Yosemite-Adjacent Vacation

(2009 photo)

Our trip to Yosemite National Park in January, 2009, was unplanned yet turned out to be much better than we had a right to expect. The youngster had never been to Yosemite, and we happened to be only an hour away while driving home from another event.

We snagged a room at the Ahwahnee Hotel and extended our stay because of heavy snowfall. Both the hotel and the Valley floor with the famous landmarks were uncrowded, and we wandered to our hearts' content.

After that pleasant experience I have had no compelling desire to return.

On the nature trail

A family member was meeting some friends to see the popular Yosemite "Firefall" this weekend, and on Thursday I offered to accompany him on the 3½-hour drive. He readily agreed, and I bunked with him at the Rush Creek Lodge and Spa, which is outside the Park, 26 miles from the Visitors Center.

While he went to meet his friends, I spent a very pleasant day walking around the Lodge and its nature trails. I dined at the restaurant, which had a limited number of selections that were excellently prepared, and I relaxed with a book.

Sometimes one can have an excellent vacation without planning or having to "do" anything. As for my traveling companion, he got his pictures of Firefall, and we both came away happy.