Comments on: Yosemite without the Crowds

By: donna

donna — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:24:08 +0000

Planning to go to Yosemite this summer with my family. How many days do you need to see everything?

By: Jamie Pearson

Jamie Pearson — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:45:06 +0000

@Cath The wonderful thing about Yosemite in July and August is that your kids (and you, brrrrr!) can swim in the rivers. If you can plan far in advance, you could stay 2 nights at Evergreen, 2 in the camps, and 2 back at Evergreen again…

As for Yellowstone, I can’t advise you. I haven’t been in a long, long time (check out this photo of me the last time I was there: http://www.travelsavvymom.com/blog/family-travel/before-we-were-moms/)

Good luck!

By: Cath Lawson

Cath Lawson — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:15:08 +0000

Hi Jamie – I’m trying to choose between Yosemite and Yellowstone. But we need to go in July or August and I was worried about the crowds.

Evergreen looks like a brilliant place to stay. Hetch Hetchy gets far fewer visitors than Yosemite Valley. I also like the idea of spending a night at one of the High Sierra camps – don’t know if we’ll be able to plan far enough ahead to enter the lottery though.

By: Mari Chazen

Mari Chazen — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:03:35 +0000

Tuolumne Meadows was incredibly beautiful, great hiking and fishing. AND we stayed outside of the park all in July, which must have been why we had such a great trip. When we were driving by all of the campgrounds on the valley floor all I could feel was utter relief that it wasn’t where I was going to be sleeping with tired, dirty kids.

By: Carolina

Carolina — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:10:30 +0000

So I stayed outside the park when I went this spring, and I found that it was tiring just getting in and out of the park…and if it’s a crowded day, you have to be at the gate before 9 am or sit in an hour of traffic to crawl along 1/2 mile to the entrance. I would either stay outside during off-season, or plan WAY ahead and stay right in the thick of things for crowded times…get up early and enjoy the park before everyone else gets in.
Clearly I’ve given this too much thought. :)

By: Sharlene

Sharlene — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:00:00 +0000

After choking on my soda and gasping at the thought of anyone not liking Yosemite I continued to read the article. Ahh yes. I can understand why someone who never left the crowded valley floor and went during peak season could feel that way. I LOVE Yosemite and think the valley floor is magical. Especially at 6 in the morning when the sun is starting to rise and most people are asleep. Yosemite is huge and just walking a few hundred yards away from the hustle and bustle can make you feel like its all yours. Great post Jamie.

By: Trekaroo

Trekaroo — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:11:18 +0000

You’re so funny. Love the way you express yourself. We were actually there in April and rented a house right outside the hwy 120 entrance to the park and it was wonderful. All the comforts of home and peaceful. I agree that staying away from the valley floor after you’ve been there once can make for a much more enjoyable visit.

Oh and we were at Kings Canyon and Sequoia over the summer and thought it was just as beautiful.

By: Seana

Seana — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:02:53 +0000

Another great time to see Yosemite is in the Winter, when the crowds are nonexistant and the snow blankets the Valley. I honeymooned there and have been aching to go back. It’s so serene in the Winter time. There are kid activities just outside the valley as well, with skiing and sledding not far away. Hot cocoa and toddies in the Ahwanee are nice too.

By: Carrie Robertson

Carrie Robertson — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:04:23 +0000

Thanks so much for this great post! I have fond memories of working at a pack station in Fish Camp when I was in college, and your advice to explore the high country and sleep outside the park is right on. Some of the prettiest campgrounds and destinations are close, but not in, Yosemite…
Thanks!
Carrie
(Mommy Adventure Club)

By: Shelly (Travels with Baby)

Shelly (Travels with Baby) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:43:08 +0000

Yosemite? I just love it all, top to bottom, side to side. But especially in the spring and fall when it’s less crowded. ;-)