I have been coming to Yosemite for 45 years now. It is one of the most affordable family vacations that you can do! You can do several things in Yosemite National Park for free.

Yosemite Park covers 1200 square miles of area in the Western Sierra Nevada Mountain range. It is open year around. This place is known for its sheer granite mountains, lakes, meadows, waterfalls and forests. The scenery is breath taking and compares to little else. It became a national park in 1890.

The center of Yosemite National Park is its valley. A canyon carved by glaciers during the last ice age. Majestic waterfalls, meadows, forests and domes that climb 3,000 feet above the valley floor grace this national park. The Merced River runs through the valley. The valley is well marked with signs and easy to get around.

In the valley are stores, restaurants, hotels, cabins, camping, a Visitor's Center, a post office and a chapel. There are free shuttle buses that will take you around the valley so that you can see Yosemite.

What can you do when you come to see Yosemite National Park? There is of course hiking. From easy walks to challenging hikes...there is something for everyone. You can hike to the bottom of a waterfall or go all the way to the top of one! You can take a casual walk up to Mirror Lake/Mirror Meadow. You can float the Merced river on a raft or an inner tube. You can even lay on a sandy beach! There is horseback riding available in the valley or you can let a mule take you to the top of a waterfall!

The shuttle buses will get you to the beginning of many of the Yosemite hiking trails, and to all main points of interest in the valley. While sitting on a shuttle bus you will see a couple of the Yosemite waterfalls and spectacular granite cliffs. You can walk through the meadows and hope to see some Yosemite wildlife.

The Yosemite National Park rangers are really friendly! Park rangers give talks with slide shows almost every evening in Yosemite California. There are a couple of swimming pools to swim in if you don't want to venture into the Merced River. An endless supply of rocks and fallen trees are ready and waiting to be climbed on! Fishing is a great source of fun for a lot of people. Bring a chair and sit by your cabin or campsite and look up in wonder. Grab your camera and get into photography. Bring your binoculars and watch the mountain climbers climb up the granite walls of Half Dome or El Capitan.

Those with adventure in their spirit can put on a backpack and head to the high country of Tuolumne Meadows to see Yosemite California.

Wait till you see the stars at night here. At night the stars in the sky will thrill anyone with the least interest in astronomy. Because Yosemite National Park is in a deep valley, far from city lights, the stars shine ever so brightly.

Even though 4 million people a year visit Yosemite California, the rangers tell me that 90% of the visitors only spend time in the valley. The shuttle bus may be crowded with visitors but that does not mean the hiking trails are! Most visitors ride the shuttle bus, visit the shops, restaurants and sit around chairs in the outdoors and just take in the scenery. Yosemite has over 800 miles of hiking trails, so put on your hiking boots and leave the crowds behind and start hiking!

Once you get to Yosemite there are so many things that you can do for free! Hiking, climbing on rocks, riding the shuttle and walking the meadows are all free to do. Rafting and bike riding are minimal costs. It is a wonderful place for families to visit. Yosemite Nat Park doesn't have the distractions of televisions and telephones and everyone get fun exercise while they are here!

Yosemite National Park 2012 Wall Calendar

A few more things before you leave this home page and explore this site. I have worked tirelessly on building this website. If you found it helpful, please like me on Facebook or blog about this site. Feel free to come back after your visit and post some of the pictures that you took while visiting Yosemite California. I have a number of places for you to share your photos and experiences throughout this site. And if you like my site, share it with others! I also ask that you book your Yosemite California and other National Park reservations through my site. This allows me a commission that I put towards helping our son recover from autism. Donations, of any amount, are accepted to keep this site growing.

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