Approaching Yosemite Village, located in the Yosemite Valley area of the park, the traffic thickens. The number of non-rare animal (people) sightings increase. Still, as we drove in, we were struck with a sense of reverence. The beauty is a bit of a sensory overload whether its the size of the trees or the size of the mountains, its very difficult to take it all in, however well worth the effort!
Parking can be challenging. Yosemite Village is probably the most congested area of the park at any given time. In and around the village one can locate everything from souvenirs to lodging. The Village uses a system of buses and marked walkways to make navigation very easy. We decided to have a sandwich and a couple beers at one of the many picnic tables scattered about the shopping area. Food and dining choices range from shopping for groceries at the local store to reserving a table for fine dining at Ahwahnee Dining Room.
Living in the desert can give one the uncanny ability to appreciate a tree!
Lodging will also vary greatly as luxury is a relative term. For those who wish to camp, there are areas around the Village which make for a convenient use of local shops and facilities. For others who want an actual room, anything from cabins to fine hotel rooms are available. For more information on lodging, see this area of the Yosemite website. I highly recommend calling well in advance if you plan to stay in a room or a cabin. They tend to book up quick with those who want to be outdoors without really having to sleep and eat outdoors…
Activities in the park are plentiful. Whether you want to tour, hike, camp, canoe, bike, fish, golf, rock climb, ride a horse, ski, snowshoe, or ice skate you can find something to please every member of your family here. Many people even choose to get married here. Learn more about the weddings at Yosemite by visiting the fan page on facebook.
A view of Half Dome from the Valley near Yosemite Village.
I personally wanted to see Yosemite Falls. Christina and I left the Village and followed the signs pointing us to Yosemite Falls. Its an easy hike along well manicured and marked trails… At least to get to the base. There are more difficult hikes for those seeking such fun. I must say though that I was quite disappointed in Yosemite Falls not because of the 2400+ foot total height with 3 separate drops, but because it was DRY! Now for us, Yosemite was on the way to our destination and a stop along our road trip, however if you plan on coming just to see the falls, be advised that they only flow at certain times of the year. Call ahead to avoid disappointment.
Christina stands in front of a bone dry Yosemite Falls!
Even with the dry falls… There is plenty to get into. As I mentioned before activities abound. Just walking along the groomed paths is a wonderful day. You’ll see some incredible rock formations, huge trees, and interesting animals foraging among some of the more lush areas. For us, the day was something we completely enjoyed and seeing some of the trees whet our appetites to see Mariposa Grove where the Grizzly Giant lives!
Read Part 1 | Book your next trip at etraveldealer.com!
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