Thinking of visiting Yosemite National Park? Think out of the box and go in the Spring – when there are no crowds. The waterfalls are at their best and the weather on the Valley floor is pleasantly warm.
Yosemite is one of those iconic National Parks that everyone wants to visit at some point in their life. You probably recognise Half Dome’s image (above). The massive granite rock formation looks like someone took a knife (well, a glacier) and sliced it in half. But if you could stretch your neck around and look at the other side, you’ll notice it’s actually three-quarters of a dome.
I learned this recently on a family trip to Yosemite, organised by Visit California. The park, which is celebrating 150 since President Lincoln signed a grant to preserve the land for all to enjoy, covers 761,000 acres, which is about the size of the state of Rhode Island! It has inspired many, from Scottish naturalist John Muir to Steve Jobs, who was married in the Ahwanhee Hotel in 1991. There are water falls, granite cliffs, streams and wildlife and a plethora of activities from hiking, camping, biking, fishing, rock climbing, rafting, and more.
So what are my top tips for visiting as a family trip?
This is tunnel view, which is often a visitor’s first glimpse of Yosemite.
1. Visit in the Springtime!
In the Spring there are no crowds or traffic jams and the waterfalls are at their very best. Though there may be snow in higher elevations, the weather is pleasant on the Valley Floor (high teens and 20sC). Yosemite summers can get into the 30sC, which is quite hot. Springtime temperatures are perfect.
More visitors in the summer can also mean difficulty finding somewhere to stay (unless you book far in advance). Having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve visited Yosemite several times. It’s only 3 and 1/2 hours by car from San Francisco. Come March, most locals are thinking more about going to the beach and doing up their gardens after the winter rather than visiting one of America’s most beautiful national parks. This of course is great news for UK visitors. You can enjoy the park at its best with fewer people around!
We stayed in the “Tree House” is the Yosemite West self catering housing development. If you aren’t into camping, it’s definitely the way to go for families. It’s inside the park gates, and centrally located near all major attractions.
2. Stay in the self-catering vacation rentals
My other top tip is to stay in the self-catering vacation rentals in Yosemite West. These family homes are conveniently located just a short drive from major park attractions. If you have visited Yosemite before, you’ll know there are lots of options on the valley floor (from camping/glamping, to basic lodges to the swish Ahwahnee Hotel). But if you want space, a full kitchen and a fireplace (some even have hot tubs) at reasonable prices, try these vacation rentals. The decor is 80s and they need a bit of revamping, but they are located IN YOSEMITE PARK. That’s a huge plus.
We went on a 4-hour walk with a Yosemite naturalist, and learned about how Yosemite was formed and plans to keep it going for the future.
3. Go on a hike with a Yosemite naturalist
One of the best ways to discover Yosemite is with a guide. We met naturalist Michael Ross for a four-hour nature walk to catch some key Valley floor highlights, plus learn some not-so-well-known facts. Michael has lived in Yosemite for nearly 40 years and is with the Yosemite Conservancy, a non-profit organisation established to provide for Yosemite’s future.
He explained how Yosemite was formed (millions of years of glaciers, moving frozen rivers, cutting away at the granite landscape) and the girls gasp when they learned the last glacier disappeared in the 1970s. He took us on the Valley Loop Trail, which always has fewer people than other trails (one of Michael’s tips). He’s very good about weaving in stories (the Legend of Tis-sa-ack, the woman on the face of Half Dome), and facts that fascinate both kids and parents (Half Dome is not HALF, it’s actually three-quarters of a dome!).
We started by admiring the 7,200 Glacier Point and learning about how Yosemite became a national park then walked through a forested area, arriving at the gushing Yosemite Falls. He showed the girls how to properly climb rocks (diagonally, so if you loosen a rock it doesn’t fall on someone below) and we had lunch perched high on a rock fall. This walk was a highlight of our visit.
We rented bicycles and toured the Valley Floor at our leisure. You can also use the free shuttle bus to visit major park attractions.
4. Cycle at your own pace around the Valley Floor
We rented bikes at the Lodge at Yosemite Falls and cycled a few miles around a loop in the Valley Floor. It was one of the best bikes rides we’ve had as a family. You can also get around the Valley Floor via the free shuttle bus, which stops at all major attractions, but bicycles give you the freedom to explore at your leisure.
Be prepared to stop every few minutes to take pictures, as there are fantastic photo opportunities around every corner (I went a bit crazy on Instagram). We stopped at Yosemite Bridge, took off our shoes and dipped them in the snow melt river. We passed camp sites, including the pre-made canvas tents at Curry Village (perhaps we’ll try those next time) and ended up in Happy Isles, where we took the Mist Trail up to Vernal Falls. We spent about 4 hours on the bikes, and were happily exhausted when we finished.
The gorgeous Ahwanhee Hotel is a historic landmark. Try Sunday brunch or get hot chocolates at the outside bar and do cartwheels on the large lawn!
5. Enjoy Sunday brunch and the Ahwanhee Hotel
Another highlight was brunch at The Ahwanhee Hotel, the 4-diamond hotel and the most luxurious in the park. Opened in 1927, the hotel is made of stone, wood, concrete and glass and is a prime example of US National Park architecture. The Ahwanhee was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987, and it’s absolutely gorgeous! Steve Jobs choose to be married here, and it’s easy to see why. From nearly every vantage point, there is a stunning view of the park.
The Grand Brunch is held in the grand dining room, which has cathedral ceilings and full length windows to show off views of Yosemite. When we went there was a pianist playing a selection pieces – including, to my girls’ delight, the theme songs from Frozen and Harry Potter. An American “brunch” is a combo breakfast/lunch and the Grand Ahwanhee Brunch is spectacular! Breakfast items included Eggs Benedict, house made waffles and pancakes, cheese blintzes with fruit compote (our favourite), scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese and chives, crispy applewood smoked bacon, and pork sausage links. There were market fresh vegetable crudités, antipasto platter with California cheeses, organic coastal greens and a whole seafood station with smoked salmon and shrimp and a hot food carving station. You can eat as much as you like, then go out hiking or cycling to burn off all the calories!
If you can’t fit in brunch, get a hot chocolate from the outside bar and hang out on the large lawn – it’s perfect for doing cartwheels!
Another advantage of visiting in the Spring is that the waterfalls are at their very best.
I know my girls will remember this trip for a long time. They took in a bit of history, became aware of some environmental issues and enjoyed the natural beauty of Yosemite.
More information
If you are even just dreaming about visiting Yosemite, start with this free vacation planner from the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau www.yosemiteexperience.com (or request a FREE copy). It’s valuable resource when planning your Yosemite/Mariposa trip, with all sorts of insider tips and suggestions.
Note: Our accommodation and activities were provided by Visit California for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own and my family’s.
About Susanna Scott
Susanna Scott founded the BritMums social network in 2008 after a career in marketing. She wanted to create a space for parent bloggers to network, and share ideas and opportunities. She is often quoted as a pioneer in the UK Mum Blogging space, and has been named a top female entrepreneur. She has been featured in The Times, The FT, The Independent, The Guardian, The Sun, Technorati, She, Primo Baby and Red magazine, amongst others. She speaks frequently about blogging, social networking and the BritMums community at industry events. Her blog A Modern Mother ranks in the UK’s top 10 Family Tarvel Blogs. Follow her on @amodernmother.
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