MirandaTheAdventurer

My husband and I made the trek to Mammoth and Yosemite National Park for our anniversary this year. Both of us had never been and were excited to see what natural wonders the park had to offer!

As their official site so eloquently describes it, “Yosemite National Park includes nearly 1,200 square miles of mountainous scenery, including high cliffs, deep valleys, tall waterfalls, ancient giant sequoias, and a large wilderness.”

Even the drive to the park entrance was stunning. We drove along curvy roads with jaw-dropping views of the mountains. I didn’t expect such an abundance of fantastic scenery before we even entered the park!

We drove into the park through the Tioga Pass Entrance on Highway 120, which is closed from November through late May or June, but was a MUCH faster route from Mammoth. It cost $30 to enter the park in our non-commercial car and we got a week-long pass.

Here are a few highlights of our special day in Yosemite:

Taking In The View From A Mountaintop

About an hour into our drive through Yosemite, we stopped at Olmsted Point to sit and revel in the awesome scenery. Every second I sat staring at the wilderness before me, I noticed a new detail. The intricacy of a forested mountain view could keep me entertained for hours.

Getting A Little Lost

My absolute favorite part of our day in Yosemite was when we stopped at a random stream to put our feet in the cool water and relax. The water was so fresh and the sound of the water trickling felt like free therapy.

Sometimes Yosemite can get a bit crowded at the viewpoints, so it’s important that you find your own secret spots during your time there. These are the places you can find the peace and quiet you’re looking for. These spots allow you to connect with nature and the people you came to the park with in a way that’s totally uninterrupted by distractions.

We stopped at several lovely deserted spots during our drive through the park.

Exploring A Waterfall

When in Yosemite, you’ve got to make your way to one of their 10 amazing waterfalls! We walked up as close as we could to this 620-foot waterfall to feel the mist of the falls on our faces. Beautiful and very calming! At a few of the waterfalls, you can even get in the stream below the falls for a swim.

The waterfalls can get pretty plugged with tourists, so try to go at odd hours of the day if possible.

Spotting Wildlife

As an animal lover, I got a real rush out of spotting animals in the park. My favorite wildlife moment was when we came across a pack of steer nibbling on some grass as we were rounding out the day. Their horns were massive, but they were very sweet creatures.

The second I tried to capture them on video, one of them decided it was the perfect time to start pooping. But, hey, that’s nature for you!

For more information on things to do in Yosemite National Park, such as hiking or rock climbing, you can reference their official website.

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That was my wonderful Yosemite National Park experience! It’s definitely a special place that’s well worth the trip, especially if you love nature and animals.

If you have any questions about Yosemite National Park, let me know in the comments. Happy travels!