Blogs from Yosemite National Park, California, United States, North America

Though I hardly consider myself a frugal traveler, there are times where being frugal is smarter, faster, and easier. Consider these ideas. Stop buying food at the airport! Yes, carry snacks, energy bars, dried fruit and nuts. For longer trips, perhaps make a sandwich at home. Not only is airport food expensive, it is not very good or healthy (with a few exceptions). Don't park at the airport. Either park off site or take public transportation. Enough said. Avoid peak travel. I prefer to schedule my trips by avoiding summer months and holidays. My favorite travel months are May and October, slightly off peak, and perhaps a time to find some discounts and bargains. Use public transportation at your destination. This includes the airport to hotel segment as well. The experience is much richer compared to ... read more

La nuit à été bonne dans notre nouvel hébergement. On se réveille vers huit heures et on se prépare. La journée promet d'être belle, en effet, le soleil brille sans aucun nuage, et il fait déjà vingt-neuf degrés. On ne s'attarde pas, car il faut une heure trente pour rejoindre la vallée depuis Oakhurst. La route est très belle, mais elle serpente énormément et la vitesse est donc réduite. On arrive dans la vallée après avoir traversé un tunnel d'environ un kilomètre. A sa sortie, il y a un point de vue sur la vallée. On s'y était arrêté hier mais on veux voir si la lumière est mieux ce matin pour prendre une photo. Ca n'est pas flagrant, aussi, on repart très vite pour entrer dans la vallée. On veux egalement essayer de s'approcher de ... read more

While some of us slept in, I was up at 6am doing laundry. We didn’t have cell service or WiFi so I couldn’t work on my blog. By the time my laundry was finished everyone else was up, had breakfast, and was ready to check outYosemite. Bug problem….no maps. Our host had a few small copied maps that were difficult to read but they weren’t very helpful. We had no clue where to go. AND the vacation rental office was closed so they were no help. Fortunately we talked to a neighbor who would guide us to the nearest visitors center. We were so grateful. First stop was what is known as tunnel view, so named because you are just coming out of a tunnel through the mountain and the view opens up to all the ... read more

My best and only travel buddy sent me an excerpt from an article he read in the Wall Street Journal. He said it applies perfectly to me. Wanderlust is a beautiful state of being! WSJ: One section explains "in many ways having traveled is far superior to actual traveling. Most of us travel in search of a story , but the pleasure of shaping the narrative comes only in retrospect -- usually within some quiet place back home, The helps explain why so many of the world's best travel writers have, paradoxically , also embraced long sessions off the road".So, yes, I agree, it does apply to me. And I do write daily blogs about our trips. But the greatest joy comes from family and friends who ask about our trips, past and ... read more

This was going to be my first vacation in two years. I usually like to plan my trips, but this one wasn't. My flight to San Jose was supposed to take off at five in the morning. I fell asleep while seated and woke up more than an hour later only to find the plane still grounded. The flight was delayed by more than two hours. By the time I got to San Jose, I was under-slept and tired. I just had some food and went to sleep. The next day was going to be exciting. The next morning, I had a freak accident. I sneezed not very violently, but somehow managed to pull my back muscle - very badly - so bad that I had trouble moving initially. I struggled to get dressed and saw ... read more