Few places on earth can match the grandeur and scenery of Yosemite National Park in California. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the park is home to massive sheer granite cliffs, subalpine forest, clear mountain lakes and amazing waterfalls. Some of the parks better known attractions are as famous and well-known as the park itself: Half Dome, looking like a mountain sliced down the middle; the 3,000 foot sheer granite face of El Capitan; and the 620 foot Bridalveil Fall. The park is home to a rich variety of animals, including black bears, foxes and bighorn sheep. Perhaps no other park has as many scenic trails for hiking and backpacking. The park is also one of the premier destinations in the world for rock-climbing.

Yosemite’s beauty is also its curse. It’s the fourth most visited national park and overcrowding can be a real issue in the summer. Try to avoid June through August if you can. Crowds thin out after Labor Day and you’ll still have highs in the 70s. Visiting before Memorial Day in May will also allow you a more enjoyable experience. The park is about a four hour drive from San Francisco, but there are numerous towns around the area. There is also camping in the park. If you’re visiting in the summer, you’ll want to reserve your lodging a year in advance.