Visiting Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were, without a doubt, the best parts of the entire California Road Trip. There are some incredibly beautiful towns and cities along the California coast, with some things you just don’t see in other countries (like Vegas!), but nothing beats the majesty and grandness of Yosemite and how breathtaking it is to stand on the valley floor and look up at those huge rock domes and feel so small. After visiting Yosemite, I wished we had had MORE time to visit the national parks, but that will have to be for another trip!
After visiting Vegas, then flying to San Francisco and spending 3 days there, we rented a car (from Sixt Car Rental – it was very, very affordable, FYI, and it’s free to add extra drivers in California!). We picked up the car, plugged in ‘Housekeeping Camp’ to the GPS, and we were off! (Oh, unrelated, but before I forget- if you ever plan to rent a car in California and drive to Yosemite and then drive down Route 101 and wonder if you will need to rent their toll pass (because they will tell you that most California tolls can’t be paid in cash, the answer is NO YOU DON’T NEED TO PAY FOR IT! We purchased it and then…did…not…see…even ONE toll in California. SMH).
It’s amazing how, as soon as you leave San Francisco and get started on the drive to Yosemite, the landscape completely changes!
The drive from San Francisco took us about 4 hours, with a quick stop before leaving at Trader Joe’s to purchase all of the camping essentials. We didn’t really plan to pick up everything we needed for 2 days of camping, but we ended up getting everything and it was the best decision! Purchasing inside of Yosemite is much more expensive. I was super excited for hot dogs and corn over the fire, and then s’mores! It was Luis’, Ouka’s and Augustin’s first time trying smores.
We arrived to Yosemite right as the sun set, which was perfect. I was so afraid of arriving when it was dark and trying to navigate everything in the pitch black night. We checked in to Housekeeping Camp (this is the only plan [with cabins] where you can have your own camp fire).
While some of us unpacked, the others built a nice fire (we tried to do this as fast as we could because you can only have a campfire until 10 pm and we arrived around 8:15). We made some hotdogs and corn, and then made smores! Best part of the trip 🙂 We toasted the marshmallows and then threw the smores on the fire for some extra toastiness.
Since quiet hours begin at 10 pm and it is literally pitch black and there is no wifi, we all headed to bed right at 10, which means we (ok, I) were up super early. I was just so excited to explore Yosemite and really wanted to pop my head out of the (canvas) cabin and see the grandness of those mountains surrounding us. Since it was dark when we arrived, we really didn’t see where we were staying until daylight broke the next day.
Hiking in Yosemite National Park
It was also the first time I saw what our cabin looked like. Not too shabby!
Eventually, the others woke up so we had breakfast while talking about our route.
Bananas, Greek yogurt, and Cheerios, all purchased in San Francisco. We bought coffee from their general store.
I talked to the lady in reception and asked for recommendations on which hike to do with only one day and she recommended doing the Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall hike, considering the fact that much of the water is dried up around Yosemite since we were late in the season. I didn’t know at the time, but it ended up being the same hike I had done with my family when we were there EIGHT years ago! Only this time, we ended up going further up and getting some incredible views.
We took the shuttle over to the start of the hike, and then hopped off at the trail head (stop #16) and got started!
The good thing about this trail is that it basically has 3 ‘stages’ and at each point, you can decide if you want to keep going.
To get to the Vernal Falls footbridge, you don’t need much hiking experience and you’ll still see the beautiful waterfall (even though it was pretty dry when we were there. Last time I was there, there was some crazy gushing water!).
From there, we continued to the top of Vernal fall, which I remember being slippery and wet when I was there 8 years ago, but this time is was dry (and there were even people wading in the water, meanwhile there are warning signs everywhere about that!).
We briefly contemplated turning back and heading to the bottom so that we would have a chance to do another hike later in the afternoon, but ultimately decided to keep going to the top of Nevada Fall and …I think we made the right choice.
The views were incredible and breathtaking and the kind of place that makes you feel so small in the world. We sat up there for awhile and eventually moved to the little stream up there and we all fell asleep! 
We hiked back down (with me going incredibly slowly because I have this irrational fear of falling off/ down mountains). As soon as we jumped on the shuttle, it started pouring rain, but it slowed down and we were able to have a campfire that night.
I think I could eat roasted hot dogs and corn for every night of my life.
Visiting Mariposa Grove
The next morning, we were up and packed nice and early because we wanted to head to Mariposa Grove to see the famous sequoias.
We were told to head out early because once the parking fills up, it’s full (but in retrospect, we realized that even if the parking is full, people tend to visit Mariposa Grove for a short time, so they will eventually come back and remove their car.
Walking through Mariposa Grove was incredible- the trees are larger than life, and have been there for hundreds and even thousands of years!
I loved learning about the trees and how their roots are only about 6 feet deep, but can expand up to 150 feet wide and then they support one another. We spent about an hour there, completing the loop that they have. 
And check out this tree that has a large enough hole for a car! The hole was created a long time ago, before protecting the trees was such a focus. It was created as a way to advertise the park, as well as advertise cars.
If you do this hike, even though it’s relatively flat and easy, you should wear workout gear as you will get dusty! Also, park at the Mariposa Grove visitor center and take the free shuttle.
From there, we jumped back in the car and started our journey to Carmel by the Sea, which was just 3.5 hours from Yosemite. We did make a quick pit-stop at McDonalds for coffee… and wifi… because while we do all love some good ol’ nature, we also love some good wifi (and it was my birthday, so I wanted to check my messages!).
Tips for Yosemite and Housekeeping Camp
- You will need a car to get into Yosemite, but once you are there, they have a great (free) shuttle that runs through the park and will take you everywhere you need to go, so use that!
- Book your Yosemite reservations far in advance, especially for weekends and holidays! It books up fast.
- If you will be staying at Housekeeping Camp, bring your own food to make over the fire! You will save a ton of money! The stores they have there have everything you will need, but it’s much more expensive in the park. Here are things I would bring: hot dogs (enough for 2 nights- we brought 3 packs), sausages, hotdog buns, corn on the cob, pasta salad (make ahead), a box of cereal, a container of yogurt, a bunch of bananas, a couple apples, baby carrots, hummus, a bag of chips, drinks (not sure on the beer policy), marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, sandwich bread, peanut butter (to go with banana) or cheese spread or tuna and buy a tomato, plastic plates, plastic forks and knives, napkins
- If you are staying in Half Dome Village or other parts of Yosemite, also bring food to make, but you won’t have the fire option. Maybe bring food for hikes, like sandwiches and energy bars.
- If you stay in Housekeeping Camp, try to choose a river unit! The bunks are right on the river and it’s absolutely beautiful, but if you don’t get a river unit, the regular units are within walking distance to the river.