Date of trip: June 2006

This trip was planned a year in advance and my family, mom Mary, dad Chris, sister Meaghan and brother Chris, joined us. Even though we had plenty of time to research the park, nothing could have prepared us for the shock of how beautiful it is in person.

Highlights:

-There are many tours offered at Yosemite, but the Grand Tour will give you the best taste of the whole park. It’s a full day tour and a great way to start your trip and figure out what you want to see more of. The tour will take you to Glacier Point where you have the best view of the park, Mariposa Grove for an open air tram ride through some big trees and the historic Wawona Hotel where you should spring for the delicious lunch in the restaurant.

-There are several great hikes varying in difficulty at Yosemite. We decided to do the strenuous hike to the middle of Yosemite Falls. Strenuous is putting it mildly. With the high altitude and rock covered switchbacks you can easily slip or turn an ankle. Will actually did hurt his foot. No matter which hike you choose, start early so you have plenty of time to rest, bring lots of water and snacks and make sure you communicate with your group. My mother and brother decided to go all the way to the top, which is awesome, but it was a little worrisome for the rest of us when they were missing for four hours because they never told us!

-If you are a mountain climber, you probably already know Yosemite is a haven for climbing. The most popular climb is to the top of El Capitan. Just make sure you have the time as it takes 5 or 6 days to complete. Otherwise, it’s fun to climber watch. With a pair of binoculars you can usually find a climber or two on the face of the mountain…especially if they are wearing bright colors.

-The Ahwahnee Hotel is a taste of how the upper crust lives and a must see. At over $500/night for a room, it’s out of most people’s price range, but even if you can’t sleep there, you must eat there. The food is amazing…if heaven had a restaurant, this would be it. The ceilings are vaulted, the windows are huge and a live piano player takes requests. It’s pricey, but you’re on vacation and you only have to eat there one night. After, you can walk around the grounds, have a drink in the bar or visit one of the gift shops.

-The full moon is an event each month at Yosemite. When it breaks over the mountains, it lights up Yosemite Valley giving it a beautiful glow. Night time tram tours are offered. At the moment the moonlight hits the base of Yosemite Falls, a beautiful arc, called a moonbow is formed. Sometimes it is colorful like a rainbow and sometimes it is just white. Either way, it’s really a unique phenomenon to experience. The moonbow can be seen the night of the full moon and a couple of days prior but the exact time gets later each night. The Yosemite employees are the best people to ask about the time to head out.

-There are many beautiful animals living in Yosemite. Some critters you might see include birds, bears, coyotes, raccoons and deer. Yosemite Lodge has great floor to ceiling windows perfect for wildlife watching.

Tips:

-Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead. Yosemite is very popular. Hotels really must be booked a year in advance, dinner reservations can be made a month in advance and tours can be booked seven days ahead.

-Watch those bugs! We had to do a mosquito sweep of our room every night and Will wiped down our headboard with OFF.

-Don’t feed the animals. Not only will you get fined if caught doing this, it’s also dangerous. Many of the animals have fleas and some carry bubonic plague. No one wants plague! Stay away from those squirrels!

-Follow the rules! Don’t be hanging off ledges. People die every year stepping off trails. You can get great pictures without putting your life in danger.

-Enjoy nature. Make sure you have some quiet time to just sit and take in your surroundings. National Parks have the power to remind you what is important in life.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Yosemite Links:
The National Park Service Yosemite Page
Yosemite Official Site