Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking the Mist Trail to the Vernal Fall Footbridge in the snow. There are many things to do in Yosemite during Winter, and taking this trail near Curry Village is a favorite. Along the way we'll see iconic Yosemite highlights such as Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and the roaring rapids of the Merced River.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to Wind Wolves Preserve near Bakersfield in the Central Valley. Located near the I-5 at the Grapevine, this preserve offers great hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and educational resources for adults & kids about the nature here and the Chumash Native Americans that once lived here. You might even see elk, rattlesnakes, black bear, and mountain lions.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to viewing the Yosemite Valley Firefall during the Fall season. More commonly enjoyed during Winter in February, the Firefall natural phenomenon happens when the sunset light hits Horsetail Fall on the side of El Capitan, creating a flame affect on the waterfall. On rare occasions, this event can be seen during Autumn in late October or early November.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Big Trees Trail along Generals Highway in the Giant Forest. This easy hike is one of my favorite things to do in Sequoia National Park, and it's close to the Giant Forest Museum, General Sherman Tree, Congress Trail, and Moro Rock. This loop trail is family friendly and great for all ages, providing close up views of giant sequoia trees.
Read MoreRead this Fall color travel guide to Rock Creek Lake in the Eastern Sierra mountains. Rock Creek Canyon is home to dozens alpine lakes and hiking trails, but today we'll be hiking the easy trail around Rock Creek Lake and enjoying the autumn colors as we stroll through groves of aspen trees. The Fall colors are peaking along Highway 395, so download the free photo guide to my top spots.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to the top 20 spots to view the Eastern Sierra Fall colors in 2022. Plan your visit this Autumn with locations such as North Lake, Rock Creek Lake, Conway Summit, McGee Creek, South Lake, Intake 2, Bishop, Owens River, Aspendell, Cardinal Village, Lake Sabrina, and more. Download a free travel guide with map pins and driving directions.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting 3 National Parks in 1 day! This one day itinerary is a great California road trip idea, taking us from Yosemite Valley to Kings Canyon, and then ending in Sequoia National Park. We'll explore spots like Lower Yosemite Falls, Big Stump Trail, Grant Grove, General Sherman, Moro Rock, Hanging Rock, Tunnel Log, and Tunnel Rock.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking a section of the Pohono Trail and Old Wawona / Stagecoach Road to the Artist Point overlook in Yosemite National Park. Learn about trail info, such as distance / elevation gain, as well as how this viewpoint is a great alternative to Tunnel View since it is less crowded, and the hike can be combined with a similar view at Inspiration Point.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about hiking to the General Sherman Tree located in Sequoia National Park in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains. Learn interesting facts about the General Sherman Tree, trail distance, and nearby trails, such as the Congress Trail, the Alta Trail, and the Circle Meadow Loop. Enjoy photography of the giant sequoia trees from overlooks and viewpoints.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about hiking the Devastated Area Interpretive Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. Learn about the trail distance and the interpretive panels, such as the one with Loomis and his "Hot Rock" photograph. See pictures of Lassen Peak, large volcanic rocks, and the forest that is recovering from the Lassen Peak volcano eruption.
Read MoreToday I'm in Yosemite National Park with my dog exploring all the pet friendly spots in the park. Read this full travel guide to enjoying the best dog friendly activities, hiking trails, viewpoints, and hotels. Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, Cooks & Sentinel Meadows, Half Dome views from Glacier Point, and the hike to Mirror Lake are just a few of the dog friendly locations we're exploring today.
Read MoreToday we're in Yosemite National Park enjoying Olmsted Point along Tioga Road. We'll check out views of Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and Tenaya Lake from multiple overlooks, including a bonus hike.
Read MoreToday we're hiking around Tenaya Lake, the largest lake in Yosemite National Park. This high altitude lake off Tioga Road offers stunning reflections of the surrounding granite peaks, and is open to swimming, kayaking, and picnicking.
Read MoreToday we're climbing up on top of Tunnel Rock in Sequoia National Park in California. Generals Highway once passed under this giant boulder, which was tunneled out by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in the 1930s.
Read MoreThis week we're exploring a lesser known waterfall in Yosemite National Park found near the small town of Wawona, California. Chilnualna Falls is made of five large drops over giant granite formations above the Wawona basin, and today we'll be hiking the short trail to the lower section.
Read MoreToday we're hiking up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains along the Congress Trail in Sequoia National Park to some of the world's largest trees. We'll start at the famous General Sherman Tree and then escape the crowds to see many more giant sequoias. We'll enjoy The President Tree, The House Group, The Senate Group, the Lincoln Tree, and even an old log cabin.
Read MoreToday we're exploring two lesser known waterfalls in Yosemite National Park near the El Portal Arch Rock Entrance. Wildcat Falls and Cascade Falls are a series of waterfalls that plunge into the Merced Gorge, and can be viewed with minimal hiking.
Read MoreThis week we're in Yosemite National Park exploring my favorite spots for a Winter visit. We'll enjoy the yearly Firefall phenomenon, hike up to Lower Yosemite Falls, enjoy a sunrise at Tunnel View, and so much more.
Read MoreValley View in Yosemite National Park is a great stop in any season. Today we'll see what it looks like in WInter and Summer as we enjoy views of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and the Merced River in the Yosemite Valley.
Read MoreToday we're driving up to one of the few overlooks in Joshua Tree National Park. Keys View has beautiful panoramic views of Palm Springs, the San Andreas Fault, the Salton Sea, and the Coachella Valley.
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