We went to Yosemite for Christmas for the Bracebridge dinner at the Ahwahnee Hotel and it was just fabulous! The Yuletide production is based on the 1822 story of Bracebridge Hall by Washington Irving–the American author famous for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. With holiday flair and candles aglow during the Bracebridge Dinners, the park’s hotel transforms into an old English manor filled with festive song and food. Ansel Adams took over the part of the squire in 1929 and has been a tradition at Yosemite since 1927. You can read more about it here. Unfortunately, they don’t allow pictures to be taken inside during this event so I will just have to remember the magic in my mind and go again sometime in the future so I don’t forget!
It was my first White Christmas EVER! We just don’t see snow like this in the Bay Area. But no worries because only 4 hours away is the most beautiful park in the world! Okay, so I’m not sure if it really IS the most beautiful park in the world but it has to come close. The majesty here is just incredible!
It was so so cold and so so pretty. We walked around a bit and needless to say I took a lot of pictures. I’m working on them methodically and have only done a few as we’ve been getting settled back home after our trip. I haven’t even seen all of them but here’s one to kick off our Yosemite trip.
Tree Wall
Should you wish to purchase this image, please click here.
Laura Macky Photography 
December 27, 2015 at 3:52 pm
Yep, very hard to top the Ahwahnee in winter time. Awesome photo and Happy New Year Laura~
December 27, 2015 at 3:54 pm
Thank you Cindy! Happy New Year to you as well. 🙂
December 27, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Gorgeous winter-wonderland shot, Laura. I look forward to seeing more of your white Christmas pictures.
Blessings ~ Wendy
December 27, 2015 at 4:25 pm
I’m so glad you like it. It was so exciting seeing all that snow!! Thank you Wendy. I hope you had a magical Christmas. 🙂
December 27, 2015 at 4:31 pm
It’s so cool that you had your first white Christmas. That’s a beautiful photo!
December 27, 2015 at 7:38 pm
Thank you Dan. It was so incredible!
December 27, 2015 at 4:48 pm
What a magical way to spend the holiday! I am sure the candle glow and all the history of that place made for an indescribable experience. Can’t wait to see the rest of your images as you get to them!
December 27, 2015 at 7:40 pm
Magical is a perfect way to describe it. It was exactly that…glowy candlelight. :). Thanks Carrie.
December 27, 2015 at 5:45 pm
Cool! You had to make reservations a year ahead right… Is it only for hotel guests?
December 27, 2015 at 7:40 pm
I forget how far in advance. Probably almost a year. I don’t think you have to stay there. It makes it a lot more convenient though.
December 27, 2015 at 6:18 pm
Beautiful! Looking forward to more. Happy New Year Laura!
December 27, 2015 at 7:41 pm
Thanks Tiny! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Happy New Year to you too!
December 27, 2015 at 7:29 pm
I like the pop of blue in the upper right corner and the light coming in form the left. I think the blue and the lighting help frame the mysterious tall, lone pine in the far right foreground. For me the pine is the subject of the photo and it begs the questions of why is it so much taller than the others in the foreground to the left of it, and why is it the only one missing so many branches.
December 27, 2015 at 7:44 pm
I love your comment so much. It’s full of awareness and wonder! That’s what I love so much about landscape and nature photography….all the beautiful nuances are to be cherished!
December 27, 2015 at 8:36 pm
We have not had a white Christmas in s while – and glad u did -the tree wall is really nice! ❄️❄️❄️
December 27, 2015 at 8:39 pm
It only took me 56 years. Thank you. 🙂
December 27, 2015 at 8:45 pm
Ha! Well it seems like the heavens were aligned to give u such white beauty – I mean for a first white Christmas this just tops the list! Side note – came here this week because i saw your boat photo featured in the before/after challenge / much different vibe than the snow – ha..
December 27, 2015 at 8:54 pm
Which boat? I have another one coming up soon that’s a boat. And yes…seems I hit jackpot !
December 27, 2015 at 9:14 pm
The crackled boat in the shore with a small pathway to the close left-
Blue sky and slivers of water ?
December 27, 2015 at 8:56 pm
Oh maybe you saw the image reveal. The after is quite different! It’ll be posting soon. :). Thank you for taking a trip to my blog again. I really appreciate it!
December 27, 2015 at 9:16 pm
I am not sure – still have not done the challenge – but I thought she said it was yours – I guess I will find out more as the challenge unfolds
December 27, 2015 at 10:01 pm
You saw the image I took that everyone will be editing. It’s a fun challenge! I love seeing everyone’s interpretations.
December 27, 2015 at 11:56 pm
Yes – that’s it! And I already worked on my processing – anyhow -have a nice week and enjoyed chatting a bit today – and maybe next Christmas I can see some white gold too! 😏
December 28, 2015 at 7:32 am
Have fun with it and thanks for the chat also. 🙂
December 27, 2015 at 9:59 pm
Beautiful 🙂 Reminds me of a Russian fairy tale that I read as a child.
December 27, 2015 at 10:02 pm
Aww I love that, thank you!
December 28, 2015 at 12:11 am
That is exactly what Christmas looks like in my dreams! Thank you! Is the Bracebridge Dinner anything like the one they staged on Gilmore Girls? I loved that 😉
December 28, 2015 at 7:33 am
LOL! Um…it’s just a tad different. hehe 🙂
December 28, 2015 at 10:14 am
🙂
December 28, 2015 at 5:08 am
Congrats on your first white Christmas ever! Your photo is gorgeous as are all the ones you take. But BRRRRR!!!!!!
December 28, 2015 at 7:33 am
Thank you! Oh and trust me…it was indeed BRRRR!! We woke up one morning and it was 5 degrees. FIVE!
December 28, 2015 at 9:45 am
Yep, 5 is cold…VERY, VERY brrrrrr!!!! 🙂 I think it was 2 here this morning.
December 28, 2015 at 1:28 pm
OMG!
December 28, 2015 at 8:30 am
Beautiful! Love the picture of the trees.
December 28, 2015 at 8:55 am
Glad you had a wonderful time 😀 I would so love to visit Yosemite! Adams really knew how to show the very best of the park. It’s been a long time since we had a white Christmas. Rain has been causing havoc across the UK 😦 So lovely to see a true wintry scene. Makes me think of Narnia!
December 28, 2015 at 11:18 am
Such a wonderful winter wonderland; love the photo. Have a wonderful 2016 Laura.
December 28, 2015 at 11:18 am
What a milestone for you, experiencing your first white Christmas! Still green here, if you can believe it! Gogeous shot, Laura, and now you KNOW what the heck I am waiting for! Snow transforms the world around us. I really am looking forward to the snow this year … IF it ever gets here!!! Love, Amy ❤
December 28, 2015 at 1:29 pm
I’ve been hearing the news…crazy weather going on everywhere! And thank you about my first white christmas. It was so exciting!!
December 29, 2015 at 8:21 am
So pretty! I’d love to be walking there. 🙂
December 29, 2015 at 9:08 am
It really was! It was so deep with snow like a huge blanket. I hope you get there some day!
December 29, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Wow for a snowy and beautiful post Laura 😀
December 29, 2015 at 1:10 pm
It was amazing!! I was like a kid in a candy store, thank you. 🙂
December 29, 2015 at 3:10 pm
Wish you many beautiful blessings, Laura, for this coming new year!! I love everything you post! ❤
December 29, 2015 at 4:00 pm
I hope you have a wonderful new year as well Lorrie. I truly appreciate you following my work and especially your comments. 🙂 It’s such a wonderful community we have here!
January 1, 2016 at 10:48 am
If the Bay Area had snow, it would be completely paralyzed. And, it’s a good thing you didn’t have a crazed guy like from “The Shining” running around. 😉
January 1, 2016 at 12:00 pm
So true David. We would be totally crippled! And yes….a crazy Jack I can do without!
January 1, 2016 at 2:04 pm
I need to stop more often and realize how spoiled I can get being in the country all year long.
January 1, 2016 at 3:14 pm
YES!
January 18, 2016 at 2:14 pm
found Snow White!!! 🙂 great shot Laura, love the clear blue sky in the background as contrast!!