Naveen thought it would be fun for us to take a weekend trip up to Yosemite. This would be K's first weekend away from SF as well as her first time to Yosemite. As many of you know, Yosemite has always been a special place for us and we try to make it up to the park at least once a year, but this trip meant sharing our special place with my daughter and family.
The quick details: California Farm Belt, Sierra Foothills, Giant Sequoia Groves, Mighty Yosemite Valley, Tioga Pass at 10,000ft, Fish Taco in the Nevada Desert, and 571 total miles.
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We drove up Friday morning stopping at In and Out for lunch and arriving at Mariposa Grove in late afternoon. We did a little walking through the grove of Sequoia trees. Keira was wearing her "Tree Hugger" onesie, very appropriate, and everyone was in awe of these giants. That evening we headed to the town of Mariposa for a good night's sleep (Keira slept for 9 hours in a row!)
Saturday included a morning latte and muffin at Pony Expresso and then lots of good views from the car as we drove through the park. We stopped in Wawona for a bit of history, touring the Wawona Village and chatting with the blacksmith. We then drove up to Glacier Point. The weather was a bit cool and foggy giving Yosemite a mystical feel. Our drive back was just as magical. We stopped at Bridveil Falls on the way out and spent our evening in the town of Mariposa.
After another good night's sleep (K again slept through the night) we took an alternative route to Yosemite Valley. We walked through the meadows and stopped for a drink at the Ahwahnee Lodge. Rested and ready to go, Great Grandma wanted to walk up to Yosemite Falls. K was a bit difficult, requiring a backcountry diaper change as well as some b-feeding at the falls. We survived and started our journey back to the Bay Area, choosing to take the longer route through Tuolumne Meadows. We stopped at the Tioga Gas Mart (yes, a gas station, with looming mountains on one side, the Nevada desert on the other, and amazing food...only in California) for dinner and then drove over Sonora Pass. Keira was such a trooper with all the driving and is certainly on her way to becoming a lover of road trips (we hope!)
We arrived back at home late and exhausted but what a fabulous way to spend my 31st birthday!
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