Olmsted Point is my favorite place we visited at Yosemite
I have been changed for good, friends. I’m a firm believer in the healing power of nature. I took a much needed trip earlier this year and had such a cleansing experience admiring God’s beautiful creation. It was my first National Park adventure. In September I explored Yosemite National Park in California with my husband and two of my dearest friends. I went not knowing much about Yosemite. I left knowing a lot more about myself.
Tunnel View at Yosemite
What I envisioned was very different from what we actually experienced. It’s a real life choose your own adventure kind of place. You can literally go there to climb a mountain or you can ride around in the comfort of your car and see the incredible sights. We drove for hours each day experiencing different terrains. There were granite mountains, then grassy meadows, then waterfalls, then trees as far as my speckled, green eyes could see out of the car window. The range of atmospheres really surprised me and my husband.
Nature shares its peace with you. It calls you to relax. Observe. Listen. Be renewed. We learned a lot about conservationist and philosopher John Muir on this trip. If you like inspirational quotes, head to the Google and see what Muir had to say about nature. This is one of my favorites:
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir
Hetch Hetchy near Yosemite
My friend planned what I would call a greatest hits tour. We saw all the major places on the map. It was wonderful and just what I needed at the time. I was still recovering from my neck injury and wouldn’t have been able to hike or go on strenuous adventures. I was delighted to see Yosemite has a lot of handicap accessibility and paved paths and is truly a place for everyone. If you can sit in a car, you can visit Yosemite National Park. It’s hard to fathom but Yosemite is as wide as Rhode Island. Driving from one place to another can be very time consuming. Consider that you have to drive cautiously slow in the mountains and that you’re not just driving distance but also elevation.
One of my favorite memories was watching the sunset at Glacier Point. It took us quite a while to get here and driving up mountains was pretty scary for the Floridians in the car. When we got to the top it was all worth it. We stayed until all the stars were out and I’ve never seen anything comparable. There is nothing like being on a mountain top, looking at the night sky, seeing nothing but nature everywhere. Earth, the way it was created, is a beautiful gallery.
If you haven’t, consider visiting a National Park. Being surrounded by nature is so freeing and wonderful for bonding with family and friends. Visit NationalParks.org to find nature to explore near you.