Summer Fun: Phase Two-Yosemite National Park

So when we arrived in Yosemite National Park, we found that all the campgrounds were full due to the fact that half of them weren't even opened yet because of a late winter in the High Sierras, and we did see snow when we drove through there. So we decided to see what we could in one day, and then head on out. Luckily we were able to find a campsite outside of the eastern entrance of the park (actually we viewed it as not lucky but miraculous!), so we were able to see all the sites. We all loved it, it was really beautiful!!

In Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Falls in the background. 

Larry and his new bestie-John Muir. There is a really cool informative exhibit to wander through in Yosemite valley, we found him there. Oh yeah, Blake is in the picture, too.

One of the 2(!!!) bears we saw on our first day there, it was pretty awesome. They were in two meadows across the street from each other, amazing. 

Olmstead point, with a great view of Half Dome when you hike out a little way from the parking lot.

Abbey was really nervous about falling off the mountain, poor girl, but she still thought it was beautiful. 

Blake wanted to climb the rocks as we hiked out to the view at Olmstead point. He was making his mom nervous, it was a mountainside after all.

Exploring Tuolumne Meadows, the further back into the meadows you get the prettier it is with the surrounding mountains and the gorgeous river running through it. 

Roasting marshmallows at our miracle campsite. 

Expensive, but worth it- the tour through the Mariposa grove of giant sequoias. It would have been a heck of a hike and the kids were already getting worn out. Riding through in the tram with headphones on was great--tons of interesting information and we got to see all the big trees without killing ourselves.

Yep, we had fun!!