Especially for birders, but also for anyone drawn to the harsh beauty of the sparsely populated US “Great Basin” (John C. Fremont’s name for the region between the west side of the Rockies and the east side of the Sierra Nevadas from which streams and rivers do not flow to any sea), Mono Lake is a must-see. Lee Vining, the town to which Tioga Pass coming east down the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevadas from Yosemite National Park intersects US Highway 395, the major north-sound road on the east side of the Sierras just south of Lee Vining, CA.
Very close to that intersection is the culinary pilgrimage site, the Whoa Nelly Deli, about which I have written at length (at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/267730/between_yosemite_and_mono_lake_lies.html). To have more than one meal at Whoa Nelly is a reason to stay in Lee Vining that I can understand, though seeing the lake and various geological phenomena (tufa towers, volcanoes) and the birds breeding in or visiting Mono Lake are more usual reasons to stay in Lee Vining.
There are outstanding exhibits at the Mono Lake Visitor Center overlooking the lake just north of Lee Vining as well as a visitor center in the town on the west side of Main Street (better known as Highway 395).
I was quite pleased with lodging three nights at the Best Western Lake View Lodge (30 Main Street) at the southern edge of Lee Vining (the accommodations closest to Whoa Nelly). We were not expecting Wireles Internet in the rooms. It had not been advertised, and had not been available the day before (literally: the antenna was put up only hours before our arrival). For that matter, it had not been advertised that there was WiFi in the lobby, which there had been for some time–and a cable in the lobby to which a guest could connect his or her laptop.
The rooms were quite spacious. I did not see the cabins in back of the motel or the four rooms across the road, but there were some suites even larger than our double room.
My usual complaint–that guests who want two beds are likely to want two luggage racks as well–applies (even if in this instance we had no hard luggage). There was, however, space on the dresser and considerable space on the counter in which the sink was. A mini-refrigerator and microwave occupied some of that counter space.
There was more counter space around the sink in the bathroom. A hair-dryer was on the wall there. The toilet and shower-bath (with, alas, a shower curtain rather than door) were separate. The toiletries were four packets of shampoo.
There was an open closet area with an ironing board and iron on the side.
The table had two padded chairs that works as well for two people using their laptops as it does for eating take-out or something microwaved. (Including bagged lunch, we had three meals a day at Whoa Nelly for all three days, but could easily have had leftovers to microwave given the large size of serving portions!)
The (25″?) tv included some Denver stations, Showtime, and TCM. The clock radio was on top of it.
The mattresses were firm. Each bed had three pillows with another one in reserve.
Since we were out in the field (up and down the mountains, successfully beating the bush for sage grouse and owls, etc.) all day , I don’t know how promptly the rooms were made up, but do know that they were very clean. The motel has been there for years, but is not run-down. Adding free in-room WiFi shows the commitment to providing service. The mostly Latino reception staff were friendly and helpful.
There is a grocery store just north of the motel and a bar (that closes at 9 p.m.) beyond it. There are a number of places to sit outside, overlooking the lake, and access to one end (trail head) of the Lee Vining Trail just across the street.
Smoking is not permitted in any rooms. Rates are higher during the summer (July 11-Aug. 31) and the motel is closed during the winter (as is Tioga Pass).
