Yosemite National Park
Yosemite can feel overwhelming—this is what actually stood out, where we stayed, and what I’d return for.
Yosemite is one of those places that doesn’t need much explanation—but it does require time.
This wasn’t a trip about doing everything. It was about slowing down enough to actually take it in—the views, the quiet moments, and the space in between.
If I were planning this trip again, Mirror Lake is the one stop I would build the day around.
Where We Stayed
The Inelle Hotel
We stayed at The Inelle Hotel, which quietly shaped the rhythm of the entire trip.
After long days out, it gave us a place to come back to—to slow down, reset, and settle in without needing anything more. The kind of space that lets the day fully land before the next one begins.
If you’re planning your Yosemite stay, this is where we’d start.
Where We Ate
Trelio Food & Wine
We ended our first night at Trelio Food & Wine in Old Town Clovis—a stop that quickly became one of the most memorable parts of the trip.
The five-course prix fixe menu unfolds slowly and intentionally—each course shaped by the season and the ingredients available that day.
If you’re planning your Yosemite route, this is one stop worth building into it.
A Day in Yosemite Valley
We woke up slowly that morning at The Inelle—no alarms, no rush, just the quiet rhythm that had already started to settle in the night before. We started with breakfast at the hotel, which ended up being one of those small details that stays with you—hot, simple, and exactly what we needed to ease into the day. It felt grounding in a way I didn’t expect, especially knowing what was ahead of us.
My best friend was staying in Clovis, so she drove up that morning and met us at the hotel before we left. It shifted the whole feel of the day right from the start—having her there, settling into the pace of the day with us, especially with the kids. This wasn’t a trip about checking boxes or trying to see everything. We had already decided that Yosemite was something we were going to let unfold, not force.
We left the hotel around 10am and started the drive toward the south entrance of Yosemite National Park. It’s only about 16 miles, but what everyone says is true—the earlier you get there, the better, especially during busy times of year. By the time we reached the entrance, the line was already backed up, and it took us until about 11:30 to actually get into the park. It was one of those moments where you realize how popular Yosemite really is—but also that you’re part of that, too.
Once we were finally in, everything opened up in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve been there. Our first stop was Tunnel View, and it was exactly what everyone says it is—but somehow still more than that. You step out, and Yosemite Valley just stretches out in front of you—El Capitan, Half Dome in the distance, Bridalveil Fall off to the side.
That first photo of all of us together ended up meaning more than I expected—one of those rare moments where everyone is fully there, with nothing else pulling at our attention.
From there, we made our way down into Yosemite Valley and toward Bridalveil Fall. Like everything in Yosemite, it took longer than we expected—not because of distance, but because of the Spring Break crowds. Parking near the main attractions isn’t easy, and we ended up circling for a while before finally finding a spot.
When we did, we stayed there for a bit and had lunch before moving on. That morning, we had stopped at Vons in Oakhurst and picked up sandwiches, chips, and drinks—simple, but exactly what we needed. We’ve had a mini refrigerator in the car for a few years now, and it made this part easy. Everything stayed cold, and we didn’t have to think about where to eat.
From the car, we could see Bridalveil Fall in the distance, framed by the trees. You could hear it before you really focused on it—that steady, constant sound. And instead of rushing over, we stayed right where we were, sitting there longer than expected, just watching it.
As we continued to drive through the park, we came across Yosemite Valley Chapel, tucked into the trees in a way that almost makes you miss it if you’re not paying attention. This time, I stepped away on my own and went inside.
It was empty.
There was something about that—being in the middle of Yosemite, surrounded by all of that scale and movement, and then stepping into a space that felt completely still. I’m not a religious person, but I am spiritual in my own way, and it felt like the right moment to pause.
This was the moment I needed to ground myself.
I sat there for a bit, quietly just thinking through where I am right now, what I’m working toward, and what I need clarity on next. It wasn’t anything dramatic—just a moment to reset, to ask for guidance and be still long enough to actually hear my own thoughts.
At some point, the day shifted into something a little less structured and a little more instinctive. We kept following the road, pulling off wherever something caught our attention—and for my husband, that was the river.
The Merced River runs right through Yosemite Valley, and once we started noticing it, we couldn’t stop.
He kept pulling over—again and again—just to get out, take photos, watch the rapids, and take it all in from a different angle each time. It wasn’t planned, and it wasn’t rushed. Just one of those parts of the day where you let someone else lead because you can tell it matters to them.
The water moved fast in some places, quieter in others, weaving through the trees and rocks in a way that somehow felt both constant and completely different every time we stopped.
It ended up being his favorite part of the day—and one of those things I might have missed if we had stuck too closely to a plan.
By mid-afternoon, we had settled into a rhythm that didn’t feel rushed or overly planned—just moving through Yosemite Valley one stop at a time, letting the day unfold as it wanted to.
We had seen the big views, stopped along the Merced River more times than we expected, and found those quieter moments in between that ended up meaning the most.
It wasn’t about trying to do everything.
It was about paying attention to what felt worth stopping for—and letting the rest go.
And somewhere around 3pm, it felt like we had experienced Yosemite in exactly the way we were meant to that day—not by doing more, but by noticing more. So instead of calling it a day, we pointed the car north toward Hetch Hetchy.
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir:
The Detour That Changed the Entire Day
We originally planned to head to Mirror Lake after driving through Yosemite Valley—but by the time we arrived, parking was completely full. Instead of waiting or circling, we made a quick decision to pivot.
We headed north to Hetch Hetchy. And it ended up being one of the best decisions of the trip.
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir sits about an hour and a half from Yosemite Valley (one way), and getting there feels like you’re leaving the main Yosemite experience behind. You actually exit the park and reenter through a different entrance, and the drive becomes quieter, more remote, and far less crowded.
It’s a completely different energy. And then you arrive.
The landscape opens up into wide water surrounded by massive rock walls—just as dramatic as Yosemite Valley, but without the crowds. It feels slower. Quieter. Less like a checklist and more like a place you actually sit and take in. It almost feels like a hidden version of Yosemite.
One of the most interesting parts is what Hetch Hetchy actually is. This reservoir provides drinking water to millions of people in the San Francisco Bay Area. Knowing that adds a different weight to the experience—you’re not just looking at something beautiful, you’re looking at something essential. That contrast is exactly why it’s worth the detour.
If Yosemite Valley feels crowded or overwhelming, this is where things open up. You have space, time, and a completely different perspective of the park.
What to know before you go:
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About 1.5 hours from Yosemite Valley (one way)
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You’ll exit and reenter the park to get there
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Roads are narrow and winding
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Fewer crowds, fewer services—plan ahead
If you have the time, make the detour.
It’s quieter, more expansive, and ended up being one of the most memorable parts of our entire trip.
Mirror Lake:
Worth the Early Morning Start
We originally planned to go to Mirror Lake the afternoon we arrived, but by the time we made it there around 2pm, parking was completely full. After circling and realizing it wasn’t going to open up anytime soon, we decided to come back the next morning instead.
That ended up being the right decision—but also, this was never something I was willing to skip.
Originally, we were only planning to spend one day in Yosemite, but I knew I would regret not making it to Mirror Lake. It had been on my list from the beginning, and I was right to push for it.
The next morning, we left our hotel around 8am and headed straight into the park, and the difference from the day before was immediate. There were no lines to get in, parking was easy, and everything felt noticeably calmer.
Mirror Lake isn’t something you can just pull up to—you’ll need to walk about 1.6 miles (one way) from where you park. The trail itself is flat and manageable, but it’s longer than it seems, especially if you’re not expecting it.
It’s also much cooler than you might think. A large portion of the trail stays shaded, and I definitely didn’t dress warmly enough for the walk in. Thankfully, my husband came prepared and ended up giving me his hoodie, which I wore the rest of the time.
Mirror Lake sits at the base of Half Dome and is actually a seasonal lake, meaning the water levels change throughout the year. In the spring and early summer, it fills with snowmelt and creates the reflections it’s known for, but later in the year, it can look more like a meadow than a lake.
That context makes the experience feel even more specific—you’re seeing it at a particular moment in time.
Once you get there, it feels quiet in a way that’s hard to explain. Surrounded by towering rock walls, with the cliffs reflecting into the water, it’s one of the few places in the park where everything seems to slow down. There’s no rush to move on, no pressure to keep going—it’s just a place to sit, walk, and take it in. For me, this was the moment I needed.
Out of everything we saw in Yosemite, this ended up being my favorite part of the entire trip. Going early is what made that possible. Instead of feeling crowded or rushed, it gave us the space to actually experience it—and that made all the difference.
What to know before you go:
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Plan to go early in the morning to avoid crowds and parking issues
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It’s about a 1.6 mile walk each way from where you park
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The trail is shaded, so it can feel cooler than expected
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Mirror Lake is seasonal, so water levels vary depending on time of year
If Mirror Lake is on your list, plan your day around it. For me, it ended up being the best part of the park.
If the Valley feels crowded by midday, Hetch Hetchy is absolutely worth the detour.
I share travel like this—
what’s actually worth it, what’s not, and how I plan it—
over on Instagram.
