Read this Flying Dawn Marie hotel review about Tenaya at Yosemite in Fish Camp, CA, one of the best hotels near Yosemite National Park. Join me as I stay in one of the Premium Explorer Cabins and discover all the amenities and family friendly activities that Tenaya Lodge resort has to offer during Christmas & all Winter long. We'll enjoy dining & restaurants, and take a private Yosemite 360 Tour.
Read MoreToday we're exploring the hoodoos & grottoes along Echo Canyon Trail in Chiricahua National Monument. Chiricahua makes for a great stop along a Southern Arizona road trip, and is one of my top things to do when traveling to Bisbee, AZ. The grotto formations along this hike are spectacular and remind me of slot canyons found in other national parks. Read this travel guide for more info!
Read MoreCheck out my top 15 best spots to see the Fall colors in Yosemite Valley. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for seeing the Fall colors in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park typically peaks later than the Eastern Sierra Fall foliage, but late October is the perfect time to see the Autumn leaves pop with color along Southside Drive, Cooks Meadows, El Capitan Meadow, and Tunnel View.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to driving Sonora Pass Highway 108 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains north of Yosemite. Autumn is the best time to drive Sonora Pass, as aspen trees show off the Fall colors throughout. Check out my top spots along this steep and windy road, which include a waterfall, a geological wonder, abandoned cabins, river views, and Fall foliage photo spots.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel blog about driving the June Lake Loop north of Mammoth Lakes in the California Eastern Sierras. If you're looking for places to see Fall colors, the Autumn foliage along this drive pop every October. Along this scenic road trip you'll discover 4 lakes (June Lake, Silver Lake, Gull Lake and Grant Lake) surrounded granite peaks and groves of quaking aspen trees.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to the Eastern Sierra Fall colors. This complete visitor guide will take you to my top 25 spots along highway 395 on where to see the California Fall colors. We'll take a road trip up into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and discover places to go like North Lake, Bishop Creek, Sonora Pass, Mammoth Lakes, Tioga Pass, Conway Summit, and June Lake Loop.
Read MoreThe Twin Lakes area is a great spot to see California's Eastern Sierra Fall foliage. Comprised of two main lakes, Upper and Lower Twin Lakes, this area is often referred to as “California’s Alps” where the Sawtooth Ridge and Sierra Crest divide the Twin Lakes Basin from Yosemite National Park and the scenery is nothing short of stunning. Enjoy trout fishing, hiking and nature photography here.
Read MoreVirginia Lakes basin is a wonderful spot to enjoy California's Eastern Sierra Fall foliage. Hidden just six miles off Highway 395 near Conway Summit (in between Lee Vining and Bridgeport), Virginia Lakes consists of nearly a dozen alpine lakes located at 9,000 to over 11,000 feet high in the Sierra. For hiking, fishing and outdoor adventures in nature this is a can't miss area during autumn.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie hotel review on Lucia Lodge along the Big Sur coastline. Located along Pacific Coast Highway 1, aka Cabrillo Highway, this Big Sur hotel is a great place to stay when taking a road trip along California's central coast. This week I'm reviewing the Honeymoon Cottage, Room # 10, which is one of the original cabins built 100 years ago with a panoramic ocean view.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about the hike up Pothole Dome in Yosemite National Park. Located along Tioga Road in the Tuolumne Meadows near the Tioga Pass Entrance, this is a great family friendly hiking trail and one of my top things to do in Yosemite's high country. Atop this granite feature we'll have spectacular views of Unicorn Peak, Cockscomb Peak, and the Cathedral Range.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to exploring the top things to do along a Tioga Pass road trip, one of the most underrated sections of Yosemite National Park. When Tioga Road opens for the season, there are so many places to go, including Olmsted Point with views of Half Dome, Tenaya Lake, Lembert Dome, Tuolomne Meadow, and multiple waterfalls that flow in late Spring / early Summer.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to exploring Columns of the Giants along Sonora Pass Highway 108 in the Sierra Nevadas of CA. Hiking this family friendly trail is one of my top things to do on a road trip through Stanislaus National Forest. The short paved path takes you over the Middle Fork Stanislaus River to basalt rock formations formed by volcanic and glacial activity long ago.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Pohono Trail to Inspiration Point in Yosemite National Park. Inspiration Point and Artist Point are great alternatives to Tunnel View if you want to avoid crowds. This is a moderate hike and overlook spot to see El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall, and the Yosemite Valley. Photographers enjoy this viewpoint for sunrise and sunset.
Read MoreBookmark this Complete Guide to Yosemite Waterfalls for your next visit to Yosemite National Park. In this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide, you'll learn about all the major waterfalls found inside the park, along with details on hiking trails, viewpoints, and best times of year to visit. Take a virtual visit along the Mist Trail to Nevada & Vernal Falls, and to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the trail to Wapama Falls in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park. Located near the town of Groveland, this waterfall hike takes you alongside the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which was formed a century ago when the Hetch Hetchy Valley was flooded by the creation of the O'Shaughnessy Dam, providing water to the city of San Francisco.
Read MoreJoin me on the Flying Dawn Marie travel blog today as we explore the current flood conditions in Yosemite National Park. The Merced River is flooding the Yosemite Valley and almost touching the Swinging Bridge and Pohono Bridge. Waterfalls, such as Bridalveil Fall, Ribbon Fall, Horsetail Fall, the Cascades, and Yosemite Falls are roaring and can be enjoyed from many popular viewpoints.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting the tallest trees, the oldest trees, and the largest trees in the world. The giant sequoias, the coastal redwoods, and the ancient bristlecone pines are all found in California, and this week I'm sharing my favorite places to go and hiking trails to see these trees up close, most of which are in state and national parks, forests, and monuments.
Read MoreRead this comprehensive Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Bisbee, AZ. Discover what to do, where to stay, and what to eat in this charming small town in the Mule Mountains of Cochise County. If you're planning a trip to southern Arizona, this complete guide will inform you about the top restaurants, activities, shops, art, museums, tours, hotels, and Airbnbs in this historic mining town.
Read MoreThere are some great places to see wildflowers in California right now. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel blog about hiking the Wildflower Loop Trail at WInd Wolves Preserve, located just north of Los Angeles near the Grapevine in Bakersfield, CA. The abundant rains have created lush fields at this Central Valley park, making it one of the top spots to see Spring wildflowers this year.
Read MoreThis week on the Flying Dawn Marie travel blog we're partnering with B Active Bisbee, a family owned local business providing fun adventures & rentals in Southern Arizona. We'll be taking guided hikes, renting e-bikes, and learning about the rich history and art scene in this historic mining boomtown. This shop specializes in golf cart, hiking, walking, e-bike, and wine experiences in Old Bisbee.
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