Yosemite Holiday
The Yosemite National Park is renowned for its quite incredibly diverse scenery and range of attractions on offer.
Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular parks in the United States with good reason, boasting stunning mountains, forests and lush valleys, dramatic waterfalls and rich plant and animal life.
Located in the state of California, Yosemite was set aside as a national park in 1890 and now attracts visitors from across the world, who come to marvel at its scenery. It is home to forests of ancient giant sequoias, the world's largest living things, including the towering Mariposa Grove, and the Sierra Nevada provides a breathtaking backdrop to a visit to the vast park.
Native Americans have peopled the Yosemite region for around 8,000 years, first making contact with settlers some time in the mid nineteenth century. The tribe was largely isolated and developed a rich culture of stories, songs, traditions and politics, based around the rich resources of the area.
In 1849, gold was discovered in the Sierra Nevada foothills and the arrival of thousands of miners caused conflict with the native people, leading to the Mariposa Indian War.
Word of the striking Yosemite Valley spread and visitors started to arrive, including artists, photographers, tourists and writers, with hotels and new developments springing up. However, the local ecosystem started to suffer with the tourist trade and the region was put in public trust in 1864, becoming Yosemite National Park on October 1st 1890.
Some of the most spectacular views in the park can be seen from Glacier's Point, the staggering 4,733ft Half Dome, Minaret Vista, Sentinel Dome and Yosemite Falls.
Highlights include the beautiful Bridalveil Fall, a 620ft waterfall inYosemite Valley, known by the Native Americans as Pohono (spirit of the puffing wind), Devils Postpile National Monument, which consists of a series of vertical basalt columns that have been created by volcanic and glacial forces, and the El Capitan granite monolith, towering 3,593ft above Yosemite Valley.
Worth a visit during a trip to Yosemite are the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, the Bodie Ghost Town, which includes the abandoned mining village of Rattlesnake Gulch, empty shops, churches and houses and a good museum, and the Happy Isles Nature Center.
Walkers and hikers can sign up for ranger-led nature walks, guided tours are available and maps are easily purchased for those wishing to explore alone.
There are several excellent hot springs to visit and bathe in, including the Hot Creek Geologic Site, and facilities such as post office, stores, bars and a health centre can be found in bustling Yosemite Village, also home to the Valley Visitor Center, the Wilderness Center, the Yosemite Museum and the Ansel Adams Gallery.
Yosemite has plenty of campsites, with a variety of different facilities on offer, while those looking for a more luxurious nights sleep can stay in one of the hotels and lodges around the park.
The park and the surrounding towns are home to numerous restaurants, the majority of which serve traditional American food. Transport around Yosemite is largely on foot or by bus and there are regular services to most of the popular beauty spots. Cars are allowed in certain areas of the park and the June Lake Loop provides a particularly scenic drive.
Yosemite is particularly beautiful in the spring and autumn, though the views across the Sierra Nevada are spectacular all year round. The park is at its busiest and warmest during the summer months, with the lakes providing boating and fishing opportunities and plenty of trails for nature rambling, walking, cycling and hiking.
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