Day one in Yosemite National Park consisted of driving through the rock arch, driving through the valley, hiking Mirror Lake, and seeing Half Dome.

Honestly, our family was not impressed with Yosemite. I know a lot of people love this place but to us it was way too crowded. At first, we had gotten a canvas tent at the Half Dome Village but then decided we really needed a place we could wash clothes and nothing else was available we wanted to pay for so we rented a house for a few nights. There we did laundry, cooked hamburgers on the grill, and enjoyed the hot tub all for the same price as staying inside Yosemite Park. Our stay might have been better if we had stayed inside the park to be close to everything but we enjoyed our home away from home.

The first day we hiked Mirror Lake along Tenaya Creek at the valley bottom. It was pretty but the lake was “dry” so there was no swimming/wading the kids had wanted to do. We checked out the Majestic Lodge and visitor’s center but the crowd was overwhelming. I did get to see the Yosemite Chapel. I wanted to go to the church service there but we overslept that Sunday and there was no way we could have made it. If we ever go back we will stay inside the park…IF we ever go back.

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias up next,

J