Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada in Central California.  The park covers 1,200 square miles.  We visited Yosemite in May 2007 while in San Francisco, California.  The drive to Yosemite was longer than we had anticipated, but was about three hours.  

We entered Yosemite from the west on Route 140 just northwest of Mariposa, California.  We followed the entrance to a real quiet picnic area where the kids were able to climb on some trees and enjoy a creek nearby.  The day was warm, but there was shade all around.

After a quiet picnic lunch, we traveled on towards the waterfalls and the Yosemite Valley......

Bridalveil Falls
The first waterfall that we came to as we proceeded towards the Yosemite Valley was the Bridalveil Fall.  Bridalveil Fall is one of the most prominent waterfalls in Yosemite National Park.  It is 620 ft. tall, and flows all year long.  A short hike form the parking area takes you just about to the base of the falls.  It is a beautiful site.

In the spring, when we were there, the falls are very strong.  In the late summer, the falls lose some of their grandeur after the snow has melted, but they say it is still great.  When we were there, just getting close to the falls, you could feel the spray.

El Capitan
El Capitan is a 3,000 ft. vertical rock formation.  El Capitan is one of the World's favorite challenges for rock climbers; although, we did not see any climbers on the day that we were there. 

As a note, all of the climbing routes are long and dangerous - not for the kid friendly family vacation. 

Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls is the highest measured waterfall in North America.  The waterfall is at its peak in the spring.  Yosemite Falls is separated into three distinct sections culminating in a height of 2425 ft. 

The upper falls is 1430 ft.  The cascades are a series of smaller plunges resulting in another 675 feet.  The lower falls completes 320 feet of the Yosemite Falls. 

There is an accessible viewing area in the Yosemite Valley to view the lower falls.  This is the most common viewing area for the falls.

We didn't have anymore daylight left when we finally got to Yosemite Falls, so we had to settle for simply viewing the falls. 

Yosemite area Reviews

Address: PO Box 577
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389  

Phone:  (209) 372-0200

Visit the Yosemite NP web site for more information.

Other great stops on our San Francisco family vacation.....

Also - visit our other National Park Family Vacation stops.......

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