Yosemite National Park, CA

So obviously this national park is the "big one" from our recent California National Park trip.  There were so many surprises for me as we explored this park.  It was both what I expected and totally unexpected.  The iconic sights of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls looked exactly as I thought they would but the impact I felt seeing them in person was quite unexpected.  The size of the park was overwhelming, along with the number of people in the valley area.  The lack of people outside the valley area was both surprising and a relief after the crowds in the valley.  The park was both so hot we were wilting and then so cold we were bundled up, depending on where we were in the park.  Our visit to Yosemite impacted us in unexpected ways.  Our children's sense of wonder and amazement was rekindled and they found plenty to ignite their sense of adventure.  We will be sharing more in the future guide-book but for now, enjoy the photos and use them as inspiration for your own trip!