And so they should be. Yosemite was the first ever national park in the world alongside Yellowstone, and in my humble opinion, it is one of the very best. The nearest regional airport is a couple hours flight from Los Angelos or San Francisco, however its really simple to road trip it, just eight hours travel time from LA or 4 from San Francisco by train or vehicle. Yosemite National Park is a breeze to visit.
When we arrived at Yosemite in the evening (we had spent the morning exploring LA), we couldn’t believe our eyes. Gigantic trees, flowing rivers, lush fields of flowers filled with deer, cute log buildings. And, of course, the famous walls of the valley. El Capitan, the Three Sisters, and Half-Dome. Three of the most incredible natural wonders… all surrounding us. For nature loving families - this place cannot be beaten.
Easy to medium difficulty walks/hikes are the way to go if you want to take in the incredible views. All walks are well signposteed and many are suited to children, they offer waterfalls, views and running streams so there is plenty to keep the kids stimulated. Bikes are available to rent and are super fun to zip around the meadowy valley floor, while rafting on the flowing stream is sure to give you that dose of adrenaline the kids are longing for. Rock climbing is very popular and lessons for all levels are avaiable. Ice-skate or snow ski in winter or play in the snow. We decided to take a photography tour as Yosemite is a photographic paradise. We joined a local company
YExplore - I can’t recommend them enough! No matter what level you are you learn something, and my favourite bit, the friendly guide will take you to literally the most beautiful places in the park. Inside knowledge like that is priceless.
There is a great information centre and adventure/Yosemite based cinema, we watched several of the short movies on offer free of charge and learnt alot about the region, its history, local activities and its people. Accomodation ranges from camping to ultra-luxury hotels. A free bus runs every 20 minutes around the village and picks up and drops off at all accommodation, restuarants, shops and main walking tracks. Lots of food choices are available from a supermarket, cafe, pizza and burgers bars through to 5 star dining. We stayed at Curry Village (also known as Camp Curry) this cool place consists of permanent tents; they look like large canvas tents from the outside, yet on the inside they are more like a very basic hotel room. (you will need to walk to the shared bathrooms) All the linen is supplied - simply pack clothes and you’re ready to camp. No food is allowed in your tents though because its just too tempting for the bears, so you have a bear box outside to store any snacks or food, so you do need to eat your meals at nearby restaurants or grab a bite at the supermarket and picnic in the meadows.
Yosemite National Park is simply too close to LA for you to skip it. This park is famous for a reason - you’ll struggle to find a place more beautiful anywhere on earth.
If you'd like to take the family to America BYOkids can arrange your perfect holiday including a visit to Yosemite.. call us now on 1300 296 543
Article courtesy of Josh Squire
