Yosemite For Kids

In these modern days, the definition of the word “fun” has drastically changed from what it used to be. It once meant going out enjoying nature, running around in parks, and playing sports. It has changed to staying indoors and playing video games or just going out for partying with time. The world of electronics has changed too quickly in the past few decades, and the generation gap between parents and their children seems to be much more than it is.

There might not be many things that children can do with their parents or grandparents, but going for a hike and visiting parks is something that families can do together. This facility not only allows families to spend time with each other, but it can also teach children a lot about nature and the beauty that it has to offer.

One such place that families can visit with their kids is the Yosemite National Park. We can all plan a safe yet exciting trip to Yosemite with kids.

Where is the park at?

Yosemite national park, established in 1890, is designated to be the first national park in America. It sits in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. It covers an area of almost 3,027 square kilometers. The park is open for visitors 24 hours a day, all year round. So, you can visit the glorious place whenever you feel like it. The Yosemite national park is 1200 miles of natural beauty, and the National Park Service manages the park. The place occupies a special place in the nation’s soul. Most of the visitors spend their time in the Yosemite Valley. The valley is only 8 miles long and 1 mile wide but still is filled with sights that leave people speechless. The scenery is what attracts over 4 million visitors every year.

What activities can you enjoy?

There are several activities and items that you can enjoy at the Yosemite national park with kids. Some of them are:

  • Hiking

Hiking is a productive, fun, and healthy activity for people of all ages, whether kids or grownups. Yosemite National Park is full of hiking spots. You can visit Yosemite with kids and find safe hiking spots to enjoy. The hikes may be a little heavy on your knees if you are not used to all the walking, but the sights you will witness along the way will be worth it.

  • Cycling

Cycling is another fun activity to do in the Yosemite National Park. There is an endless bike riding path made for people who prefer cycling over walking, but you don’t miss out on any of Yosemite’s glorious jaw-dropping sights. It is environment friendly, good for your health, and allows you to see more of the beautiful places surrounding you. You can easily find bike rentals in Yosemite, mostly in the summer season. Smaller bicycles are available if you are visiting Yosemite with kids.

  • Fishing

Fishing is another activity that you can do at Yosemite with kids. You can teach your kids fishing and spend some splendid time with them. Not only will they learn a new skill, but enjoy the view of the 58 permanent streams that the park is home to. These streams have a combined length of 770 miles. However, make sure you have a fishing license. Anyone over the age of 16 is allowed to enjoy this activity as long as they have a fishing license. This license should be the California Department of Fish and Wildlife certified. 

  • Horse riding

Whether you’re a brand new learner or an expert at horse riding, you do not want to miss the chance of some horseback riding on your trip to Yosemite National Park. It is a splendid experience to ride a horse among the ancient and majestic trees. Yosemite is the perfect place for some horseback riding if you are looking for something to do, that would make you forget about your everyday stress.

If you visit the Wawona area, stop by the “Yosemite Trails Horseback Adventures.” The horseback ranch is family-owned and will give you the best horseback riding experience possible. What better thing to do than make your way through the pine forest and clear mountain streams on horseback?

This place is not the only where you will find horseback riding. So, if you missed this spot, not to worry. You will find more spots in Yosemite, where you will be able to experience horseback riding.

  • Rafting

If you are visiting Yosemite with kids, rafting is another fun activity that you can do. You might want to avoid this, though if kids are too young. But if you are with kids of 12 or above, you can take them for some rafting experience. The boats are perfectly safe, and the staff is always there to help if needed.

There are two locations for rafting in the Yosemite national park. If you are with younger kids, you can choose the Yosemite Valley location for rafting. The water over there is much smoother, and so the experience is much less bumpy, making It safer for kids.

Best things to see

Apart from all the things that you can do, there are countless fabulous sights to see at the Yosemite national park. It holds places of such beauty that they remain unmatched by anything that man ever made. Places inspired president Teddy Roosevelt to write, “It was like lying in a great solemn cathedral, far vaster and more beautiful by any built by the hand of man.”

The grandfather of America’s National park system, John Muir, wrote a book in 1912 called “The Yosemite.” In this book, he wrote, “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.” Writings like these are what grew the urge in people to go and visit the place for themselves. Some of the many places to see in Yosemite national park with kids are,

  • Yosemite Falls

The first, and probably the most amazing thing to see is the Yosemite waterfalls. It is America’s tallest waterfall. The waterfall is the combination of three separate falls: the upper, middle, and lower. Collectively, the waterfalls down from an amazing height of 2,245 feet. The sound of the falls is audible throughout the Yosemite Valley.

  • Wawona Basin

The Wawona basin is a huge area where you get the chance to walk among huge sequoias. These sequoias are as tall as 30 stories high and are considered one of the largest living things on the entire planet. Fun fact, they are only found in the Sierra Nevada. The kids will have never seen anything like this before. The “Grizzly Giant” is among the largest sequoias, and it has lived for over 1,800 years.

These numbers, tall heights, and the natural beauty are sure to have your kids hooked from the very first moment that they lay their eyes on it.

  • Wildlife

While you are at Yosemite with kids, you might want to keep an eye out for any wildlife. The Yosemite national park is home to almost 500 black bears. The highest chances of seeing a black bear would probably be in the late spring through early autumn because that is when the bears are most active. Watching an actual black bear will be fascinating for kids; however, observe the bears from a safe distance.

Another fascinating creature that you might get to see is the golden eagle. They sometimes soar near the rim of Yosemite Valley. These majestic creatures can spread their wings up to over seven feet. You might also see Bighorn sheep and Mule deer.

  • Museum

The museum sits in the Yosemite Village. The museum allows visitors to explore the culture of the people who used to inhabit the people. You can learn more about the miners, artists, and even entrepreneurs who followed at the visitor’s center.

If you ever visit that side of the Yosemite National park, make sure that you don’t miss the Ansel Adam’s Gallery. This gallery offers tribute to the photographer whose black and white images of the valley have inspired millions of people to visit the Yosemite national park for themselves.

If you visit Yosemite with kids, the museum and the gallery will educate them and tell them a lot about what the place was like decades ago. Also, the kids might find the culture of the ancestors to be fascinating.

  • Tunnel View

The tunnel view comes if you take a short detour as you enter the Yosemite Valley from the west. There you get to stand before a majestic view. The greatest panorama sight one can imagine. This site has reduced so many to silence, and even more to tears. If you visit Yosemite national park with kids, a photo at this location will be worth remembering for the rest of their lives. It is not a sight that you get to see every day, and most certainly not one that someone can forget.

Conclusion

The Yosemite National park is a great place to visit with your kids. You have tons of activities to enjoy, and sights at every turn that take your breath away. You can go there for hiking or even just for a family picnic. There are some spots that you might want to avoid if you visit Yosemite with kids. Still, there is so much to see and do at the park. Your kids will want to go there over and over again.

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