Above is the trip route - to & fro - we took Hwy 89 for the first time and were delighted with the views all through the drive (the nausea that mom n I battled it was worth it). The mono Basin area is soooooooo pretty - unfortunately, we ran out of time and could not visit the Tufa's....I can't wait to go back and explore that area a little bit more. Especially after I started following this photographer on FB, I'm in love with this place.
The whole family hiked to Rainbow falls - not a long hike but definitely strenuous with two kids and mom who has major knee trouble. She is such a trooper - she made it without any discomfort and was a champ the next day too.
The smaller lakes in this area - Convict lake, June Lake, Gull lake, etc are so pretty. We have a lake here in Folsom, and there's Lake Tahoe close to us, but somehow, these small lakes which are nestled between tall mountains and have crystal clear waters (and beaches too) felt so inviting.
It was also a memorable experience watching the fireworks over Crowley Lake - the setting was surreal - away from civilization, the calm water, dark skies making so many stars visible, and the fireworks to add to the charm. I did not have a tripod to shoot good pictures but check out this sample image of what we witnessed (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201412538774040&set=a.2923911815494.154659.1191821786&type=1&theater). The baby was mesmerized.
We spent Saturday driving upto Tioga Pass Road (~10000ft) and into Yosemite National Park. There is never a moment spent here that you will regret or won't cherish. Today was no exception. Every moment - the drive, the wait at the National Park Entrance, the lunch at the gorgeous Toulumne Meadows, the precious time spent at Tenaya Lake, the hike over rocks at Olmstead Point and briefly getting lost on our way back, the trooper daughter who I discovered is a climber.....every moment was precious and unforgettable.
The only thing I'd like to change for road trips is for the kids to not get stuck in their car seats for so long. It is very frustrating for them, and for us. We are thinking of RV trips from next year onwards and will see how that goes.
And above all this sightseeing, hiking and adventure - its the time spent together with family and friends that takes the cherry on the top. The house we rented was PERFECT. The loft was occupied by all the snoring members of our gang, and I would look forward to the stories every morning about their experiences through the night :). It was also nice to be able to watch Wimbledon in peace while sipping coffee (Djokovic did well in the semis) while the kids slept in until late. We cooked, we baked cookies, we had pizza, we had ice cream, and most importantly, we had FUN!!!!
My mom and husband said they wished we had one more day together, so that we could play cards and chat until late in the night. Oh, and we also ditched our original plan to bike down the mammoth mountain - everyone deemed it to be risky and we did not want to leave the parents/kids behind and spend an entire day away from them. Instead, we chose to hike, which was a great decision!
I am yet to download the pictures from the camera, but I have loads to share....stay tuned!
How was your July 4th long weekend (for the US folks) and what did you do :)?
5 comments:
What did R Sr and R Jr think of this trip ??
@Ramesh - The daughter LOVED it. Hiking, climbing, jumping into the lakes naked, listening to music in the car....
The son - not so much :). He had a hard time sleeping/napping, hates the carseat in general and also has terrible stranger anxiety. We got back home and all he's done is sleep, sleep, sleep!
A holiday well spent! I had a long weekend exactly opposed to yours :D Went to Vegas for the first time and there's no chance that you're down any moment. Had great fun but now i'm looking forward to a peaceful weekend just like yours :)
Looks like you had an amazing trip ! and great family bonding...best thing in the world.. I am looking at the map and cant believe you guys traveled that much :)
As for me and my family..we spent our time in Lake Tahoe in a BnB relaxing
@Bhavika - Vegas is fun too :). My weekend was far from peaceful, but it sure was fun!
@JS - you must stop by to our place on your way to Tahoe.
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