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Originally Posted by xzmattzx
Looking at a map, some of what you guys are saying makes sense now. The first thing hard for me to comprehend is the size of the park. Yosemite is almost half the size of my state, including our claims to bodies of water. The other thing that I can't comprehend, living on the East Coast, is distances on a map or driving times. Anything that's an hour away is a long drive away to most people here. I think we have a harder time covering distances by car over here because of density and maneuvering aruond communities, going around water, and stuff like that.
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Yosemite is a HUGE park and, Yosemite Valley, where most tourists visit, is a mere sliver. It is interesting, because, when I see maps of the East Coast, and the times I've visited New England, I was surprised at how close everything is and yet the communities so different. I'd love to take two weeks off and do a road trip on the East Coast and see how much I could cover.
In California, I can easily drive four hours to get somewhere without problem (though at that distance I usually will stay the night). To me, Sacramento is relatively close and I have coworkers who commute from there everyday, and it is an hour and a half from the Bay Area. We have counties bigger than Delaware, but, the size makes it difficult to see. At 34, I still haven't been to every county...yet!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mongoXZ
This view of the valley, which has been photographed a million times over, is absolutely stunning. I can't stop staring at it.
El Capitan on the left and Half Dome looming in the distance. . . . Paradise!
Time for a return trip! |
It truly is paradise! Even getting out of the park, which was bumper to bumper traffic, was, in a way, a delight because I was treated to the views in the last few photos while waiting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by all of the trash
Great photos, I'm loving the coverage of small CA towns, stepper77. I'm particularly fascinated by the gold country towns. It is reminiscent of new england in a vague way. I think it's the hilly terrain and the close knit quaint nature of the towns. Sonora is one of my favorite of the gold country towns, but I stayed in Mariposa before and it is nice as well as the surrounding scenery.
As far as gateway to Yosemite, you guys are missing one community that I think could really claim that title: Lee's Vining. Of course it's on the OTHER side of Yosemite, the eastern Sierra which is feels like a TOTAL world away from the western Sierra and its foothills. stepper, maybe you could make it out to Bishop, Lone Pine, Mammoth Lakes, June Lake and Big Pine one of these trips. I don't see em in your sig. Eastern sierra is an underrated California gem, the Sierras are more dramatic as the elevation drop is sudden as opposed to the westside which is gradual, and it is especially nice in the fall when the aspens change color.
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I grew up in Grass Valley, so, the Gold Country is my home and though I'm a city dweller now, I love visiting these small towns as much as I can.
As to Lee Vining and the Eastern Sierras, you are absolutely right! I've never been, but, in fact, I had a trip planned with a friend of mine for last October to see that region and the renowned fall leaves. Unfortunately, the changing of the leaves was later than we planned and my friend had to cancel. So, if all goes well, I'll be making that trip this coming October.
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