To this day, I still remember my first trip as a child to Yosemite National Park. It was on a 2,000-mile road trip from the Midwest. Similar to John Muir’s journey from the Great Plains to Yosemite, my personal experience of seeing the legendary valley with my own eyes sparked my love of nature and to explore the great outdoors. If you’re looking for a family trip that will create a lifetime of memories for everyone including your children, Yosemite National Park is a must.

Toasting marshmallows at Tenaya at Yosemite's outdoor fire pit  

There is so much to see and do in the park that you’ll want to make a solid game plan ahead of time, so you don’t get overwhelmed upon arrival. Whether you want to just relax, see the main attractions or dive into a bit of the area's history, you can find the ideal activities to suit your agenda.

Illilouette Falls on the Mist Trail - Visit Yosemite | Madera CountySometimes you just need time to unplug from the digital world and recharge in the great outdoors. While the famous waterfalls in Yosemite are a must see, for those looking for a more relaxed vibe, consider taking a peek at one of the lesser known waterfalls in or near Yosemite, such as Illilouette Falls.

El Capitan on a fall night with star trails above and big wall climbers in its face - photo by Steve Montalto/HighMountain ImagesWithin the 1,169 square miles of the park’s boundaries, there’s a lot of attractions to take in. From one of the world’s largest solid blocks of granite known as El Capitan to the Giant Sequoias within one of the three main groves, the list of things to see is almost endless. To help narrow down your search, start on our Yosemite National Park page which highlights some of our favorite things to do including seasonal favorites.

One-of-a Kind Creature: Yosemite is home to an arachnid called the Yosemite Cave Pseudoscorpion. This animal, which resembles a scorpion, is believed to exist only at Yosemite.

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad takes you on a fun adventure into the Sierra National Forest

Depending on when you visit, there’s several activities that really give you a taste of each season. For those kiddos or adult that enjoy steam-driven locomotives, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a MUST. Another fun activity to check out is the Yosemite History Center. Here you’ll get a small dose of education and history along with lots of adventure.

While my first adventure to Yosemite was three decades ago, I still thank my parents for igniting my love of the mountains. Yosemite isn’t just a national park but rather an opportunity to inspire your children to see the world in a different light. As John Muir so eloquently put it, “The Mountains are calling, and I must go.”

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