Naturalist John Muir was addicted to the regions regal displays of verdant meadows, magical cascading waterfalls with a dream like veil of mist worn as a sheer shroud with the Tuolumne River flowing and undulating cutting a swath through the park.
Environmentalist and photographer, Ansel Adams who first visited Yosemite in 1916 was so taken with it's beauty that he spent years and a large amount of large format camera film to capture the raw essence of the area's natural beauty in black and white with an amazing F-Stop depth of field perspective preserving her sensuous geological sexiness in silver nitrate for posterity. Yosemite is an addiction, and I have to admit having gone there so many times in the past when living in San Francisco, that I too, am one of her adoring junkies! You will be in Grizzly country, but caution and back country street smarts can be utilized to minimize most dangers, but, you are on their turf so be careful nonetheless.
If you want to play it safe, which is not a bad thing to do, you can sign on for a seven day guided hike with experienced guides, and a group of comrades to make friends with and share the adventure. If there's a little bit of Clint Eastwood in you sign on for a four to six day saddle up, giddy up, horseback excursion of exploration. During the summer you can kick back and tram it in the open air vehicles and cruise the wilds in motorized comfort.
One area of particular interest is an area known as the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. A lot of the heartier hikers prefer the journey from Glacier Point to Tuolumne Meadows for a full dose of Mother Natures magic potion of all things rustic. Waterwheel Falls and Pate Valley have a rich past of Native American history that pre-dates the European incursion of their sacred lands. There are still traces of their habitation that are visible with the silent voices of the past.
Class V rock and roll snow melt rapids rage for the roller coaster riding rafter on the Merced and the Tuolumne Rivers. Rock climbing rock stars can tackle granite walls that are 3,000 feet. There is also a mountain climbing school with instruction.
Lodging options are typically rustic with Backcountry camping and cabins are available in the park to wrap yourself in comfort of knotty pine splendor, and of course the more pricey lodge experience to quaint bed and breakfasts. Yep, there are chain motels too for the utilitarian aspects of having a cheap set of four walls around you while you enjoy the outdoors where you'll spend most of your time anyway!
In nearby Cathay's Valley you can dude it up at Coyote Springs Ranch, not a dude ranch for greenhorns by any stretch of the wild west imagination but a real working cattle and horse ranch with cowhands cow poking around cattle driving and doing what they do best. The ranch has rodeo events and known for it's yearly, wild west BBQ! Who said saddle tramps ain't got no culture? Think again, the ranch is also host to annual events that include cowboy art shows, cowboy poetry gatherings and six gun cinema blazing away on the silver screen during their western film festival.
If there is any question that we truly are Natures Children, Yosemite is sure to erase any doubt. She has created a paradise playground fro young and old alike. Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley will allow the youth in all of us to emerge as wild eyed children with a kaleidoscope of imagination spinning before us. Happy Isles is a nature center that includes wildlife displays and exhibits, books and "explorer packs" for all the Junior John Muirs to better understand and appreciate the natural world that we all live in as natures guests. There is also a junior ranger program and campfire get togethers for the Kumbaya kid crowd. In winter the kids can ski, snowboard, toboggan and ice skate or take a ranger guided snowshoe trek through deep powder.
The Indian Gallery and Garden is a hot spot of indigenous culture and history. Located in the Yosemite Museum it is dedicated to the "old ways" of the ancients with demonstrations of crafts of the Miwok Indians. Behind the museum is a garden with exhibits depicting native life.
Yosemite is only one piece of the puzzle. Mariposa County and the town of Mariposa itself is another door that must be opened and explored to be appreciated. Pampering spa's will rub you down and massage you back to reality, and there is nothing like a steamy sauna to get the senses and the inner juices flowing like hot lava. Gold Country is not just home to yellow nuggets, but also to grapevine gold as it's wine country and wine tours are a must do, must see on any Yosemite itinerary. In the historic downtown district of the town of Mariposa is the Casto Oaks Fine Wine and Art Tasting Room. The Casto family owns the Mt. Bullion Winery which produces one hell of a zinfandel, and Casto Oaks is part tasting room, part art with displays of local artisans works including acrylics, oils, hand blown glass, photography and jewelry.
Speaking of photography, the Ansel Adams Gallery that features the amazing works of art created by this pre-eminent photographer, and the works of other contemporary artists with an eye for the F-stop. It's located in Yosemite Village, next to the visitor center. The gift shop offers a heaping helping of coffee table books, gifts and photo supplies. It will activate the shutterbug tendencies in everybody.
If you're ready to step through the looking glass into your own Wonderland make plans to live it up outdoors in Yosemite. For more information visit the Yosemite website at.www.yosemiteexperience.com