winter — Blog — Flying Dawn Marie | Travel blog, guides & itineraries for adventurous travellers

Yosemite Day Trip from Los Angeles to See Firefall

This week we're taking a long day trip from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park to see Firefall, the natural phenomenon also known as the Horsetail Fall Event. This travel guide covers a one day itinerary with recommendations on driving directions, points of interest, where to park, and how to access one of my top spots to view Firefall from across the Yosemite Valley along Four Mile Trail.

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12 Epic Yosemite Hikes, One for Each Month of 2024

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about the best hikes in Yosemite National Park. Today I'm providing the hiking details about 12 great Yosemite trails, one for every month of 2024. Yosemite is awesome all year, so join me in exploring what to do in Yosemite, like Firefall, Mirror Lake, Hetch Hetchy, MIst Trail to Vernal & Nevada Falls, Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and Inspiration Point.

California, Hiking, Mountains, National Parks, YosemiteDawn MarieJanuary 1, 2024yosemite, yosemite national park, yosemite hikes, hiking, hikes, trails, yosemite trails, national park, national parks, california, sierra nevadas, mountains, hetch hetchy, yosemite valley, yosemite in winter, winter, fall, autumn, spring, summer, yosemite in summer, yosemite in spring, yosemite in fall, best yosemite hikes, best yosemite trails, top yosemite hikes, mist trail, nevada fall, vernal fall, waterfall, yosemite falls, lower yosemite falls, bridalveil fall, is bridalveil fall open, what to do in yosemite, best things to do in yosemite, things to do in yosemite, things to do, places to go, what to do, fall colors, travel guide, tenaya lodge, tenaya, tenaya lake, tenaya at yosemite, firefall, el capitan, el cap, half dome, road trip, road trip ideas, epic yosemite hikes, best yosemite hike, yosemite reservations, 2024 trip, 2024 trip ideas, trip ideas, hotel, hotels, yosemite hotel, yosemite hotels, best hotel in yosemiteComment

Tenaya at Yosemite & Explorer Cabins - Why You Should Visit This Winter

Read this Flying Dawn Marie hotel review about Tenaya at Yosemite in Fish Camp, CA, one of the best hotels near Yosemite National Park. Join me as I stay in one of the Premium Explorer Cabins and discover all the amenities and family friendly activities that Tenaya Lodge resort has to offer during Christmas & all Winter long. We'll enjoy dining & restaurants, and take a private Yosemite 360 Tour.

California, Food, Forest, Hotels, Mountains, National Parks, YosemiteDawn MarieDecember 25, 2023tenaya lodge, tenaya, tenaya at yosemite, yosemite, yosemite in winter, yosemite national park, national park, sierra national forest, national forest, fish camp, california, resort, yosemite hotel, yosemite hotels, yosemite resort, yosemite resorts, best hotels, top hotels, best hotel, top hotel, best hotel in yosemite, top hotel in yosemite, where to stay, where to stay in yosemite, yosemite weekend, yosemite trip, yosemite vacation, family friendly, family, dogs, dog friendly, dog friendly hotel, family friendly hotel, oakhurst, mariposa, mariposa county, madera county, ascent, ascent spa, yosemite 360 tours, yosemite 360, yosemite tour, best yosemite tour, private tour, private yosemite tour, yosemite valley, wawona, highway 41, wawona road, christmas, christmas at tenaya, winter, winter at tenaya, winter in yosemite, christmas in yosemite, tenaya food, tenaya dining, dining, tenaya restaurants, restaurant, yosemite restaurants, yosemite food, what to eat, what to eat in yosemite, yosemite road trip, explorer cabin, explorer cabins, premium explorer cabin, cabin, cabins, yosemite cabin, yosemite cabins, tenaya cabin, tenaya cabins, tenaya activities, tenaya amenities, ice rink, figure skating, ice skating, yosemite ice rink, yosemite ice skating, tenaya ice rink, tenaya ice skating, tunnel view, valley view, tenaya lodge review, tenaya lodge yosemite, tenaya lodge hotel, tenaya lodge resort, tenaya lodge at yosemiteComment

Snowy Scenes at Wind Wolves Preserve

Snow has fallen in Los Angeles and across Southern California with recent storms, so today we're exploring the winter scenes at Wind Wolves Preserve just north of LA near the i5 Grapevine. Visiting this park is one of the top things to do in Bakersfield, CA with the rolling hills, abundant wildlife, and miles of hiking trails. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for all the details.

Hiking to Yosemite’s Mirror Lake in Winter

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about hiking to Mirror Lake in Yosemite National Park during Winter. This Yosemite Valley trail is a popular hike during snowy months. The pristine seasonal lake offers reflective views of Half Dome and many other granite formations in the Tenaya Canyon. This is an easy to moderate hike that is dog friendly and perfect for families near Curry Village.

Best California Trips for 2023 Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for the best trips in California to take in 2023. Listed out in this article are 6 top road trips to take during each season, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. We'll explore mountain adventures in Yosemite and Lassen Volcanic National Park, as well as beach destinations in Big Sur. We'll head to the desert to discover unique landscapes in Death Valley.

Beach, Big Sur, California, Death Valley, Desert, Eastern Sierra, Forest, Hiking, Lassen, Mountains, National Parks, YosemiteDawn MarieJanuary 2, 2023road trip, california road trip, california things to do, california places, california, northern california, southern california, central california, desert, mountains, death valley, yosemite, yosemite valley, yosemite valley hotel, ahwahnee, ahwahnee hotel, death valley national park, national park, national park service, national parks, california national parks, state park, ca state park, california state park, big sur, garrapata, garrapata state park, limekiln, limekiln state park, treebones, mcway falls, waterfall, waterfalls, yosemite falls, vernal fall, nevada fall, mist trail, mirror lake, lassen, lassen peak, lassen national park, lassen volcanic national park, volcano, voclanic, lake helen, bumpass hell, sulphur works, things to do, places to go, death valley places to go, death valley things to do, seasons, fall, winter, summer, spring, autumn, yosemite in spring, yosemite in winter, death valley in winter, lassen in summer, eastern sierra, eastern sierras, fall colors, fall foliage, eastern sierra in fall, big sur in summer, california coast, central coast, sierra nevadas, north lake, aspendell, lake, lakes, bishop, highway 395, highway 1Comment

Ahwahnee Hotel & Library Suite in Yosemite Valley

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for a winter stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel Library Suite in Yosemite National Park during Christmas time. With views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Glacier Point, this historic hotel is a great place to stay in Yosemite Valley. Visit the Dining Hall, Grand Lounge and Mural Room, and book guest rooms where Queen Elizabeth, JFK, and Barak Obama stayed.

Winter Hike to the Vernal Fall Footbridge in Yosemite National Park

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking the Mist Trail to the Vernal Fall Footbridge in the snow. There are many things to do in Yosemite during Winter, and taking this trail near Curry Village is a favorite. Along the way we'll see iconic Yosemite highlights such as Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and the roaring rapids of the Merced River.

Top 12 Yosemite Spots in Winter

This week we're in Yosemite National Park exploring my favorite spots for a Winter visit. We'll enjoy the yearly Firefall phenomenon, hike up to Lower Yosemite Falls, enjoy a sunrise at Tunnel View, and so much more.

Valley View Visitor’s Guide - Yosemite National Park

Valley View in Yosemite National Park is a great stop in any season. Today we'll see what it looks like in WInter and Summer as we enjoy views of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and the Merced River in the Yosemite Valley.

California, Mountains, National Parks, YosemiteDawn MarieJanuary 10, 2022yosemite, yosemite national park, valley view, viewpoint, merced river, el capitan, bridalveil fall, winter, snowComment

Tunnel View Visitor's Guide - Yosemite National Park

Today we're enjoying some of the best views in Yosemite National Park at Tunnel View, made famous by Ansel Adams. Read the complete travel guide to plan for your next Yosemite family vacation, and see what it looks like in Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter, as well as for sunrise & sunset. This is a perfect photography location for picturing El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall & Yosemite Valley.