My kids absolutely love Dinosaur Park and I honestly wish I liked it more. I has everything a child dreams of at a playground: big slides, sand, prehistoric fossils to climb on, a large hill to ride scooters on, water fountains (when they are operational) and more.

I like the close bathrooms, the beautiful flowers on the walk up the hill and the fun play equipment. I have found myself riding as a passenger in the big pretend Jeep, and playing in the water and sand along with my kids.

When my kids were younger (under 5), I could keep them with me on one level of the playground (which is split in two by stairs and a hill). But now that they are older and more independent, they are out of my sight for most of our time at the playground, and my younger ones love to follow them.

It's a great playground to visit and enjoy, but be aware of the split level that can keep kids out of eyesight of parents. Bring sand toys for sand and water play. Enjoy!

The brand new show at Medieval Times was epic in its entertainment, display of skill and amazing horsemanship. I was completely in awe of the white Andalusian Stallion that came galloping out with out a rider or bridle and its mane blowing in the breeze as it performed beautiful dressage moves. Through the eyes of children, this dinner and tournament show becomes even more amazing.

I had the privilege of taking my 3 boys, ages 5, 9, and 11 to this dinner and tournament and all three absolutely loved it. My 11 year old sat gasping and in awe of the sword fights, the jousting and the feats of skill that the knights performed. My 5 year old sat next to me and kept saying things like, “I’ve never seen a horse do that before!” or, “I’ve never seen a king before!”

The castle doors opened at 5:30 and I honestly didn’t know what we would want to do while we waited until the show started at 7. I didn’t need to worry because we found that exploring the castle with its armory (boys got to heft a real sword), gift shop (we gazed at amazing chess sets), viewing the beautiful horses (behind Plexiglas), torture chamber museum (we skipped that one), and the royal announcements by the Master of Ceremonies and the King kept us busy. We had passes to the Knights Room where we got to meet all of the 6 knights before the show. My 5 year old checked out their armor and a brave knight even encouraged him to punch his chest to see if he could handle it. Of course, his modern armor under his shirt proved mighty strong to a 5 year old’s blow. They were all very friendly and kind and encouraged us to cheer for them.

At 6:45 we were gathered in the hall and were sorted into the theater room by our colors. Keeping track of my 5 year old in the hubbub while keeping him from waving his flag (complimentary) in the faces of the adults nearby was quite a challenge. We were finally seated by our table number and then the real excitement began. We were going to eat with our hands! The meal is standard (no choosing from a menu) and the food is plentiful and delicious. I would recommend asking for straws for young kids or purchasing a cup with lid from the gift shop area before dinner. We all enjoyed Pepsi in our plastic steins. The Dragon Soup (tomato bisque) was very hot for my little guy but he was too engaged with watching the horses and knights to even notice his soup. He munched away at the garlic bread that was as big as a personal pizza and delicious. A full half of chicken, spare rib, potato wedges (like big French fries) all landed on our plates during the show. Coffee and a big apple strudel came last. We took home 2 boxes full of chicken and have been enjoying it all week.

Tips:
• Come when the castle doors open to enjoy all the extra things there are to see.
• Be prepared to spend money on souvenirs such as foam swords and princess capes if your little ones enjoy those things.
• Bring cash to tip your server at the end of the meal.
• Use the restroom during the show unless you want to wait in a very long line when the show is finished.
• It honestly seemed as if all the seats in the theater were excellent and provided great views, except for the top row which seemed quite far away and in the hubbub of the servers and back passageway.
• If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other such thing, be sure to call ahead or inform someone when you arrive. The king and princess will announce your name.
• The dinner chairs are like foldable movie theater seats. Boosters are available.
• Bring wet wipes to clean children’s hands after eating. Lots of napkins are provided.

After the show, we stayed around for about 15 minutes and while most people left, we were rewarded with seeing all 6 knights, the horsemen, and the Master of Ceremonies. They came out and mingled in the Knights Room for the next hour and were available to greet. My 11 year old wanted to meet each one, have them sign his flag and then take a picture with them. It was one of his favorite parts of the evening and I was glad for the chance to thank them and praise them on their hard work and incredible show.

I received free tickets for the VIP Premiere Event for the opening of the new show at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. I was not asked to express a particular point of view and all opinions are strictly my own.

The beauty that surrounds this mountain lodge is indescribable. As I walked in to the front lobby, the sun was setting behind it on Mount Silliman and birds were singing in the trees. I was enjoying our stay at the Wuksachi Lodge already! After checking into our room, we hiked up the hill behind our building to see the sunset. I was amazed at the beauty and the incredible view into the Central Valley. I stood on a rock with an ancient mortar hole, created by a Native American, and I imagined that she was a woman from the Wuksachi Tribe that first inhabited Sequoia and who must have watched the sunset just like I was.

Things we loved:
* Location. Location. Location. Short car drives to Giant Sequoia groves, grand vistas, and beautiful hikes. Mountain streams and forests of conifers surround the area with trails leading off in all directions from the Lodge.
* Free Wi-Fi in the lobby and restaurant. This is a new feature for these mountain areas as they have been “off the grid” for as long as I can remember. Having free service is always a plus.
* Comfortable and spacious room (we were in a Superior Room) with a set of sliding doors closing off a small living room for us parents.
* In-room refrigerator, coffee maker, TV (with cable… not always guaranteed in the mountains), and beautiful window views of the Sierra and the pine forest.
* Very delicious food in the Lodge Restaurant. Make reservations before you come or upon arrival: they are REQUIRED for dinner. Call (559) 565-4070.
* Games to play in the lobby.

Things we weren’t so keen on:
* Meals at the fine dining restaurant were very tasty, but came with pretty high prices. In the winter there is nowhere else to secure a meal, unless you consider snack food from the gift shop as a meal. We compromised by really enjoying our food for one dinner, and then bringing other food from a grocery store on our way. During the summer, the market and grill are open at the Lodgepole Village, Grant Grove Village, and at Hume Lake.

COMFORTABLE BEDS
We stayed in the Sequoia Building on the first floor and found the beds to be comfortable and the linens updated and nice. We had the Superior Room, which had two queen beds in one large room, and a TV and sleeper sofa in another room separated by pocket doors. The pull out bed was unfortunately quite uncomfortable, even for our 11-year-old, as the head of the mattress (near the couch) was about six inches lower in elevation than the foot. We had our two kids put their pillows at the other end and they found it more comfortable.

MODERN AMENITIES
You don’t have to trade “Rustic Mountain Experience” for all the modern amenities you enjoy at hotels. I was very appreciative of central heating, television, telephones, hair driers, iron/board, and daily maid service in this hotel.

BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS
The main lobby of the Wuksachi Lodge is in a rustic-styled building and only houses the front desk, gift shop, lobby sitting area, bar, and restaurant on the first floor. Downstairs is the conference rooms and gift shop, which is where cross-country skis and snowshoes can be rented seasonally. The guest rooms are housed in 3 separate lodge buildings (2-3 stories each) located about 300 yards away. There are beautiful lighted paths that wind through young pine trees between the lobby and lodge buildings. We really enjoyed walking to and from the lobby for dinner, and my kids were astonished at the number of stars they could see in the night sky. It was incredibly beautiful.

TOP-NOTCH RESTAURANT
We were impressed with the kindly service and the delicious food in the Wuksachi Restaurant. We had made reservations early and were glad we did as the large room was packed with families enjoying dinner. The kids were disappointed that there weren’t crayons or the typical kids menu activity page to enjoy, but they seemed fine waiting for their pizza (really tasty), macaroni and cheese, and cheeseburgers while we played a game of “find the hidden quarter” on the table. I stole bites of my husband’s bacon-wrapped meatloaf (pleasantly spicy with amazing taste) but I was mostly absorbed in my tender sea scallops and “melt-in-your-mouth” mashed potatoes. Our waitress was pleasant, helpful, and prompt. In the morning, the restaurant serves a breakfast buffet, and then lunch, as well. Guests can also order box lunches such as “Fresh Albacore Tuna Salad on Croissant” or kids lunches to take with them as they explore Sequoia. There is also a dining room Take-Out Menu available from 5pm-8:30pm.

TIPS
There are definitely some things I want to recommend to help other families best enjoy their stay at Wuksachi, so read below and take heed!
* Drive up early and get there before dark. The curvy roads through the park are not lighted and it can feel confusing to drive in the dark. Besides, you'll miss one of the main reasons to visit this lodge: the beauty around it is astounding!
* Make dinner reservations before coming, or as soon as you can on arrival. They fill up quickly. During the winter, it is the ONLY place within a 1-hour drive to get dinner.
* If you are on a careful budget, consider bringing breakfast bars and picnic lunch items from home for meals.
* Do not unload your car when you are at the lobby. You will have to drive to a different parking lot to get to the building you are staying in. There are wheeled carts to assist you in getting your things up the hill to your room. If you have mobility problems, ask for a room on the first floor, as there are no elevators in the lodge buildings.

DRIVING SUGGESTIONS
I have driven all 3 highways in to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park over the years and I recommend taking Highway 180, no matter what your Google or MapQuest directions suggest. Highway 198 and 245 may be a shorter distance but the time spent on very curvy roads can increase driving time and carsickness. Check road conditions, as there is construction on all 3 highways during the 2012 year. Always bring tire chains, especially from November to May. Vehicles longer than 22 feet must take Highway 180, and please note that there is no gas in the park.

BOTTOM LINE
I highly recommend staying at the Wuksachi Lodge on a visit to Sequoia National Park. I actually recommend placing a visit to this National Park on any family’s “Must See List,” and choosing the Wuksachi Lodge as headquarters (especially in the winter) will make the visit much more enjoyable.

This review is based on a complimentary stay at the Wuksachi Lodge. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view. The opinions I express are my own.

My parents have stayed in a patio room in this lodge several summers while we have camped nearby. The room is not spacious, but the patio outside offers one of the most scenic views and beautiful sounds of the rushing Kings River and the canyon walls above it. We have enjoyed taking a shower in their private bath, and my parents rave about the blessing of having fresh coffee every morning in their room, over trying to perk it on a camp stove.

During our camping trips, we visit this lodge almost daily because it is where we enjoy ice cream after a hike, a wade in the river, or a nap in our camp hammock. It's not scooped fresh, but found pre packed in the freezer section. It's still yummy! We love eating it on the upstairs patio, overlooking the river.

It has been a warm winter in California, and despite the 7,000 foot elevation, we hardly found any snow at Wolverton. We hiked across the long meadow towards the hill that I'm sure is teeming with kids and parents after a good snowfall. What we encountered was a very wet meadow with a creek draining into it. We couldn't get to the hill! We instead found a patch of snow nearby to play "snow baseball".

We really enjoyed several things at this recreation area:
* No crowds. In fact, we were the only ones!
* Clean restrooms. Most of Sequoia flush toilets were closed in the park because they had been winterized and only pit toilets were opened. I appreciate a good flush toilet now, especially with a 3 year old little girl!
* Beautiful nature. The pine trees, flowing creek, and sunny slopes of this area are beautiful!