Many people claim that their trip to California has been the holiday of a life time. The State is so huge and diverse that it ultimately always has something for everyone in it. Whether you like the hustle and bustle of the streets of San Francisco, the glamour and the stardom of Hollywood and Los Angeles or the remote and tranquil feeling of the area known as Death Valley, there is one place that people always talk about; Yosemite National Park. In this article we are going to take a look at an alternative way of experiencing this natural wonder, exploring the terrain up close and personal through camping holidays.
Yosemite National Park: Natural Beauty
The Yosemite National Park is an area of astounding natural beauty that has been born by the forces of nature. Thousands upon thousands of years ago huge, destructive glaciers moved through the valleys cutting away at the hillsides at either side, the end result is many a shear face hundreds and even thousands of feet tall. As a result of this natural wonder many millions of visitors come to the parks each year to marvel at the stunning views that are on show and also to explore the mountainous terrain.
The Yosemite National Parks have many a glorious site to behold and one of the biggest attractions is the huge waterfalls that cascade down from the cliffs on either side of the valleys. Visiting during spring is extremely popular because as a result of the rainfall and thawing ice from the cold winters, the rivers and waterfalls swell and become even more of a spectacle.
Camping Holidays in and around Yosemite
There are as many as thirteen popular campsites within the boundaries of the Yosemite National Park and there are also many more just outside the borders. It is advisable to arrive early and also have a booking if possible because the locations within the park itself are highly sought after and as a result they do fill up extremely quickly.
Camping within the parks is extremely rewarding, the sites themselves are always surrounded by nature and there are plenty of opportunities to go and explore some of the woodlands through trails that have been specially made for the visitors. Depending on your athletic ability there is a walk to suit everyone, from the most challenging up to the top of Glacier Point which stands at over 2000ft tall to the more relaxed stroll along the river’s edge.
There should be one word of caution when looking at camping holidays in and around Yosemite and that is beware of the bears! Bears live naturally around this part of the world and if they get to accustomed to human contact they can become dangerous. We recommend that you speak to the rangers upon your arrival and learn the protocols of how to handle a bear sighting.
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Tom Watson has travelled the length and breadth of the United States and he enjoys writing travel and camping articles for a number of websites and blogs.