Yosemite

I've wanted to visit Yosemite National Park pretty much from the moment I moved to California in 2015, fast forward nine years and I finally made it there. My boyfriend, Olivier and I decided to go to celebrate his birthday in February. Well, his birthday is in January, but we went in February. I digress. Most people visit Yosemite in the summer, but not us rebels, we visited in the winter. Honestly, I’m really happy we did. There was very little traffic in the park, which was awesome. I don’t love the idea of having to jokey for a position to photograph sites. I’m too old to stand and wait to take a photo, move it kid. There was none of that, thank God. We stayed at the sweetest bed and breakfast in Oakhurst, the Houndstooth Inn. The people who work there were really nice. The Inn was very clean and comfortable. I’d definitely stay there again if we decide to visit the park again. They have a couple places you can stay closer to the park and some inside the park too, but they were much more expensive. For us, Houndstooth was perfect. Here are some of the places we stopped in the park, but in addition to these, I'd also recommend visiting the Ansel Adams Gallery, the man was a damn photographic genius.

I’m kind of a national park professional now, feel free to ask me all about them. Kidding. But seriously, I absolutely loved visiting the park, it was beyond my expectations. It’s massive and gorgeous and clean and peaceful. I felt like climbing the granite face of El Captain and hiking to the top of Half Dome and sleeping under the stars. Then I remind myself that i’m not actually built to do any of those things and I just enjoyed meandering around with my camera strapped around my neck, in awe. Have you visited Yosemite? Is so, what were your thoughts?

Tunnel view is probably the most iconic vista in the park. El Cap (I’m such a national park pro that I can call it that) is to the left in this picture. Olivier kept calling everything El Capitan.. “That’s El Capitan” and I’d have to Lewis and Clark him and say “no, that’s Cathedral rock.” It was his favorite part of the trip.

Here’s El Capitan in all it’s winter, moody glory. I guess people climb this in the summer. When I tell you that you are a spec next to it, i’m not exaggerating.

Bridal vail falls. There’s a trail you can hike that runs alone this waterfall.

Yosemite Chapel. I had to wait a solid 10 minutes while a couple took engagement photos in front of this. It was cute. I’m sure they appreciated me standing and watching, not uncomfortable at all.

This is horsetail falls. At a certain point towards the end of February, if you time it right and you stand in a field all day, if the conditions are perfect, it you sacrifice a chicken or a lamb or your first born and the Sun hits the falls as it sets, it looks like the falls are on fire. I’m kidding about the sacrifice, obviously. But people will stand in a field for hours to capture an image of the spectacle. Again, i’m not built like that, but hell yes for those who are.

This is part of Half dome. I took this because of the tree that is growing out of it in the center there. Do you see it? It’s just a random tree that you’d pass on any given street and that is how small it is. Also, you can’t just drive up to Half Dome, at least not in the winter. Prepare to hike to it. It’s worth it, but just so you know. Don’t plan on pulling up and snapping a pic, that’s not happening.

This is Half Dome and it is glorious. I could have, and I did, taken 300 photos of this landmark. Stunning. 10/10 would recommend visiting Half Dome.

This is the Houndstooth Inn. Isn’t she adorable. The people who work here were super friendly too.

Here’s my boyfriend telling me where El Capitan is from the other end of the park. Oh! We visited the park three days in a row. If you are able to visit for longer, definitely do that, we didn’t knowwwwww. I would have liked at least a couple more days to marvel in the majesty that is Yosemite.