First time to Yosemite

I'm from the UK and visiting US with my partner next month. We fly to SFO and will rent a car to drive over to Utah spread across a couple of weeks so we can stop at various places. 

Yosemite is first on the list, Sep 7-10th. My girlfriend doesn't climb much so we're not bringing any gear. What would be a good place to stay? (not bringing camping gear either) Any recommendations for some big hikes or scrambles would be much appreciated too.

I tend to find climbers have the best insight into national parks!

Fenda wrote: I'm from the UK and visiting US with my partner next month. We fly to SFO and will rent a car to drive over to Utah spread across a couple of weeks so we can stop at various places. 

Yosemite is first on the list, Sep 7-10th. My girlfriend doesn't climb much so we're not bringing any gear. What would be a good place to stay? (not bringing camping gear either) Any recommendations for some big hikes or scrambles would be much appreciated too.

I tend to find climbers have the best insight into national parks!

No camping gear means the hotels and cabins et al in the park (first two links) or the hotels just outside (see last link below).

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/eatingsleeping.htm

https://www.yosemite.com/lodging/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/yosemite-lodging-guide-1479328

The big hikes from Yosemite Valley are the ever crowded Half Dome (permit required) and Yosemite Falls.
There is lots more hiking and scrambling in Tuolumne Meadows.

What Marc said. Some other lodging options are Rush Creek Lodge and Evergreen Lodge (both right outside the northwest gate of the park, Rush Creek a little closer), or AirBnBs in Foresta or Yosemite West (both little vacation home tracts within the park boundaries). I haven't stayed at any of these but they seem nice. A thing to consider is that if you go to Tuolumne meadows and want to return to the hotel for the night, lodging on hwy 140 or in Wawona is going to make for pretty long drives compared to things on/near 120. If you'll continue road tripping further east by way of Tuolumne and Tioga Pass, there are various motels in Lee Vining on the east side of the park that could be good.

For hikes, the usual suspects in the Valley are beautiful but not too strenuous. If Tuolumne weather cooperates, Cloud's Rest is incredible. Mt Dana and Mt Conness (the easy way) seem like classic scrambles. Gaylor Lakes & the Great Sierra Mine make for a cool short hike. But there are infinite other good options.

One of my favorite big hikes ever is Four Mile Trail (from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point) - Panorama Trail - Mist Trail. You get some amazing views.

There's some cool scrambles on this site: summitpost.org/yosemite-val…

I'd make your lodging reservations ASAP - Yosemite fills up way in advance, especially anything in the park.  Evergreen Lodge is really nice, but not cheap. 

I stay at the Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal. It's pricey but a great night's sleep.

We get up at 5am, used to be in construction, get into the park, climb or hike in the morning and get back out. This really avoids most of traffic on the roads, climbs and trails. I save my patience's for stop and go or driving 5 mph for getting back into San Francisco Sunday or Monday nights.

Thanks fo everyone for the really useful feedback. We've managed to book 3 nights at Sunset Inn - Meadow Lark Cabin. Now just to hope for good weather!

It's my girlfriends birthday on the day we arrive. Any evening sunset spots worth seeking out?

Fenda wrote: Thanks everyone for the really useful feedback. We've managed to book 3 nights at Sunset Inn - Meadow Lark Cabin. Now just to hope for good weather!

It's my girlfriends birthday on the day we arrive. Any evening sunset spots worth seeking out?

I personally always enjoy the sunset view of the last bit of sun lighting up the top of Half Dome. I've usually seen it from the valley floor just because that's where I tend to be at that time of day, but you should also get a great view from someplace like Tunnel View, which also provides a very classic view of the valley in general

For an easy sunset view, if you’re already in the Valley, go to Ahwanee Meadow. Bring chairs and a bottle of wine. It won’t be crowded.