Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Yosemite Without The Hikes

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In some of my previous posts about Yosemite National Park, such as Hiking Vernal and Nevada Falls and Yosemite Valley Floor Loop Hike, one may get the impression that the beauty of Yosemite can only be enjoyed by those with strong legs and physically fit enough to hike. As much as I really encouraged everybody to enjoy our beautiful world at the trails where a few would get into, but it does not mean that our beautiful world cannot be enjoyed by those who may not be able to hike because of various reasons. Here are some pictures of the places that you can enjoy if you visit Yosemite National Park without the hikes, or with little very friendly walks. Friendly walks means the trail is well developed for wheelchairs, strollers and for little kids to jump around. :)

I will start from the East entrance of Yosemite moving to the Valley.

1st stop: Mono Lake South Tufa State Reserve
Mono Lake @ Dusk (shot by hubby )
Though Mono Lake is not part of Yosemite National Park, but this amazingly surreal place that looks like an Alien Kingdom of Towering Calcium Carbonate Towers ( or tufas) is only 13 miles from the East Entrance of Yosemite National Park. 
It's An Alien Kingdom @ Mono Lake
If you are visiting Yosemite, why miss this one? 
Mono Lake, Dawn

For more about Mono Lake, you can revisit my old post of Mono Lake here.

2nd many stops: Tioga Pass if open ( Yosemite High Sierra) - note: because of snow accumulation, this road is closed late fall-late spring, and usually open only in the summer.
Reflecting Pond @ Toulumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
Toulumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
There is no skipping Toulumne Meadows if you are going to Yosemite Valley coming from the East. Anyone will really pass the High Sierra of Yosemite National Park. Unlike in the valley, the High Sierra does not attract so much crowds. Though mostly everyone passes by here, but very few stop their cars to breathe in this beautiful and peaceful scenery. When we travel, even when we are driving, we always open our eyes for photo opportunities, and as long as it is safe to pull over for pictures, we would! So, when you are driving Tioga Pass, open your heart and eyes to the inspiration you will see. 
Toulumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
If you see something beautiful for pictures, pull over if it is safe. The three pictures above were not popular spots in Yosemite, we simply excitedly said "STOP" to the one driving when we saw them. And there are many more of them, but I do not want to load you with pictures in one post. The next two pictures below on the other hand you cannot miss because this is where most people stop because this is a popular viewpoint in the High Sierra.
Olmstead Point, Yosemite National Park
Tenaya Lake from Olmstead Point
Jumping for Joy @ Tenaya Lake
There are many hikes here at Tioga Pass, I will feature some of those hikes we took in another post since this post is about Yosemite without the hikes or with little family friendly walks.

3rd many stops: Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Tunnel View
(left to right: El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridalveil Fall)
Yosemite Valley is where the heart of Yosemite National Park. It's not that huge, but there is so much to see. Because the valley is formed by glaciation, there are steep walls from granite rocks and cliffs. The valley offers one of the world's most concentrations of waterfalls, 
Bridalveil Fall ( shot late in the afternoon, about 5 pm, late June)
note: if you want to take pictures of waterfalls with rainbow, the park rangers at the VISITOR CENTER are very friendly and with much enthusiasm and happiness, they share with you the time of day rainbow appears in a specific waterfall ( of course with the right sunny conditions). 
Yosemite Falls and Merced River
massive granite walls, 
Half Dome
El Capitan
( each year, climbers from all over the world come to scale this giant rock)
meadows, 
Half Dome from Cook's Meadow
wildflowers, 
wildflowers @ Cook's Meadows
and giant trees.
4th stop: Glacier Point
Half Dome and Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point
Yosemite Fall from Glacier Point

For more information about Yosemite, visit the Yosemite National Park website
♥♥
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32 comments:

  1. This is great information to know, Betchai. I wish I was younger and in better health to travel like you.

    The photos are just incredible, and beautiful to see. I always enjoy them.

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  2. You photos are always so stunning! I just love the shot of Mono Lake; it seems so serene and peaceful. I would just love to sit there and meditate and breath in the goodness of Mother nature!

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  3. This is great news that these places can be enjoyed without strenuous hikes! I do hope to visit them someday. Your pictures and descriptions are fascinating and beautiful!

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  4. Thank you for the useful information. It is good to know these beautiful sceneries can be enjoyed by anyone without much hiking.

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  5. i just love the reflections images....so peaceful and relaxing! luck you! have a great weekend...

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  6. Beth, it is so considerate of you to write about Yosemite in another light -the no hike side of enjoying the outdoors. Sometimes, nature-loving people become a bit limited when they have young children and cannot hike long distance but would really want to see enjoy the outdoors. Your site is very family-friendly. I believe a lot of families with young children would frequently visit your site because it is considerate of all ages! i will send this link to my sister right away. We also have other friends with young children who will benefit greatly from this post! :) Thanks you, Beth! *hugs*

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  7. friendly walks..how i'd love to walk there one day...thank you so much for sharing to many of us your wonderful walks Betchai...i have yet to try my endurance for hikes and i am glad to know such a place could be enjoyed without passing through difficult trails...happy weekend! :-)...it is me zen, i am having difficulty with my net connection...love and miss yah wonderwoman!

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  8. OMG Betchai I think this set of photos are your most beautiful yet. Stunning!

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  9. i can imagine it would have looked the same centuries ago.. so unspoilt yet in these modern times. absolutely stunning

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  10. Your pictures are *genuinely* breathtaking. I will go to bed thinking about them tonight.

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  11. It's really overwhelming. I like the rock with all the lines in it.

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  12. I recently watched a TV show about Yosemite, and it reminded me of you. It showed many of the same places, like the great waterfalls.

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  13. Mono Lake is absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful vacation.

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  14. A top place to visit, but I also like the hikes.

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  15. Incredibly gorgeous photos of the waterfalls, and thank you for sharing the joys of life with us.

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  16. Wow, what can i say...THIS IS SPECTACULAR!!!..very beautiful photo,I LOVE IT!

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  17. I haven't been to Yosemite in years..and I should go before I can no longer get around at all. Such fabulous pictures. You should post some of these great ones with reflections on the Weekend Reflections meme!1

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  18. Such a nice place there you enjoy golden movement of your life and spend unforgettable time of your life.
    www.dreamvacationenjoylife.blogspot.com

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  19. Stunning view of half dome and yosemite valley!

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  20. what an amazing view. . . I enjoyed the photos you shared, surely i'll enjoy more if I can encounter the view in reality

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  21. Wonderful places and views. Seeing your photos made me think that I still need to visit many places to appreciate more the beauty of nature.

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  22. It is always such a treat to look at your pictures.

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  23. A picturesque place, same as in the movies. The shots are great and awesome especially the trees, falls and mountains.

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  24. Oh my! Everything is so serene!

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  25. I want to visit the place, something that i don't usually do but knowing what would be there to see is something i would consider hiking...thanks for the motivation the pictures does works a lot.

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  26. Superb! Thanks for sharing, this is what my family needs considering we can't hike. The view is breathtaking,I still want to go hiking. ;)

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  27. Wow! Wow! and Wow! There are so many places indeed to visit and must-see... thanks for taking us there through your photos! I love that photo of the Mono Lake... it is really like an alien nation, and yet it is so serene... I just really wish my husband and I can do this... well, someday.

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  28. THe lake looks very mysterious, kind of like those that you see in the movie. Gorgeous!

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  29. The shots are all breathtaking. For someone as lampa as me, Yosemite will be perfect without hiking.

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  30. These pictures and places are breathtaking! Amazing photography too. They look like postcards :)

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  31. I love the second photo posted above :) It reminds me of the Game of Thrones series, except that there are no waters in the GOT show. Indeed, it's a kingdom :)

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  32. I really envy you for seeing these scenery. keep on sharing!

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THANK YOU SO MUCH!!