I will admit it, although I am more of a city girl, I have a fascination with nature and am in love with the National Parks. Although I’ve been in California for quite a while and Yosemite has been on my list I hadn’t been there. Finally the opportunity for a quick trip came up. The drive from LA is about 6 hours and like so many of the National Parks, as you drive in there is no indication of what is to come. Every time I visit a new park it’s the same thing, driving and driving and wondering if it’s going to live up to the expectations and every time, the expectations are left in the dust and Yosemite is no exception.
We decided to start at the Mariposa Grove which was recently reopened, since it was right near the entrance. Walking among the Giant Sequoias is truly awe-inspiring. Home to more than 500 mature giant sequoias, there’s the impressive Grizzly Giant, the Bachelor and Three Graces and even the Fallen Monarch, there’s strenuous trails and some quick easy ones to take in many of the sites.
We mapped out our visit for the next two days and hit the road. There are free shuttle buses that you can take throughout the park, which can be nice when the traffic is busy. We opted to drive so we would have more flexibility.
We took in all of the sights, Bridal Veil Falls, the Valley from the Tunnel View, El Capitan, Half Dome and so much more. Soaring granite mountains, lakes, rivers, it’s just relaxing and beautiful. It was also wonderful to meet new friends from around the world that traveled all the way here to see this amazing place.
We headed to the valley and the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, formerly the Ahwahnee and while we planned to have lunch their the timing didn’t work for our plans so we had to put a stay at the hotel on a list for future visits. Majestic is fitting; having hosted presidents, royalty and many other celebrities a stay here is definitely a treat. Of course there is a wide variety of lodging from campsites and campgrounds, to cabins and a variety of hotels and motels.
We headed out for day two and since we’d hit a lot of the most popular areas on day one, we headed to some of the quieter areas of the park including the Glacier Point and Tioga Roads and the Tulomne Meadows. A quick picnic by the lake before we had to head out and find our way back to Los Angeles.
It was definitely too short and we left with wanting more and with so much more we want to see but we will be back.
Have you been to Yosemite? What is your favorite place? What is your favorite park?
-Trina