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I am going to Yosemite with my wife and two young (7 & 3) keets next week. I have only been there once before, many years ago in the middle of winter. Any suggestions on "can't miss" activities, sights, hikes, bike rides, etc.? We will be spending the first night at the Wawona Hotel and the remainder of the time will be at the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls.

Just saw this 2 minutes ago, an FYI.....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/01/yosemi ... index.html


Thursday, June 1, 2006; Posted: 9:46 p.m. EDT (01:46 GMT)
Yosemite National Park
California

EL PORTAL, California (AP) -- The main road to Yosemite National Park was closed after a rock slide buried it under 300 feet of debris and threatened to knock out electricity to the park, officials said.

No one was injured in the slide about 12 miles west of the park on Highway 140, but rocks continued to fall Thursday, preventing crews from removing an estimated 250-300 tons of debris, fire officials said. It was not clear when the road would reopen.

"It looks like the mountain moved right over the road," said Carrie Smith of the California Highway Patrol, who reviewed pictures of the slide. "It looks like there should be a tunnel there, but there's not."

The slide began as a trickle of rocks April 29 and forced sporadic road closures last month. The road reopened last week, but on Monday the intensity of the slide increased.

The slide, which is 600 feet long, 600 feet wide and 300 feet deep, threatened to topple two power line towers carrying 72,000 volts of electricity to the town of El Portal and the park, said Mariposa County Fire Chief Blaine Shultz.

The power lines are the only source of power to the small community and the park, Shultz said.

Motorists were advised to use alternate routes into the park. Two routes from the south and the north were still open.

Hiking is pretty hard-core, so even the easy trails are difficult with young kids.
The Mariposa Grove in the south is pretty cool.
Many waterfalls will begin to slow down in summer since all the winter snow will have melted, but you should be okay since Cali had so much rain this winter.
Most of the tourist attractions are in the valley, where the main lodgings are.
Yosemite Falls behind Yosemite Lodge is pretty cool.
Bridalveil Falls in the valley flows all year.
If you come in from the south along Highway 41, you HAVE to stop at the
Glacier Point has some of the most dramatic views of the park.
Tunnel View: After going through the mountain you will come out to a spectacular view of El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls, and Half Dome with the valley floor below:

I live about an hour and a hlaf from Yosemite, and the park is one of my favorite places to bike. Park somewhere away from the crowds and ride your bikes to the valley floor and/or all the way to mirror lake. You can go as long as you want and make it as easy or as difficult as you want. The best part is you will be riding past stopped cars with angry drivers and frustrated passengers trying to get to the meadow parking lot.

You gotta hike the mist trail that starts just past happy isles. This trail leads all the way to half dome (about 8 miles one way)....At least hike the 2 miles up to the top of vernal and nevada falls...it's unbeleivable.

daddymention wrote:You gotta hike the mist trail that starts just past happy isles. This trail leads all the way to half dome (about 8 miles one way)....At least hike the 2 miles up to the top of vernal and nevada falls...it's unbeleivable.

Definitely do that, especially if you can leave the kids somewhere for a few hours.

And DEFINITELY stop at an In'N'Out while you're there.

OK While staying at Wawona, do the Steam Train which goes from Fish Camp just below the south gate, your 'keets will love this! Also, walk in the Mariposa Grove as far as the tree with the walk going through it and make sure you take a picture of them standing on top of the General Grant tree too. usually deer near the parking lot at Mariposa also. Your kids will like the big trees. the gift shop a Wawona has some good kids books about Yosemite. Enjoy the pool at Wawona, the other resorts don't have one! There is also a good shop at the Wawona village, where buy gas by the way because there isn't any gas in the Valley itself. Wawona has a good dining room and pool, and Tenaya another new lodge owned by the same people but just outside the south entrance has both a good restaurant and a good bar restaurant, and the 'keets'll loved the stuffed bears in the lobby. The guy who plays piano in the Wawona lounge at night is worth the staying there! Also Tenaya has wagon rides in the woods, ask at the Wawona desk you might be able to get on one of 'em.

Stop at Tunnel View and Bridal Veil on your way IN from Wawona. Bridal Veil is very wet, wear Tevas to walk up to the base and be prepared to change clothes.

If Glacier Point road is open, go up for the view, we have NEVER gotten up there because it is closed by snow like 10 months of the year.

From Yosemite Lodge you have such a great location to just walk up to the base of Yosemite Falls ! Then WALK along to the Village... the 'keets will like the Nature themed shop next to the Pizza place. There's a bunch of old 1930's buildings and a small museum. Take the bus up to the Ahnahwee to walk the lobby and reserve a table for lunch or breakfast in their fantastic dining room.

Take a bus up to Mirror Lake, this is a good walk for 'keets. Also, most kids can do the lower walk to the Vernal Falls footbridge. Just make sure you take plenty of water, we have seen so many people just suffering because they didn't take water. Note for parents, there are toilets at the footbridge and at Bridal Veil as well. Have your 'keets do the junior ranger program, the visitor center will have information. Also the Happy whatsit nature Center is good for 'keets. Do an evening Ranger program.

Wherever you eat, try to reserve, because you are headed into crowded season. Oh, and you likely will if you are going to Wawona first, but try to enter and leave by the South entrance, it is the least spoilt and easiest. Last year after all the rain the wildflowers were spectacular, do not know what it will be this year. It is a fantastic place and you have chosen good places to stay that will make your visit easier.

Have fun! Wish we were going back this year too, but there is too much going on. :)

Missing B'dos wrote:OK While staying at Wawona, do the Steam Train which goes from Fish Camp just below the south gate, your 'keets will love this! Also, walk in the Mariposa Grove as far as the tree with the walk going through it and make sure you take a picture of them standing on top of the General Grant tree too. usually deer near the parking lot at Mariposa also. Your kids will like the big trees. the gift shop a Wawona has some good kids books about Yosemite. Enjoy the pool at Wawona, the other resorts don't have one! There is also a good shop at the Wawona village, where buy gas by the way because there isn't any gas in the Valley itself. Wawona has a good dining room and pool, and Tenaya another new lodge owned by the same people but just outside the south entrance has both a good restaurant and a good bar restaurant, and the 'keets'll loved the stuffed bears in the lobby. The guy who plays piano in the Wawona lounge at night is worth the staying there! Also Tenaya has wagon rides in the woods, ask at the Wawona desk you might be able to get on one of 'em.

Stop at Tunnel View and Bridal Veil on your way IN from Wawona. Bridal Veil is very wet, wear Tevas to walk up to the base and be prepared to change clothes.

If Glacier Point road is open, go up for the view, we have NEVER gotten up there because it is closed by snow like 10 months of the year.

From Yosemite Lodge you have such a great location to just walk up to the base of Yosemite Falls ! Then WALK along to the Village... the 'keets will like the Nature themed shop next to the Pizza place. There's a bunch of old 1930's buildings and a small museum. Take the bus up to the Ahnahwee to walk the lobby and reserve a table for lunch or breakfast in their fantastic dining room.

Take a bus up to Mirror Lake, this is a good walk for 'keets. Also, most kids can do the lower walk to the Vernal Falls footbridge. Just make sure you take plenty of water, we have seen so many people just suffering because they didn't take water. Note for parents, there are toilets at the footbridge and at Bridal Veil as well. Have your 'keets do the junior ranger program, the visitor center will have information. Also the Happy whatsit nature Center is good for 'keets. Do an evening Ranger program.

Wherever you eat, try to reserve, because you are headed into crowded season. Oh, and you likely will if you are going to Wawona first, but try to enter and leave by the South entrance, it is the least spoilt and easiest. Last year after all the rain the wildflowers were spectacular, do not know what it will be this year. It is a fantastic place and you have chosen good places to stay that will make your visit easier.

Have fun! Wish we were going back this year too, but there is too much going on.

Wawona and the Mariposa Grove are definitely worth it and there is also a 9 hole golf course across from the Wawona with rentals. Of course, I arrived the 1 day in August that it actually rained, so it was a no go for anything around the lodge, although Mariposa was even more spectacular in the sun and with everything wet.

If Glacier Point is open, bring binoculars. Sometimes you can see people climbing up the face of Half Dome. When you're up there, you are actually looking down on El Capitan and Half Dome.
My favorite hike was up to Sentinel Dome. It's about a mile up and although it looks daunting ("How the hell are we gonna get up there???" an exact quote from my mom ), it's not a bad hike. The end is kinda tough, but doable. The views from up there are even better than from Glacier Point IMO. The start of the trail is on the road to Glacier Point.

I just found a link for Yosemite with Kids:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/pphtml/forkids.html

Unfortunately, going up to Wawona looks like it might be your ONLY option right now.
At least you can still see some fantastic views of Half Dome from Glacier Point.
Good hiking to the falls from there too.

The road into the valley, Tioga Pass Hwy., is shown to be closed with a MAJOR rockslide that is gonna bottle things up there for a good while.

Check the Yosemite site at http://www.nps.gov/yose/now/conditions.htm
You may be able to enter the Valley from the east...
but we're talking the other side of the Sierras to take that route

Trying to plan for 2011. How many days would be reccommended INSIDE the park? Not keen about spending $200+ a night to stay inside the park for basic accomodations but I know for at least a few days it will be the smart move to save time.

We'll fly into San Fran, rent a car & drive over.
We enjoy a fair amount of hiking. We're OK with moderate hikes. Probably can handle 1 strenuous hike. This will most likely be our 1 & only trip to Yosemite in our lifetime so we don't want to miss out on anything, Trying to plan early enough in the season to beat the real crowds & see the falls at their fullest, but late enough not to be restricted by road closures.

If we have extra time which is more reccommended? Trip to Sequoia & Kings Canyon or a trip to Lake Tahoe? We HAVE been to Redwoods Nat'l Park so we've seen the monster trees before.

Also, anyone have any feedback regarding fall colors in Yosemite? I mostly see evergreen trees in the photos so I'm assuming fall colors aren't overly spectacular in Yosemite. Correct me if I'm wrong & add when the California fall colors usually kick in.

DC,
I'm partial to Sequoia. Redwoods Nat'l Park contains the Coast Redwoods, which are the tallest trees. Giant Sequoias are massive...and you can see the largest tree on earth there. It's like going back in time to me. Tahoe is beautiful too...and there's more variety of things to do...but I'd choose Sequoia simply because there are so few places like it left on the planet. Or take a couple extra days and do both!

Hey, Doctor Corona!
Camp Curry tent cabins are about $95 during the summer season (sleeps 4), less in the springtime. http://www.yosemitepark.com/accommodati ... llage.aspx
For the best, gushing waterfall experience, I suggest that you schedule your trip during late spring or early summer. The falls turn to trickling ribbons and/or dry up by the end of summer.
You'll need at least 4 nights IMO, especially since this might be your only trip. You need time to sight bears, watch ravens and deer, have breakfast at the Ahwahnee, rent a raft for a float down the Merced River, plus time to eat, shower, figure it all out, and get to all the sights. You need a day or two to see the sights in the valley (shuttle bus stops). Plus you need to do my two favorite day trips (see below):
My favorite day trips (you gotta do both of these):
- Walk up the 1-mile trail to Vernal Falls. Bring picnic. If you feel like it, continue up the Mist Trail to the top of the falls. OR, take the trail that goes to the top of Nevada Falls. Both magnificent.
- Drive to Glacier Point and be amazed. It's like being in an airplane up there. On the way back, hike the one mile trail to Taft Point (you look down on El Capitan) and the one mile walk to Sentinel Dome. Both trailheads are at the same parking area. For a true Ansel Adams moment, stop on th way up at the overlook just before passing through the tunnel.
Hikes.....not sure what you mean by strenuous when you mention hiking. Yosemite is in the Sierra Madre, so strenuous may mean an all-day hike or a 4-day backpack trip?
My favorite hikes:
- My favorite all-day hike (7+miles) leaves from Glacier Point, passes Illouette Falls, Nevada Falls and follows the Mist Trail to the Valley. Takes planning (need real hiking boots, need to take the bus one-way or deal with picking up your car the next day, water purification pump or tabs, you'll be sore the next day, etc.)
-My favorite 3- 4 day overnight (26+miles) leaves from Tuolomne Valley and goes over some passes, next to several alpine lakes, sees amazing vistas before ending up in the valley.
Have fun!

Yosemite is a beautiful park. Enjoy your stay there.

I prefer Jellystone.

Bump...Well, we didn't make it last year due to son's wedding in Mexico.
Just got reservations for Yosemite Lodge June 21 & June 22 for 2013. Desperately looking for other accomodations (not Curry) that are reasonable ($125 or less) near or inside the park for a day or 2 to enjoy the experience.
Anyone ever used the condo rentals?

I stay outside the park (about 20 minutes is all) on the east side in a little town called Lee Vining, near Mono Lake. I try to stay out of the valley and keep to the higher back country off Hwy 120, around Tioga Pass. Don't tell anyone but the Eastern Sierra is AMAZING!! Check out June Lake loop and the cheap gourmet food at the Whoa Nelli Deli, aka the Mobil Station.

Tequila Revenge wrote:I stay outside the park (about 20 minutes is all) on the east side in a little town called Lee Vining, near Mono Lake. I try to stay out of the valley and keep to the higher back country off Hwy 120, around Tioga Pass. Don't tell anyone but the Eastern Sierra is AMAZING!! Check out June Lake loop and the cheap gourmet food at the Whoa Nelli Deli, aka the Mobil Station.

I've read about Whoa Nelli. Do you recollect how far out you made your reservations for your Lee Vining motel?
My game plan is to fly into California, (prob. SF, Oakland or Fresno depending upon $$ & flight times) & spend pretty much 3 or 4 full days in the park within a 7-8 day trip. As I've mentioned before trying to sort out what to add to the trip, whether it be heading south to Sequoia/Kings or going north to Lake Tahoe. Most likely S & K national park for a couple days. Not sure if the Mammoth Lakes area is worth kicking around for a day or so. Would invite input on that.

My favorite time to visit is September/October, and I've never had an issue getting a room. You might consider flying into Reno, NV and driving down the East side of the Sierra to Lee Vining. It's only 140 miles that way. A lot of people enjoy the Mammoth area. I try to stay away from crowds when on vacation. If your a AAA member, the have a recreation map for the Eastern Sierra. Here are a few links to check out;

http://www.thesierraweb.com/index.cfm

http://www.monolake.org/

http://www.395.com/

Hope this helps.

And if you like to fish or explore hot springs, that can add to your Sierra adventure!

Tequila Revenge wrote:My favorite time to visit is September/October, and I've never had an issue getting a room. You might consider flying into Reno, NV and driving down the East side of the Sierra to Lee Vining. It's only 140 miles that way. A lot of people enjoy the Mammoth area. I try to stay away from crowds when on vacation. If your a AAA member, the have a recreation map for the Eastern Sierra. Here are a few links to check out;

http://www.thesierraweb.com/index.cfm

http://www.monolake.org/

http://www.395.com/

Hope this helps.

While I too enjoy missing the crowds & would rather make a post Labor Day trip, I don't want to miss the waterfalls being in grand form. Thus, made the decision to go in June.
The thing I most envy you Westeners about is your proximity to all the great National Parks & extraordinary scenery out there. For me, it's either 6 days of roundtrip driving JUST TO GET THERE & BACK, or big expense of flying, renting a car & most likely 1 shot at ever seeing these national treasures.
Ironic, just last night I was reading about the Lake Tahoe area & the possibility of flying into Reno & taking the route you just reccommended.
Thanks for the input!