawona, take the tram if you want an easier time of it, as the grove grows on a hill. After that, head home.
You could also skip that grove, and visit the smaller, but less crowded Tuolumne Grove
http://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road ... -grove.htm which is very nice, but IMO the trees at the Mariposa Grove are more impressive, there you find the largest trees. Either should put you in awe if you have never seen one up close. From there you head back to San Francisco.
Have fun!
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