On The Road // Yosemite National Park

The travel bug is something I think I inherited from my dad.  Growing up he would plan these elaborate road trips every summer and those family adventures are still some of my favorite memories.  When Aaron and I started dating, we both found ourselves with 8 weeks free from work and a bunch of airline miles just waiting to be used so we jetted off to Europe like any right-minded person in their early twenties would and hopped trains from country to country until our hearts were content.  One year into parenthood and our travel adventures may look a little less exotic, but I am still dreaming over this trip to Yosemite we took in March, so I had to share the details, just in case any of you were looking to take a similar getaway.

My mom flew in from Austin to stay with Parker and then we set off on our road trip.  We have both traveled separately over this last year, but it was our first two nights together away from Parker.  We treated ourselves to In-N-Out burgers and milkshakes like the crazy party animals we are and then quickly continued on towards the Sierra Nevadas.  There is so much to love about Yosemite!  For starters it was just a 4.5 hour drive from LA.  Not too bad, right? The air is so crisp and clean and there's so much exploring you can do.  There are really easy hikes to the falls or more challenging hikes like Half Dome and Glacier Point.  If hiking isn't really your thing, there are open fields that play host to games of frisbee, soccer, and the like or you can rent bikes and explore the park that way as well.  Many of the most popular sites to see are also driveable.

We stayed at the Ahwahnee Hotel and I couldn't imagine staying anywhere else.  It's on the pricier side, but I HIGHLY recommend this place for a number of reasons!  For starters it is the most convenient to all of the park locations.  You're right in the middle of everything and you don't have to leave the park and trek back to your hotel at the end of the day. (All other hotel accommodations are located outside the park which is at least a 45 minute drive.)  There are tons of food choices, all delicious, and you can enjoy wine on the back porch which looks like this:

I had dreams of sleeping in until 9am, which didn't happen, but we did have an epically good time and I hiked like I have never hiked before.  It was really fun to get away just the two of us and reminisce on this past year and trips past.  Life has changed a lot in the last 5 years, but I don't know if there is anything I would do differently.  I'm feeling pretty content with this season of life and what the next chapter might hold.

Did you travel a lot as a kid?  Do you think it affects how you feel about travel now?  If you're looking for a summer adventure in the states, I highly recommend Yosemite!

All photos except for the fourth one taken by Aaron Pinkston