Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for a winter stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel Library Suite in Yosemite National Park during Christmas time. With views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Glacier Point, this historic hotel is a great place to stay in Yosemite Valley. Visit the Dining Hall, Grand Lounge and Mural Room, and book guest rooms where Queen Elizabeth, JFK, and Barak Obama stayed.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Harmony Borax Works located in Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. There are so many popular things to do in Death Valley, and this historic spot is a great quick stop near Zabriskie Point and Badwater Basin. The easy trail is family friendly and provides up close views of a 20 mule team wagon and old building ruins.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking the Mist Trail to the Vernal Fall Footbridge in the snow. There are many things to do in Yosemite during Winter, and taking this trail near Curry Village is a favorite. Along the way we'll see iconic Yosemite highlights such as Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and the roaring rapids of the Merced River.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to Wind Wolves Preserve near Bakersfield in the Central Valley. Located near the I-5 at the Grapevine, this preserve offers great hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and educational resources for adults & kids about the nature here and the Chumash Native Americans that once lived here. You might even see elk, rattlesnakes, black bear, and mountain lions.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Tall Trees Grove Trail in Redwood National and State Parks. This moderate to strenuous redwoods hike requires a permit obtained in advanced by the National Park Service and Redwood Park Conservancy. Along this trail you'll see the tallest redwood tree in the park and the 3rd tallest tree in the world, and you can walk through a tunnel log.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to viewing the Yosemite Valley Firefall during the Fall season. More commonly enjoyed during Winter in February, the Firefall natural phenomenon happens when the sunset light hits Horsetail Fall on the side of El Capitan, creating a flame affect on the waterfall. On rare occasions, this event can be seen during Autumn in late October or early November.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for the California ghost town of Bodie State Historic Park along Highway 395. Located a half hour north of Lee Vining and the Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite National Park, this Gold Rush boomtown has been preserved in a state of arrested decay by the CA State Park Service and showcases 200 old structures, including a jail, schoolhouse, church, and bank.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Big Trees Trail along Generals Highway in the Giant Forest. This easy hike is one of my favorite things to do in Sequoia National Park, and it's close to the Giant Forest Museum, General Sherman Tree, Congress Trail, and Moro Rock. This loop trail is family friendly and great for all ages, providing close up views of giant sequoia trees.
Read MoreRead this Fall color travel guide to Rock Creek Lake in the Eastern Sierra mountains. Rock Creek Canyon is home to dozens alpine lakes and hiking trails, but today we'll be hiking the easy trail around Rock Creek Lake and enjoying the autumn colors as we stroll through groves of aspen trees. The Fall colors are peaking along Highway 395, so download the free photo guide to my top spots.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to the top 20 spots to view the Eastern Sierra Fall colors in 2022. Plan your visit this Autumn with locations such as North Lake, Rock Creek Lake, Conway Summit, McGee Creek, South Lake, Intake 2, Bishop, Owens River, Aspendell, Cardinal Village, Lake Sabrina, and more. Download a free travel guide with map pins and driving directions.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting 3 National Parks in 1 day! This one day itinerary is a great California road trip idea, taking us from Yosemite Valley to Kings Canyon, and then ending in Sequoia National Park. We'll explore spots like Lower Yosemite Falls, Big Stump Trail, Grant Grove, General Sherman, Moro Rock, Hanging Rock, Tunnel Log, and Tunnel Rock.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for the Tallac Historic Site in South Lake Tahoe on the California side. There are many things to do in Lake Tahoe, but this Northern California landmark offers a look into Lake Tahoe history. Explore old structures, including the Pope Estate and Baldwin Estate, which is now home to the Tallac Museum where you can learn about the native Washoe people.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking a section of the Pohono Trail and Old Wawona / Stagecoach Road to the Artist Point overlook in Yosemite National Park. Learn about trail info, such as distance / elevation gain, as well as how this viewpoint is a great alternative to Tunnel View since it is less crowded, and the hike can be combined with a similar view at Inspiration Point.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about hiking to the General Sherman Tree located in Sequoia National Park in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains. Learn interesting facts about the General Sherman Tree, trail distance, and nearby trails, such as the Congress Trail, the Alta Trail, and the Circle Meadow Loop. Enjoy photography of the giant sequoia trees from overlooks and viewpoints.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about hiking the Devastated Area Interpretive Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. Learn about the trail distance and the interpretive panels, such as the one with Loomis and his "Hot Rock" photograph. See pictures of Lassen Peak, large volcanic rocks, and the forest that is recovering from the Lassen Peak volcano eruption.
Read MoreToday we're taking the short and steep hike down to Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay State Park on the California side of south Lake Tahoe. This historic structure was built nearly a century ago and is one of the best representations of Scandinavian architecture in the United States.
Read MoreToday I'm in Yosemite National Park with my dog exploring all the pet friendly spots in the park. Read this full travel guide to enjoying the best dog friendly activities, hiking trails, viewpoints, and hotels. Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, Cooks & Sentinel Meadows, Half Dome views from Glacier Point, and the hike to Mirror Lake are just a few of the dog friendly locations we're exploring today.
Read MoreWe're celebrating National Forest Week by exploring two easy hikes in Lassen National Forest in Northern California. The Subway Cave Lava Tubes and Spatter Cone Nature Trail are two of the most unique and easily accessible volcanic trails in California.
Read MoreToday we're in Yosemite National Park enjoying Olmsted Point along Tioga Road. We'll check out views of Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and Tenaya Lake from multiple overlooks, including a bonus hike.
Read MoreToday we're in D.L. Bliss State Park in the South Lake Tahoe area enjoying a gentle hike along the Balancing Rock Nature Trail. This large precarious granite boulder has been fascinating visitors for centuries.
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