Yosemite!!!

Bob and Dottie flew in Thursday night and we took a family vacation to Yosemite National Park over a long weekend. It was GREAT!!!! (Below is a picture of half-dome - one of the more famous mountains in the park.)

This was the first visit to the park for all of us except Robbie who's been a few times. We went at just the right time of year when it's warming up and all the waterfalls are at full flow from the snow melt. Actually, we had unseasonably hot weather (it actually reached triple digits), but we didn't let it slow us down any. (Below is Bob/Dottie and Me/Robbie/Owen) in front of the bottom of Bridalveil Falls.)

Friday we drove in and visited Glacier Point (a little nervewracking for my taste - heights-wise). Gorgeous views of the valley from a lot of different vantage points. Owen enjoyed travelling around in the backpack carrier with Robbie. He also got to experience his first snow - which I can't say he enjoyed all the much (he would not let loose his death-grip on Robbie).

Saturday we went to see Bridalveil Falls (pics above) and then we walked up to Lower Yosemite Falls. The water comes down so fast from those waterfalls you get soaked just standing near it. We did the Valley Floor Tour which was in an open air tram (below is a pic of Owen on it with Bob's sunglasses). We saw a climber on El Capitain (it takes good climbers about 3 days to climb - the actually sleep in hamocks off the side of the mountain - crazy!). And we went to the Mariposa redwood grove. Those trees are incredible. The biggest (Grizzly Giant) has a limb that is 7 feet in diameter (bigger than any non-sequoia tree trunk in the park).

Sunday we enjoyed a quite morning sitting on our picnic blanket next to the river. Owen loved playing with the pine needles. And we walked around the visitor's center a bit. In the afternoon we had an incredible brunch at the Ahwahnee Hotel - a gorgeous old hotel right in the vally. And then we hiked up to Vernal Falls.

It was a packed weekend and we saw a lot. Yosemite is amazing and I can't wait to go back. I highly recommend coming out to visit us and we'll take you out there. :) Of course, if you don't camp you have to get reservations a good 9-12 months in advance - so start planning now!