If you want an inexpensive stay in the incomparable beauty of America's bijou national park, consider the Grant Grove Cabins, just a few steps from the visitor's center, general store, and gift shop.

A 3-mile hike will take you to America's Christmas Tree, the General Grant Sequoia. Nothing in the county beats this location for the magnificence of the giant trees.

We've stayed in tent cabins, deluxe cabins, and bath cabins. They are pretty much what you would expect.

Tent cabins have wooden walls and floor with a canvas roof. These are the cheapest option.

The deluxe cabin has a wood roof and electricity.

The bath cabin is the step up, featuring a bathroom with shower and bathtub in addition to the above amenities. These are duplexes, and comparable to a cheap motel.

So what do the other options do if they don't have a bathroom? There's a bathhouse. It's just like summer camp, with a lower proportion of hormonal teenagers.

If you are going to visit the national park, but do not wish to camp, this is a good option. It's cheaper than the lodge, close to the natural beauty, and still better than an actual tent.

You can go to a nearby campsite to enjoy a cozy fire, though cooking is not allowed in the cabins, nor are open flames allowed nearby.

The drawbacks are that you are very close to everyone else. Please be assured: I do not blame the small child who screams at 6 am. I blame the parents who allow the small child to continue to scream from 6 am. This may seem like blaming the location for the behavior of the neighbors, but this is still, essentially, one step up from a campsite.

If you want a more peaceful experience, consider the nearby John Muir Lodge or one of the nearby campgrounds. Azalea has wider spacing between caboose than Sunset, but the latter has more shade. Both have amazing views.