Wondering what the Fall colors look like right now in Yosemite Valley? I spent the last week exploring my top spots in Yosemite National Park for enjoying the autumn foliage, and I'm excited to share the current conditions today for this first week of November 2024. I'm rating the park as a "Go Soon" with a mix of vibrant colors at spots like Bridalveil Fall, Cooks Meadow, and Yosemite Chapel.
Read MoreWondering where to see giant trees in California? One of the best spots to hike among some of the largest, oldest & tallest trees in the world is at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park near Wawona & Oakhurst. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to learn about the rich history, top hiking trails, and info to plan your next Yosemite adventure vacation & road trip.
Read MoreLooking for the ultimate family fun road trip to Yosemite National Park? Play the Fossils to Falls scavenger hunt and collect all 10 trading cards, starting at the Fossil Discovery Center in California's Central Valley, taking you thru Coarsegold, Oakhurst, Bass Lake & more Madera County gems, ending in the Yosemite Valley...and then enter to win a great Yosemite Adventure Vacation Prize Package!
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the easy trail to the historic McGurk Cabin & McGurk Meadow in Yosemite National Park. This hike is easily found off Glacier Point Road and it takes hikers through a pine forest to a historic structure and lush meadows with wildflowers in the Summer. Wildlife is abundant in the Yosemite Wilderness, such as deer, coyotes, and black bears.
Read MoreCan you kayak in Yosemite National Park? YES! Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide when planing your next kayaking adventure in Yosemite. Tenaya Lake and Merced River are my two best spots to kayak and raft in Yosemite, and today I'm sharing all the details for setting out on the still waters of Tenaya Lake, as well as discovering the ancient ghost trees still submerged under the surface.
Read MoreWhat are the best hotels near Yosemite? Read this full property review of Firefall Ranch, a brand new luxury hotel near Yosemite National Park. This week I'm staying in a Two Bedroom Cottage while enjoying fine dining, family friendly activities, hiking, and relaxation at this premier resort, which also provides access to the award winning spa at the nearby Rush Creek Lodge. 5 star rating!
Read MoreWhat is the best 2-day itinerary for Yosemite National Park? Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for the perfect weekend in Yosemite, optimizing your Summer road trip schedule, taking you to some of the best viewpoints and hiking trails in the park, offering you views of iconic landmarks like Half Dome, Yosemite Falls & El Capitan. Experience the best sunrise & sunset spots in Yosemite.
Read MoreWhat are the best hotels and vacation rentals near Yosemite National Park? Today I'm sharing a full property & hotel review of HORIZON by Yosemite, a luxury villa with 5 individual suites perfect for a mountain getaway or home base for Yosemite Valley. Located in Midpines near Mariposa & El Portal atop a hill, this boutique resort provides a tranquil kids free environment with panoramic views.
Read MoreThe Tioga Pass Entrance is open for the 2024 Summer season in Yosemite National Park. Connecting Mono Lake, Lee Vining, and US-395 with Big Oak Flat Road, Tioga Road features some of the best views and things to do in and around Yosemite, including multiple waterfalls, lakes, and trailheads to easy & strenuous hikes. Read this travel guide to explore the current conditions on opening week.
Read MoreToday I'm sharing a comprehensive visitors guide for Glacier Point, one of the most iconic clifftop viewpoints in Yosemite National Park. This famous overlook provides the perfect spot to photo Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Fall, Vernal Fall, and the Yosemite Valley below. Read this complete travel guide for preparing your hiking or photography adventure, and learn about its rich history.
Read MoreToday I'm sharing the best spots to escape the crowds when Yosemite National Park gets too crowded. This top vacation destination in California can get very busy, especially in Summer, but there are so many places to go and things to do to enjoy Yosemite in solitude. Check out this travel guide for my top 10 Yosemite spots to avoid crowds, which includes great hiking trails and waterfall views.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking the easy 3.5 mile trail along the Wawona Meadow Loop. This is the perfect hike to avoid the busy Yosemite Valley crowds and escape the hot Summer sun. This family and dog friendly trail circles the historic Wawona Golf Course and is found right off Highway 41 near the Wawona Hotel just a few miles north of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Read MoreThe Bridalveil Fall Trail is now open after years of being closed for a massive restoration project, so this week we're hiking the easy family and kid friendly path to the base of this iconic Yosemite waterfall. This travel guide explores one of the top things to do in Yosemite Valley, especially during the Spring and early Summer seasons, when the Yosemite National Park waterfalls are raging.
Read MoreToday I'm partnering with Visit Yosemite Madera County to share the Top 10 Photo Spots in Yosemite National Park. This photography travel guide shares the best viewpoints and most Instagrammable viewpoints in the park, including Taft Point, Yosemite Valley Swinging Bridge, Olmsted Point, Tunnel View, Sentinel Dome & Glacier Point. Explore stunning scenes with Half Dome, El Capitan & waterfalls.
Read MoreThis week we're taking a long day trip from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park to see Firefall, the natural phenomenon also known as the Horsetail Fall Event. This travel guide covers a one day itinerary with recommendations on driving directions, points of interest, where to park, and how to access one of my top spots to view Firefall from across the Yosemite Valley along Four Mile Trail.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about the best hikes in Yosemite National Park. Today I'm providing the hiking details about 12 great Yosemite trails, one for every month of 2024. Yosemite is awesome all year, so join me in exploring what to do in Yosemite, like Firefall, Mirror Lake, Hetch Hetchy, MIst Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls, Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and Inspiration Point.
Read MoreToday I'm taking a private tour of Yosemite National Park with Yosemite 360 Tours by Tenaya Lodge. Tenaya at Yosemite and Yosemite 360 Tours offer private & group tours in Summer & Winter, and this is a great way to experience the best things to do in Yosemite, such as where to see Half Dome, El Capitan & Yosemite Falls. How to get into Yosemite without a reservation in 2024? Yosemite 360 Tours!
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie hotel review about Tenaya at Yosemite in Fish Camp, CA, one of the best hotels near Yosemite National Park. Join me as I stay in one of the Premium Explorer Cabins and discover all the amenities and family friendly activities that Tenaya Lodge resort has to offer during Christmas & all Winter long. We'll enjoy dining & restaurants, and take a private Yosemite 360 Tour.
Read MoreCheck out my top 15 best spots to see the Fall colors in Yosemite Valley. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for seeing the Fall colors in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park typically peaks later than the Eastern Sierra Fall foliage, but late October is the perfect time to see the Autumn leaves pop with color along Southside Drive, Cooks Meadows, El Capitan Meadow, and Tunnel View.
Read MoreLocated along the Tuolumne River just off Tioga Road in the heart of Yosemite National Park, the trail to Soda Springs and Parsons Memorial Lodge is a can’t miss high country hike.
The hike begins begins by crossing the famous Pacific Crest Trail briefly with wonderful views of Lembert Dome in the distance and this easy hike leads you to the natural springs and the historic landmark lodge.
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