Posts in Mountains
Hiking to Inspiration Point in Yosemite National Park

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Pohono Trail to Inspiration Point in Yosemite National Park. Inspiration Point and Artist Point are great alternatives to Tunnel View if you want to avoid crowds. This is a moderate hike and overlook spot to see El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall, and the Yosemite Valley. Photographers enjoy this viewpoint for sunrise and sunset.

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Complete Guide to Yosemite Waterfalls

Bookmark this Complete Guide to Yosemite Waterfalls for your next visit to Yosemite National Park. In this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide, you'll learn about all the major waterfalls found inside the park, along with details on hiking trails, viewpoints, and best times of year to visit. Take a virtual visit along the Mist Trail to Nevada & Vernal Falls, and to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls.

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Hiking to Wapama Falls in Hetch Hetchy - Yosemite National Park

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the trail to Wapama Falls in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park. Located near the town of Groveland, this waterfall hike takes you alongside the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which was formed a century ago when the Hetch Hetchy Valley was flooded by the creation of the O'Shaughnessy Dam, providing water to the city of San Francisco.

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Current Flooding & Waterfalls in Yosemite Valley

Join me on the Flying Dawn Marie travel blog today as we explore the current flood conditions in Yosemite National Park. The Merced River is flooding the Yosemite Valley and almost touching the Swinging Bridge and Pohono Bridge. Waterfalls, such as Bridalveil Fall, Ribbon Fall, Horsetail Fall, the Cascades, and Yosemite Falls are roaring and can be enjoyed from many popular viewpoints.

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Visiting the Tallest, Oldest & Largest Trees in the World

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting the tallest trees, the oldest trees, and the largest trees in the world. The giant sequoias, the coastal redwoods, and the ancient bristlecone pines are all found in California, and this week I'm sharing my favorite places to go and hiking trails to see these trees up close, most of which are in state and national parks, forests, and monuments.

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Complete Guide to Visiting Bisbee, AZ

Read this comprehensive Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Bisbee, AZ. Discover what to do, where to stay, and what to eat in this charming small town in the Mule Mountains of Cochise County. If you're planning a trip to southern Arizona, this complete guide will inform you about the top restaurants, activities, shops, art, museums, tours, hotels, and Airbnbs in this historic mining town.

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Spring Wildflowers at Wind Wolves Preserve

There are some great places to see wildflowers in California right now. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel blog about hiking the Wildflower Loop Trail at WInd Wolves Preserve, located just north of Los Angeles near the Grapevine in Bakersfield, CA. The abundant rains have created lush fields at this Central Valley park, making it one of the top spots to see Spring wildflowers this year.

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B Active Bisbee - Past & Present Adventures in Southern Arizona

This week on the Flying Dawn Marie travel blog we're partnering with B Active Bisbee, a family owned local business providing fun adventures & rentals in Southern Arizona. We'll be taking guided hikes, renting e-bikes, and learning about the rich history and art scene in this historic mining boomtown. This shop specializes in golf cart, hiking, walking, e-bike, and wine experiences in Old Bisbee.

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First-Timer's Guide to Chiricahua National Monument

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Chiricahua National Monument in southern Arizona. Taking a road trip to the unique rock formations of the Chiricahua Mountains is one of my favorite things to do in Cochise County. Going to see these hoodoos is a great day trip idea from Tucson and Bisbee. Today we're hiking the Echo Canyon Grottoes Trail and to the Massai Point Overlook.

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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.

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24 Hours in Yosemite during Firefall

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Yosemite Valley during Firefall season. Learn what to do in Yosemite National Park on your visit, as well as see what parking, hiking, and setting up in the El Capitan Picnic Area looks like to witness the Horsetail Fall Firefall phenomenon. We'll also enjoy views from the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, Tunnel View, and Bridalveil Falls Trailhead.

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Sunset & Stargazing at Dante's View in Death Valley National Park

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Dante's View in Death Valley National Park. This is one of the top things to do in Death Valley due to the amazing views of Badwater Basin, Telescope Peak, Panamint Mountains, and Mount Charleston. There are 2 hiking trails that offer more unique overlooks of this unique terrain. Dantes View is a great place for sunrise, sunset, and stargazing,

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24 Hours in Death Valley National Park

Read this travel guide for 24 hours in Death Valley National Park. Get a behind the scenes look at how we capture content for the Flying Dawn Marie blog and YouTube channel as we take road trip to some of our top places and favorite things to do in Death Valley, such as Dantes View, Badwater Basin, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Harmony Borax Works, and Furnace Creek Campground.

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Visiting Fort Tejon State Historic Park North of Los Angeles

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Fort Tejon State Historic Park along the Grapevine north of Los Angeles. If you're looking for things to do in Bakersfield, this California State Park offers an opportunity to see what life was like on this military fort two centuries ago. Here you'll find reconstructed buildings, original structures, history about the area, and wildlife.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Discovering Wind Wolves Preserve in the Central Valley

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to Wind Wolves Preserve near Bakersfield in the Central Valley. Located near the I-5 at the Grapevine, this preserve offers great hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and educational resources for adults & kids about the nature here and the Chumash Native Americans that once lived here. You might even see elk, rattlesnakes, black bear, and mountain lions.

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Fall Firefall in Yosemite National Park

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to viewing the Yosemite Valley Firefall during the Fall season. More commonly enjoyed during Winter in February, the Firefall natural phenomenon happens when the sunset light hits Horsetail Fall on the side of El Capitan, creating a flame affect on the waterfall. On rare occasions, this event can be seen during Autumn in late October or early November.

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