Since the pandemic started we didn't really leave the house much but after several months we decided it was time to at least enjoy the outdoors so, we decided to take the kids on a road trip. We've always heard so many incredible things about Yosemite that we wanted to check it out for ourselves.

It is about an 8hr drive from San Diego to Yosemite National Park, we decided to drive in the evening so that the kids would be asleep for most of the drive and spent the night in Visalia, which is a bit more than halfway. The next day we woke up early to go straight to Yosemite. I suggest checking out the Yosemite National Park website before going for park passes, basic and covid information and weather alerts, campgrounds, and possible road closures. When we went we were glad we had checked it out since the main entrance road was closed due to snow so we had to take the other route.

For lodging, there are some amazing campgrounds, auto camps, and RV camping you can stay in. Since we went in February we didn’t want to camp in the snow so we stayed at Yosemite Valley Lodge which is one of the few lodgings up the mountain.

There are very limited options for food so be sure to pack up plenty of snacks and water, especially for the little ones. Check out the dining/food options here.

Pro tip*: Download the App. The NPS App is the new official app for the National Park Service with tools to explore more than 400 national parks nationwide. You can find interactive maps, tours of park places, on-the-ground accessibility information, and much more to plan your national park adventures before and during your trip.

The free app is currently available for iOS and Android devices.

Yosemite firefall

We were lucky enough to experience this natural phenomenon. The natural Firefall is one of Yosemite National Park’s most amazing spectacles. Around the second week of February, the setting sun hits Horsetail Fall at just the right angle to illuminate the upper reaches of the waterfall. And when conditions are perfect, Horsetail Fall glows orange and red at sunset.

Horsetail Fall flows over the eastern edge of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. This small waterfall usually flows only during winter and is easy to miss. On rare occasions during mid- to late February, it can glow orange when it's backlit by sunset. This unique lighting effect happens only on evenings with a clear sky when the waterfall is flowing. Even some haze or minor cloudiness can greatly diminish or eliminate the effect. Although entirely natural, the phenomenon is reminiscent of the human-caused Firefall that historically occurred from Glacier Point.

Before visiting mkae sure you check for Horsetail restrictions.

Needless to say, we had an amazing time! Yosemite is INCREDIBLE, we went during winter and it was truly magical. We can’t wait to go back.