Yosemite National Park Recommendations

If you are in decent physical shape you need to partake in the hikes. I really like the hikes in Yosemite valley. Hike to the top of Yosemite falls, great view. The mist trail on up to Nevada and vernal falls is good. Come back down the John Muir trail for a different view. May could get a half done permit if it’s open then.
If you’ve got the time you should drive down to sequoias and Kings canyon to see those parks as well.
I stayed in the parks, not necessarily what I would call “affordable“ But around $250/night. Stayed in Wawona and Yosemite valley lodge. Wawona was a cool place to stay.
I haven’t spent as much time there as id like, but Yosemite is my favorite national park so far.

I envy you. My favorite national park to visit (although I haven't been to all of the "big" ones), been over a dozen times. We had reservations for 3 nights in the park last week, had to cancel when our Mammoth Lakes reservations were canceled and we couldn't find another place for those 3 nights.

Get on those reservations right away. If you have in-park reservations you're good to get in, otherwise you need to sign up for the limited day-use reservations a month out. See this link for details. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm

In the park itself, Wawona is closed until 2021. The Ahwahnee is VERY expensive. Yosemite Lodge and Curry Village are the other options. Don't be afraid of Curry Village, canvas sided permanent tents are a hoot. There is more than one website for making reservations. I've had better luck with this one. https://reservations.ahlsmsworld.com/Yosemite/Plan-Your-Trip/Accommodations/ It actually links to Aramark, the park concessionaire. (The other one would finish by telling you they would let you know in a day or three if you actually got the reservation.) There is also a number to call on that aramark website, probably easier to just call. If there is nothing call back daily as cancellations happen with some frequency, especially in these times.

There is a good website to learn about hikes plus lots more about Yosemite. It appears to be down at the moment (hopefully not forever!) but give it a try. https://www.yosemitehikes.com/

This is definitely going to be a strange time to visit Yosemite. A number of the food places won't be open. Also, Yosemite normally has shuttle buses that run every 15-20 minutes so you can get around the valley floor site without driving. Well, Aramark laid the drivers off so there is no shuttle service this year. Even with fewer visitors the traffic may still be intense (who knows) but going in September may be better.

Definitely go up Glacier Point, preferably in the afternoon/early evening as the sun will be behind you lighting up the valley. Don't miss going as the road up will be closed for 2021 so they can redo parts of it and supposedly will be open in 2022 for limited use. Personally, I don't believe them. They closed the Mariposa Grove (definitely don't miss this either) several years back and missed the reopening estimate by well over a year.

If you've got extra time, a visit to Hetch Hetchy is worthwhile IMO, probably take you half a day or less. Hetch Hetchy Valley and Dam

I assume you'll be entering the valley from the West. If you have time, visit Mono Lake (east of Yosemite, near Lee Vining, over the Tioga Pass), maybe stop by Tenaya Lake on the way. Mono Lake

If you've got extra time before or after Yosemite check out a visit to Bodie State Park if it is open (currently Covid closed), really interesting (to me) old ghost mining town a few miles north of Lee Vining. Bodie State Park

Outside of Yosemite I've stay at Hotel Charlotte in Groveland twice. Hotel Charlotte That's on Hwy 120 coming in. I also stayed at the Yosemite serial killer hotel, Cedar Lodge once (Hwy 140 entrance) and am pretty sure there is another hotel there. Cedar Lodge It is much more convenient to stay in the valley if possible plus you've now got the hassle of getting day passes if you don't have Yosemite Valley reservations. It is over an hour to the valley floor from the hotels I mentioned.