The Best Things To Do In Yosemite

Cheers to Monday.  We are done with summer camp and back to free time.  I am so happy.  Morning commitments over summer are not my cup of tea.  If you follow me on Instagram, you saw all of our great adventures in Yosemite over the week of Fourth of July.  Here is our top list of things to do in Yosemite with kids.

A few insider tips.  Get the national parks pass.  Especially if you plan on going east into Inyo National Forest.  The annual pass will cover both locations and costs almost the same amount.  Second and this is a big one.  GET GASOLINE before you enter Yosemite.  Gas inside the park is limited and it will cost you almost DOUBLE!!  When driving keep an eye out for wild life.  There are animals every where, if you just keep an eye out.  We saw a bald eagle and a ton of deer.

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN YOSEMITE WITH YOUR FAMILY

Half Dome Village

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I highly recommend the canvas tents in Half Dome Village.  We loved our little tent.  A few things to pay attention to.  All food and bathroom supplies have to fit into the bear bin provided.  So, be sure to check the size of the bear bin and measure out your ice chest and food.  Also, there is no food inside the tent and no grilling at your site.  There are designated eating areas.  So, be prepared with easy food.  I will be sharing a post next week on how to eat healthy while camping so be sure to check back.  There are free shuttles that make getting around Yosemite super easy.  Definitely take advantage.

Mist Trail

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This was the big trail that we did on our trip and one of our favorite things to do in yosemite.  The kids loved it.  It is definitely a little intense when you get close to the waterfalls.  Steep stairs that can do get slippery.  Be sure to wear shoes with good grip, go slow, bring water and snacks.  The hubs carried his camel back with a filter so we could refill directly from a water source.  We also had fishing poles to stop and fish.  We made it to the top of Vernon Falls, but only went half way to Nevada.  It was starting to get hot and the girls did not want to make the 2,000 ft. elevation gain to the top of Nevada.  It was still a ton of fun and a great adventure.

Yosemite Falls

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This is super easy flat trail.  It is very crowded during the summer months, but it is handicapped accessible.  This is definitely a great trail for littles and is a great way to start your Yosemite adventure.  If you are staying in Half Dome Village you can walk, bike ride or take the shuttle.  We walked there and shuttled back.  It was beautiful.

Tenaya Lake

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This is on the way out of Yosemite heading towards the Eastern Sierras.  Somehow we forgot to a get a picture, but it is beautiful and worth the stop.  This was by far the most fun we had on our trip.  We took an inflatable raft and a unicorn float.  We attached the unicorn to the raft and jumped in.  The water was freezing, but it was a blast.  My husband tried to surf the unicorn which was pretty entertaining.  I will get the video up on YouTube for everyone’s entertainment. LOL.

Bodie Ghost Town

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Located is on the eastern side an hour and half outside of Mammoth.  I had to include it as a thing to do in Yosemite.  Especially, if you are making the drive east to west.  Bodie used to be home to over 10,000 people and brought in over $18 million dollars in gold in just a few short years.  There are so many structures still standing and they have not refurbished anything.  They continue to just fix and help to keep the structures standing.  It’s pretty cool and well worth the stop.

If you are looking for more great things to do in California, check out these posts Imperial County, San Francisco, and San Diego.