Yosemite With the Girls: A Spring Trip to Remember

A month before both of my daughters graduated, they asked if we could take a camping trip to Yosemite National Park.

As a dad, that was a hard yes.

We went in April, one of the best times to experience YNP before the summer crowds arrive. We tent camped at Wawona Campground, made most of our meals at camp, packed sandwiches in the cooler for days in the Valley, and kept things pretty simple.

Spring was in full swing. The waterfalls were running, the river was moving, and we even spotted river otters near Wawona. With fewer people around, we had time to slow down and take it all in.

One day we rented bikes and explored Yosemite Valley, then cleaned up for dinner at The Ahwahnee. It was quite a change from camp food, with the grand dining room, towering windows, and live piano music making the evening feel like an experience all its own.

We also made our way to Sequoia National Park and walked the Sherman Tree Trail among the giant sequoias. Seeing trees on that scale is one of those things photos never quite capture.

A month later, both girls would be graduates and on to whatever comes next.

Trips like this are why I keep saying yes when I get the chance. A tent, a cooler, a few days outside, and time together. Sometimes that’s all you need.

- Jason