Ummm... Are you sure she didn't get pregnant to get out of the Whitney hike? LOL!!! (completely kidding, but I just couldn't help it.
) FYI, you aren't the first to post about this scenario.
Link. And by the way, CONGRATULATIONS! (Twice: one for the baby, one for the lottery.
)
Now to get serious: Here is the perfect place for you wife to go and chill and enjoy the Sierra: Drive north to Independence, then up into the Sierra to Onion Valley. Probably about an hour given the Whitney Portal descent and Onion Valley climb. Hike up the trail several miles to Gilbert Lake. It's only a mile straight-line from the parking lot. The Kearsarge Pass trail climbs 1200 vertical in about 2 miles and goes right past Gilbert Lake. Starts at about 9200', Gilbert is 10,400' elevation.
There is the most fantastic flat rock there, a little past/above the lake. The trail goes right by it. She could pack a book and a camp chair (maybe something for shade, too). Here's a picture from someone's blog
(Onion Valley to Flower Lake)
Here's another trip report with three pictures of that same rock (including their "lunch with a view" feet):
Hiking the Kearsarge Pass TrailHere's a map of that trail and the lakes:
