Travel Tuesday: Yosemite

I have already managed to miss last week's Travel Tuesday but what can I say? I was preparing for a complete Thanksgiving feast at my house for a party of 25. Yes, you heard that right: 25. That mad final hour dash to whip the potatoes, toast the buns, cut the turkey {and the ham!} and at the same time making sure everyone's wine glass {or beer bottle} was full.

Here's my table all ready to go.

Gift bags for each family.

It was also my mother-in-law's 82nd birthday. Happy birthday Nilta!

OK, so back to Travel Tuesday.

With all of this super cold weather and Sierra snow I couldn't help but think back to last year's day trip to Yosemite. Yes. I'll say it again: day trip. It's a 4-hour drive each way and I would never attempt such a feat but being a passenger rather than the driver? Totally do-able!

We left at the crack of dawn and got up to Yosemite before noon. The backdrop in the snowy meadow we were playing in was unbelievable.  There was a thick layer of mist sitting on top of the snow so it made us all feel as if we were living in a dream.

Yosemite is definitely a beautiful place in the summer but the winter scenery is just as incredible. 

Photographs can never do any justice to what the human eye sees. You don't have to be religious to believe that Yosemite is truly God's Country. 

If you are lucky enough to visit and don't want to pay top dollar to stay at the Ahwahee Hotel and you don't want to go too rustic at the Lodge then by all means I highly recommend staying at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, which is about an hour outside of the park. It has cozy beautifully appointed rooms, a heated pool and jacuzzi, a gym, restaurants, a great room with a fireplace and board games and puzzles you can check out for free and even an ice skating rink. 

Even if you don't stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel you must go to their Sunday Brunch in the main dining room. The food is incredible and the views through the floor-to-ceiling windows are spectacular. 

If you have been to Yosemite, what part of the park is a must-see or must-do for you?