Sequoia and Yosemite Road Trip
I am sure a lot of you can relate but after months of lockdown we were feeling VERY cooped up!
I just wanted to be outside in nature, exploring the beautiful state we live in.
There is so much to do in California and so much my kids haven’t seen. My two highest spots on the list were the Sequoia Redwoods and Yosemite National Park.
It did not disappoint. We knocked Sequoia out in a day.
Our first stop was Sequoia National Park. Coming from Orange County that was the closest stop. You really want to stay inside the park for easy access to everything. We stayed at the
John Muir Lodge near Grant Grove. Be prepared it’s rustic but you can’t beat the location. The cabins are a fun adventure.
Moro Rock Trail
We did this hike when we first entered the park. It’s a decent uphill/stairs hike but doable with kids. Mine made it to the top!
Tunnel Log
Tunnel log is right by Moro Rock and you have to just to say you drove through a tree!
We explored meadows and trees and more trees!
Sequoia national park is truly magical and just different than anything in the world
Grant Grove
Grant Gove hosts the world’s 2nd largest tree General Lee. The Largest tree in the world, General Sherman is also in the Sequoias but we didn’t make it there.
In Grant Grove you can even walk through a tree! We went at sunset and had the whole place to ourselves. It was just beautiful
Yosemite
Words cannot describe the beauty of Yosemite National Park. We easily
could have spent another day wandering in a
meadow or playing in a river.
If we were kid free we would have accomplished
A lot more hiking but the kids truly seemed to soak in the beauty of nature.
Our first hike was Sentinel Dome. The view at the top of Half Dome is beautiful. The hike is a little steep at the end but it’s kid friendly and not too long. On our way down we even ran into a park ranger who swore the kids in as a Jr. Park Ranger and they earned a patch.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Ahwahnee Hotel. It is a bucket list place to stay because of the history and the location. The hotel offers afternoon tea in the great room which is a beautiful setting. You can cozy up to one of their huge fireplaces on a cool day. If it’s nice out, you can eat outdoors and let the kids run around on the lawn. They will definitely find a friend. The Merced River is a short walk and we spent our afternoons floating around and building forts.
The Yosemite Lodge is also in the valley and located right by Yosemite Falls. Amazing hiking trails are right out the front door.
Curry Village is in the middle of the valley. It has food trucks and is a great place to grab an easy meal. It has cabin rentals, RV spots and campgrounds
The Meadows
I strongly encourage an evening stroll through a meadow. Half Dome glows at sunset. It is so quiet and peaceful. Everything about the walk is peaceful. You will more than likely catch a deer munching on grass or if you’re really lucky spot a bear.
The memories we made in Yosemite were so special. The slow pace, wading in rivers and walking through meadows. We all left saying we wanted to make this road trip happen once a year. Your phone is in and out of service, you can just enjoy the time with who you’re with and just be.