Day 5: Yosemite National Park

We got up super early and got to breakfast as soon as it opened! We knew we had a full day in Yosemite and wanted to get an early start. We had breakfast, got ready and check out of the hotel by about 730am. It was a little over an hour's drive to Yosemite and we made it there a bit before 9am. The great thing about our schedule is that the baby pretty much slept the first leg of each trip. Sariah fell asleep a few times on the first leg of the trip too (such as on the way to Yosemite) because she was tired from the late nights and early days. With both of her sisters passed out, Priyana sat in her carseat and read quietly. It was awesome!

For those of you that do not already know, Yosemite has a very special place in Daniel's heart. His family spent every summer camping in Yosemite for about a week and he has very fond memories exploring the park. He was so very excited to bring us all here! And we were excited to be there with him. Oddly enough I still planned the whole trip despite his expertise, but Ill save that story for our marriage therapist.

Our first stop in Yosemite was the Pioneer Yosemite History Center and visitor's center.

This place was pretty cool for being free. There were various buildings from different eras of Yosemite's history.

The jail... neither kid would go in...

We spent a good amount of time at the Blacksmith Shop...

Then we splurged and went on the stagecoach ride. I'm not one to pay for my kids to ride the ponies at the fair, or even go to the fair for that matter (14 years in SD and have yet to go to the Del Mar fair) but this was a must do. Riding on the stagecoach was really cool, but to sit there and think people had to travel for days on this coach just to see the beauty of Yosemite was surreal. How fortunate are we that it only took us 1hr in a fancy, air conditioned car to see all this beauty! The guy that drives the stagecoach has been doing ride for over 30 years! He has been working in the park since he was a kid!

Priyana was really excited that her mother decided to actually pay for her to ride an "attraction." My kids really couldn't believe we were going to ride on it when they found out it cost money. lol

         And let me be real here for a moment, Daniel couldn't believe it either!

Who is this bald headed baby? She only got to ride because kids under 3 are free. Kidding, not kidding.

The ride was about 20 minutes but such a cool experience. Way better than those ponies that go around in circles at Bates Nuts Farm.

After we spent some time roaming the History Center, we headed out to Glacier point which was an approximately 45 minute drive.

Glacier Point in one word: Incredible. Im pretty sure the word I most used while here was "wow." Really, I should just leave you with the pictures that I took without text, but who are we kidding? Im sure there will be commentary I can't hold back.

See, I didn't even make it through one picture. Anyways, I was being the helicopter mom here and wouldn't let my kids go past pretty much where they were sitting on this rock. There were literally parents that let their kids sit on the top end of this rock to take a picture. I was scared for these children. And I cannot believe that none of them fell.

Meet Yosemite Squirrel. I am straight up serious folks... Daniel took more pictures of this squirrel than any other pictures the ENTIRE trip. He actually grabbed the camera from me to take them too. Something he rarely does. In fact, I usually have to request he take a photo of me so the kids can remember that I, too, was present in their childhoods. But again, more material for our therapist.

 I would absolutely have loved to come back to this exact spot around sunset and get a fire going. One day, when the kids are older we wil.

This place looked like a small castle from the bottom of the hill, so we simply had to hike up. I love castles. 

 

I asked a stranger to take this pic of me. Daniel was probably off looking for more squirrels.

We had our lunch here and then headed towards Tunnel View. 

I had read up on Tunnel View before the trip and again was skeptical about how beautiful it actually was. I mean, Ive been around the world and have seen beautiful. But yes, Tunnel View is a sight to see for sure. Its beautiful. The kids were all asleep, but I parked anyway and walked around. Since Daniel has seen this many times, he got to stay in the car with the kids.

Another lovely stranger took a pic for me... Tunnel view is seriously like an imaginary place that can only exist in your dream, but its an actual real life place. 

After stopping for some pics, we went on to our next destination, BridalVeil Falls. Add waterfalls to my list of things that I love. 

Ok, ok so with our drought the water is not roaring, but still beautiful right?

 Unfortunately I didn't get a great pic of the girls. There was a lady standing right where I was trying to get the perfect shot of the kids with the waterfall in the background but despite hints for her to move (i.e., "ok kids, we will get the picture after everyone has moved." and "We just have to wait our turn.") she was stuck there like a statue. Some people just don't get it.

Next, we went in search of swinging bridge. I love bridges. Seriously, bridges, castles and waterfalls. Three of my most favorite things. 

Before our trip, Daniel spoke a lot about how he went swimming in Yosemite and how things were very "spontaneous." This is very typical of Daniel's personality... planning things is just not his deal. So while I tried to include him on the Yosemite planning, I did the entire layout and just got an OK from him. He did emphasize the importance of being spontaneous and just exploring. Also, just jumping into the water when the moment is right. 

In reality Im really not a spontaneous type person. I like things planned. I find that I usually, no I will say sometimes, get let down/disappointment with spontaneous things because it normally comes down to planning things better would have possibly led to a better experience. Like for example, getting into water without towels? Feeling saltwater or sandy the rest of the day? Possibly getting your pants went because you didn't roll them up high enough before getting into the water. Yeah, just not my cup of tea. Ill tell you a secret... neither is it for Daniel, but he likes to think that he is spontaneous.

Cue the lake under the Swinging Bridge. Before we even cross the bridge, I see all the people having a blast in the water. I say to Daniel, "Should we let the kids get in? What a fun time they would have." Him: "Uh. Well." Me: What happened to being spontaneous and living life! Him: Well, we don't have their bathing suits. Me: I have them ready. Him: We don't have towels. Me: I have that too. Another secret... you CAN prepare in advance for spontaneous, which is exactly what I did.

After some coaxing of my spontaneous husband, the girls were in their bathing suits and in the water and having a blast.  I, of course, had to stay out of the water due to the baby (cough, cough).

Watching the girls and their dad play in the lake with the gorgeous scenery behind them was a photo I hope I can recall into memory for the rest of my life. I also have a few pictures to jog my memory if needed...

The swinging bridge area is breathtaking don't you think?

                      

After the lake we frolicked in the meadows nearby...

When we were finally able to part with this beautiful place, we ventured out to check out the Ahwahnee Hotel. This is normally cited as a must see place in Yosemite, but to be honest, I really wasn't all that impressed. We didn't stay long.

Picture of the back area of the hotel.

After checking out the hotel, we went to Yosemite Village. We got our magnet (we get a magnet from every place we have been) and then went to find some dinner. We went to Degnan's pizza place, which Daniel remembered from his childhood and I had read good things about online. The pizza there was really good. Either that or we were just really hungry. Or both.

We ventured out to check out Curry Village after dinner.

                                           Daniel did a little bug info session along the way.

It was fun to walk around Curry Village. The girls wanted ice cream and so their wish was our command. We very rarely indulge our girls like this and usually we never buy them things when out. But vacation is different. It ok to live a little and moments like this are so precious. The girls couldn't believe it!

After walking around for a bit, we headed towards the car. It was dark by the time we hit the road. 

We were able to catch this sunset on the way out of the park...

I mentioned before that I did all the planning for the trip. Id ask Daniel questions here and there to get input but for the most part it was me. One exception was the hotel we stayed at after our first day in Yosemite. I had planned to go back to the hotel we were at, which was about an hour away. Daniel was adamant that we stay closer to the park for the one night, since we would be going back the next day. I conceded and agreed to go with the much more expensive hotel, Comfort Inn Yosemite Valley hotel in Mariposa (the most expensive hotel from the entire trip at $177. 59 with all taxes and fees).

So here we were leaving Yosemite, driving to our hotel that was "closer." After getting out of the park and making our way towards the highway that would lead us to our hotel, I began to notice that we had been driving for a long time. I had also noticed that it was like pitch dark. I asked Daniel to check his phone just to make sure we were going to right way. There was ZERO phone reception. I was getting anxious.

Then the conversation... "Dean (my nickname for Daniel), what would we do if the car broke down right now? Him: Then we'd have to start making some tough choices. Me: Gulp. Him: Either you would stay back with the kids and I would walk to either the nearest phone or the nearest town. Or we would all go together. Me: Fuck no. Im not staying here with no phone. We'd all go. 

I was anxious the entire way from that point to the hotel. 

We finally made it, but honestly it didn't feel that much closer than the hotel we stayed at last night. We maybe saved 20 minutes. And lost a little sanity. 

Oh, but the story gets better my friends.

I go to the front desk. They tell me that there is only 1 room left. On the third floor. With no elevator. I burst out laughing. And I laughed through telling my husband that we (he mostly) would have to carry all our luggage and our three sleeping children to the room. On the third floor. With no elevator.

Remind me never to ask this guy for trip planning advice. 

And thats a wrap for Day 5.