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Tips for enjoying Yosemite |
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Sunscreen and hats – Days in Yosemite are usually sunny and
can get hot in summer, so it's easy to get a sunburn, especially while
rafting. Slather on the sunscreen on the kids and wear hats or baseball
caps. |
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Drinking water – Even on a short hike, bring water bottles
with you. In the dry, warm air in Yosemite, it's easy to get dehydrated,
so drink plenty of water. The streams in Yosemite look pristine, but don't
drink from the streams. |
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Footwear – Once you start up the trail in Yosemite, you won't want to turn back soon
– there's another gorgeous view at every turn. Make sure everyone has
comfortable shoes. Closed toes are best. Flip flops and plastic sandals
are okay on paved paths, but not on dirt trails. |
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Mosquito repellent – In early summer the meadows are wet
and the mosquitoes can be annoying. Mosquitoes also come out at twilight,
so a good mosquito repellent is a "must have." |
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Don't feed the animals – The
gray squirrels know they're cute, and will even pose for you, but don't
feed them. At lunch time, chubby marmots (they look like furry slippers)
will magically appear from the shade in the rocks, but don't share your
lunch. Chips and snacks are bad for many of the animals here – feed
them people food and they can end up dead. |
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Bears – The bears in Yosemite are
wild, but are conditioned to people. If you leave food in a cooler or in
your car, the bears figure you brought it for them. Don't leave any food
in your car (even if you're just day hiking). There are bear-proof storage lockers (big enough for ice coolers) at parking
lots throughout Yosemite – be sure to use them! |
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Don't get close to bears for a cute photo – a mother
bear that thinks her cub is threatened is a dangerous animal and all you
have to do is stand between a mama and her cub to be on her bad list. A
better memento is to buy one of the adorable stuffed "black" bears
at the Happy Isles Nature Center – the profits go to buy bear canisters. |
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Charming
retelling of a Miwok legend, two playful bear cubs wander off into
Yosemite Valley. While they are napping on a big flat rock, the
rock grows taller and taller, and the cubs are lost from view. Fabulous
illustrations. (Picture book)
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Delightful
tale of a little girl, Floy Hutchings (nickname "Squirrel"), growing
up in Yosemite Valley. Along with John Muir, Squirrel hikes in
the mountains, listening to
the sound of snowflakes falling on the ground and the trees singing
in the wind. (Picture book)
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John
Muir was herding sheep in the high mountains when he first saw Yosemite
Valley, and was so enchanted, he made Yosemite his home. Muir explored
the mountains, observed the wildlife, plants and trees, and helped
to create the national park. This is his story. (Picture book)
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Before
you visit the Mariposa Grove, walk through time as a little tree
sprouts in the time of the Romans, grows taller and bigger
through the centuries, and is still growing when the pilgrims land
on the shore of America. Illustrations and homey details bring the
giant sequoias to life. (Picture book)
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This is our favorite guidebook for Yosemite day hikes. Detailed maps, driving directions to the trailhead, hiking distances, what to look for along the way, for 80 different hikes. (Guidebook)
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(More children's
books on other California pages) |
