A nature lover’s haven, Yosemite Natural Park is 1,170 square miles of breathtaking natural beauty. It is located in Central California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range and could be the best place to teach your kids how to love and respect nature.
There are so many funny things to do in Yosemite. It has some of the largest monoliths in the world, chiseled granite rock formations and frigid waterfalls formed from the melted snow. Yosemite is also home to the Giant Sequoias, which are the largest and oldest trees in the world.
Top 10 Things to Do in Yosemite
Yosemite Natural Park is definitely the place where you can plan to have adventure with your family. The beautiful waterfalls and the giant trees are amongst the must-see sights when visiting Yosemite.
1. Admire the Yosemite Falls
One of the most breathtaking sites of the Yosemite Natural Park is the stunning waterfall. It is the highest waterfall in North America. The roaring waterfall drowns out most of the other sounds here. The best time to see the waterfall is during late spring. You can take your vehicle up to the parking lot and then hike to the base of the falls. The place is wheel-chair friendly as well. Some other waterfalls in this park are: Sentinel Falls, Bridalveil Falls and Vernal Falls.
2. Go Rafting in Merced River
This is an adventure activity which cannot be skipped. The Merced River flows between narrow corridors with plenty of whitewater. In some sections the river mellows down and activities like jumping off the rocks, floating with your life jacket on, swimming etc. are also allowed. The difficulty level depends on the season and the speed of water, levels 3 & 4 being more difficult. Lots of operators like Zephyr, which is one of the oldest ones, are available here. You can choose from full day or half day trips, the former covers 16 miles of the river.
3. Explore the Half Dome
This activity is not for the faint hearted. The entire hike takes around 12 hours and is said to be a life-changing experience. The half dome is a granite dome and can be scaled with the help of 2 steel cables which act as handholds. Even without the hike on the actual dome, the remaining hike is a beautiful experience. It starts from Mist Fall to Vernal falls, then to the top of Nevada Falls to the base of the half dome. It should be taken up only if you are not afraid of heights and are in good health.
4. Enjoy the Fragrance & Color of Wildflowers
One of the things to do in Yosemite is to take in the fragrance and color of wildflowers. If you happen to visit the park during March to May, you will get to experience the riot of colors created by the wild flowers blooming everywhere. The heady fragrance is something you would want to take home with you. The road along the Merced River is filled with Golden Yellow Poppies and Purple Spider Lipines. The vibrant colors of pink redbuds, azaleas, violets, evening primrose will make you want to go and lie in them. You can visit the Cook’s Meadow loop, Wawona Meadow loop and trails by Wapama Falls for more such patches of flowers.
5. Experience the Glacier Point– Best view in Yosemite
The Glacier Point is one of the highest points in Yosemite, from where you can see the Half Dome as well as the floor of the Yosemite Valley. The place is so picturesque that no camera will do justice to the actual breathtaking views. This place is accessible by a car and hence children and elderly can enjoy the beauty of the park. It is also referred to as the ‘highlight of the trip’ by visitors. Any trip to Yosemite will remain incomplete if you do not visit Glacier Point.
6. Travel Among the Giant Trees – Mariposa Grove
The Sequoia trees are Gigantic and can dwarf anything. These trees have been around for thousands of years and tower over hundreds of feet high. Age of the trees is between 1800 to 2700 years and some are as tall as 26 story tall building. You tend to feel humbled in the presence of these trees. The Grizzly Gaint is 209 feet tall and is one of the must see trees. The tree Fallen Monarch which fell more than 300 years ago is another site. This place is home to the largest living things on Earth and cannot be missed.
7. Tour Around the Yosemite Village – A Forest Village
If you are looking for a pit-stop to get equipment, replenish your supplies or even get accommodation, this is your destination. It is one of the few facility centers and acts as a station for visitors going for hikes and camping. You will also find grocery and souvenir shops as well as cafes to eat and grab coffee. The Ansel Adams gallery here is a nice place to visit, where you will find the black and white photographic work of Ansel Adams. He has captured Yosemite for years and the gallery is renowned for his work.
8. Visit the Tuolumne Meadows– A Secluded and Scenic Experience
Tuolumne Meadows are the scenic flat lands along the eastern section of the Yosemite Park. It has the beautiful Tuolumne River flowing through it. It is not very crowded area of the park and offers the seclusion that is expected of a national park. Unlike the remaining park, the rock climbing in this area is of medium to short routes. The Olmstead Point here offers a beautiful view of the back side of Half Dome, Tenaya Canyon and the Tenaya Lake, which is why visiting the Tuolumne Meadows can be one of the best things to do in Yosemite.
9. Watch Spectacular Yosemite from Tunnel View
On the way to Yosemite Park through Highway 41 lies this spot, which provides the most stunning view of the park. This spot comes immediately after the tunnel ends and hence is named the Tunnel View. One can see the Bridalveil Falls on the right, the Half Dome and 3000 foot face of El-Captain to the left. The view looks breathtaking with the waterfalls cascading on the granite walls. The view has not changed since the place has opened in the year 1993.
10. Hiking Under Moonlight
It is a known fact that Yosemite is beautiful during the day, but to see it in a totally different perspective, try out hiking under moon light. There is absolutely no light pollution here and the world appears completely different during this time. The experience of lying flat on your backs and watching the stars and the sky is magical. Moon light is adequate for the trail and there is no need for flashlights.
Watch a video to explore the beauty and magnificence of Yosemite: