Yosemite National Park

Getaway from LA: Yosemite National PArk

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Deer roaming through the prettiest green meadows I’ve ever seen, zero cell phone reception, the sound of 500 feet high water falls, birds chirpin’ their tunes, and an overall sense of tranquility and slow-paced life… YEP, I am definitely not in Los Angeles anymore. Welcome to Yosemite. :)
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Our Earth is truly one big, incredible planet, full of some of the most breath-taking and jaw-dropping scenery, sprawling landscapes, and precious wildlife. And Yosemite National Park is 100% proof of this. Last week I ventured to Yosemite National Park with my partner, to join my family in our annual vacation to this majestic location. Yosemite National Park is about a 5.5 hour drive from Los Angeles, and is home to almost 1,200 square miles of beautiful scenery – including VERY high cliffs surrounding the valley floor, HUGE waterfalls, gigantic sequoia trees, and beautiful wildlife at each and every turn.  For this Getaway from L.A. post, I’ll share the basics on where we stayed and what we did, and will wrap up with a few extra tips/things to know before you plan your next Getaway from L.A.

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Accomodations: "Glamping" at Housekeeping Camp

To be totally honest and candid with you, I’ve never been a big fan of camping. As much as I love adventures, the great outdoors, and am all about livin’ life to the fullest – sleeping on the dirt in a sleeping bag with limited access to various resources isn’t what I would typically describe as a “vacation.” I do, though, like to “glamp,” which is basically glamorous camping. Please note, though, that I am not referring to staying in a lodge or a fancy bungalow – I mean a tent cabin that only has a concrete floor, a wire cot with a thin mattress, and tent walls – found at the super awesome Housekeeping Camp in the Yosemite Valley. The tent cabins have the bare necessities, with a covered space outside of the cabin with some metal shelfs, a long metal table that can be used for a cooking/storage area, and a round table with benches where you can eat your meals. This is truly the ideal accommodation for those who like being outdoors but don’t want to deal with the effort that goes into setting up a tent. Clean bathrooms can be found throughout the camp, as well as showers and a small convenience store with snacks, drinks, etc.

From all corners of Housekeeping Camp, you’ll see amazing views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and the giant cliffs that surround Yosemite Valley. There are sandy beaches with a beautiful river flowing through it on the edge of the camp, and you’ll often see deer (and hopefully no bears!) roaming peacefully through the campsite in the early morning hours.

I’ve stayed at Housekeeping Camp multiple times now and truly wouldn’t want to stay anywhere else in Yosemite Valley. It is important to note, though, that this glamp site is very popular and tent cabins should be reserved up to ONE YEAR before you plan to visit. Click here to see the rates and availability in Housekeeping Camp, and for all other accommodations in Yosemite (ranging from “real” camping to staying in a lodge/hotel), click here.

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The Best Views: Glacier Point

As you drive into Yosemite Valley and basically anywhere you turn once you’re in the Valley, you’ll be enamored by the 360 degree views of this National Park’s raw, untouched beauty. If you want to enjoy the best view in the valley, though, I’d highly recommend you make the 45-minute drive up to Glacier Point. There is a large parking lot at the top of Glacier Point, but you can also take a bus up here if you’d rather not worry about finding a spot (although we didn’t have any issue with this). Once you’re up here, prepare to be absolutely amazed! You can see the entire valley floor, from Vernal and Nevada Falls, to the infamous Half Dome, to the miles and miles of tree-covered mountains and cliff sides. I do need to mention that Glacier Point is only accessible by car from approximately late May through October or November, due to weather conditions, so make you plan accordingly. In my opinion, this is truly the best place in all of Yosemite National Park to kick back, relax, and enjoy the stunning scenery. For more information on Glacier Point, click here.

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One Of Yosemite's Most Adored Hikes:
​The Panorama Trail

Since our time in Yosemite was limited, I was on a mission to find a challenging day-hike with beautiful views. I figured that if we got in a solid day of strenuous activity, that we could then enjoy other more relaxing activities during our “down time” – like picnicking riverside, riding our bikes through meadows or “meadowing” as we liked to call it, and hangin’ out with my fam. We decided on hiking the Panorama Trail, a roughly 6-hour hike that covers 9 miles from the top of Glacier Point to the Yosemite Valley floor. The hike is mostly downhill but also has one section of steep uphill switch backs to conquer. This hike was perfect for us because we got to see THREE waterfalls - Illilouette Falls, Vernal Falls, and Nevada Falls up close and personal, and also got to experience stunning views of upper Yosemite Falls and the iconic Half Dome. I especially liked this hike because the trailhead is located at Glacier Point, so as you begin to make your way down the side of the mountain, there is something beautiful to see at every turn. It was at times overwhelming! You betcha I was ooh-ing and ahh-ing all over the darn place. The Panorama Trail in Yosemite is one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite National Park, and for good reason.

While this hike was absolutely beautiful and the waterfalls were SO impressive (and kind of frightening!) to see so close and hear their thunderous falls, it was definitely a challenging hike. It was mostly downhill, which as you can imagine, puts a good amount of strain on just about every joint and muscle in your body. Also, we decided to go down the Mist Trail rather than the longer John Muir Trail, and it was VERY misty (I guess it gets its name for a reason!), and the steps were pretty slippery as we made our way down. I mayyy have had to tell myself, “I’m wet, cold, and tired, but I am OK!” so that I wouldn’t panic on my way down. Thus, I was very relieved (and soaked with the chilly Vernal Falls mist) when we made it to the base of Vernal Falls. My body was aching pretty badly by the end of the hike, and the 1 mile walk back to our camp pretty much wore me the heck out. But, it was entirely worth it (and I’m saying this while I’m still sore a full 5 days after the hike)!

For all of the information you need regarding the Panorama Trail, click here.
For information on the many other hikes in Yosemite National Park, click here.

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OVerall: Yosemite National Park is an adventure to remember.

Overall, Yosemite makes for a fantastic, memorable, and completely “disconnected” Getaway From L.A. that I would highly encourage any and all adventure-loving individuals to visit and explore. Here are a few final tips/things to know before you go:
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1. Keep in mind that the entrance fee into the park per vehicle is $30. This entrance fee is good for 7 days max.
2. Cell phone reception is VERY limited in the valley. We had no reception where we stayed at Housekeeping Camp. Luckily, both Half Dome Village and Yosemite Village have free Wi-Fi at their various restaurants and outdoor spaces.
3. Bring bug spray! Don’t forget to wear it day and night.
4. Be aware of the weather conditions common in each season before you plan your visit. According to Yosemite’s website, “Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)”
5. This probably goes without saying, but I’d highly recommend thoroughly reviewing Yosemite’s website to review as much information as possible before you begin to plan your visit.

Finally, before I bid you adieu, I wanted to mention that Yosemite has become more accessible over the years. For more information, download the park's accessibility guide, which describes access to areas, facilities, and services for people with disabilities. In addition, the Deaf Services Program is dedicated to connecting the Deaf community to everything Yosemite has to offer. Finally, there is a visual guide to visiting Yosemite Valley for people with aphasia. (This information was found on Yosemite National Park’s official website.)

I hope you found this write-up helpful, and I also hope you’ll continue to following along with my adventures, both in L.A. and beyond. Who knows where I’ll Getaway from LA to next? Stay tuned!