Since during our visit to California, we were relatively close to Yosemite National Park, we realized it would be a crime if we did not get to stop by there even if it was just for a day. We were on our way back from Lake Tahoe and before going home, we decided to stop by the national park and spend half a day there. We made it to the park around 1pm and given that it was Labor day weekend, we were a bit too late to the party. There were a lot of people there already so we had to improvise on what we wanted to see. So a word of advice - go early and if you can, don't go on a weekend! Especially during the long weekend!
We started our excursion into Yosemite National Park by stopping near the Bridalveil Fall. In Spring, when the snow melts at the top of the peaks, there is a large waterfall running down the slope. When we visited, there was very little water since it was already early September and all of the snow has already melted away. I did not even realize that Yosemite has falls before I visited, so not being able to see water running down did not really disappoint me. Because the waterfall was relatively dry, some visitors climbed the rocks and went all the way to where the water typically falls since the conditions allowed for it. We decided to not engage in any physical activity beyond the activity required to visit the park and just appreciated the views from afar.
We then went to the Yosemite Village, a place that has a visitor center, some lodging and food accommodations, as well as parking. Our biggest challenge was to find a parking spot. It was Sunday of the Labor Day weekend so the park was really busy with the visitors. There were no open parking spots left so we had to stalk people leaving the park and wait for the spot to open in advance. Luckily, it did not take us too long to find a parking spot so we were able to go and enjoy the Lower Yosemite Falls. Here we ran into a similar situation as with the Bridalveil Fall. In Spring, there is a rapid stream of water running down from the peak. This time of the year, however, the fall was completely dry with no signs of water. It was still a magnificent structure to appreciate but if you want to view it in full glory then you would have to visit it during Spring when the snow starts to melt.
After Lower Yosemite Falls, we just went to random places within the valley that looked interesting to us. What is nice about Yosemite is that you can drive around and stop by wherever you want. You are not required to hike long distances in order to reach your destinations. There are, of course, some sites that can be accessed only via hiking, however, a lot of the famous attractions are reachable with a car.
Once we were done walking around the valley, we made our way to the Glacier Point to enjoy the sunset and the views that open from that vista point. While there is a hike that some people take in order to make it from the valley all the way to the top, we realized that we would most likely die about twenty minutes into the hike. That hike is pretty lengthy and you would have to ascend a very large elevation. It was much easier to just take the car and get there in a comfort of the AC. Along the way to the Glacier Point, there are a couple of vista points that are worth stopping by. You get different kind of views at each one which makes you appreciate the magnitude of Yosemite national park. We made it to Glacier Point right on time, as it is a very popular place to watch the sunset. We got there a couple of hours before the sun was supposed to go down and were able to find parking about half a mile from the vista point. Glacier Point gets very crowded so it is best to go there early and park at other parking locations located not far from the observation decks. When we finally made it to the Glacier Point, we got a view of the Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls. It is worth noting that Glacier Point is located nearly 3,200 feet above the valley so the views we got from there were incredible.
Our visit to Yosemite Valley was definitely a memorable one. Even though we did not get to see the waterfalls in their full glory, we were still amazed by the beauty of the landscapes around us. It is a pretty surreal feeling being in the valley and looking up at the peaks around you. But it is even more breathtaking once you make it to the peaks and get to look over the valley and realize the elevation you are at. I would love to come back to Yosemite in Spring in order to see the waterfalls at full power and re-visit the beautiful scenery of the national park.
