Yosemite National Park, California, USA trip: Family Cabins at Yosemite National Park | TripWiser: Social Trip Planner for Family Trips and Road Trips

Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Village: The true center of the park is Yosemite Valley. This is where bus loads of visitors gawk at the world-famous views of the massive granite monoliths carved from the valley walls. The valley is also home to Yosemite Village, where the bulk of Yosemite's services and facilities are found. Only seven square miles in total, the area receives up to 80 percent of the park's visitors. The first stop for most visitors is Yosemite Village, nestled along both sides of the Merced River. Driving into the valley by car is acceptable, but once you are there, park staff encourages you to leave your car in the day parking lot (no charge) and hop the free shuttles. In fact, many roads in the east end of the valley banned private traffic to create a system of one-way roads for the shuttles and allow for extensive biking and walking trails. A natural starting place on any visit to the park is the Valley Visitor Center, located in Yosemite Village. Explore the shops, the Yosemite Museum and the Indian Village. Medical services and National Park Service headquarters are located here as well. From this point, you can take the shuttles to The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Lodge, Curry Village, Happy Isles and Lower and North Pines campgrounds. While it may be tempting to spend your time exploring the buildings and lodges, remember that you are in one of the most spectacular natural settings in the world. Easy walks, short hikes and more strenuous climbs open up breathtaking sights including Yosemite Falls, Mirror Lake, Vernal Falls and the Royal Arches. There are excellent guidebooks available in the Valley Visitor Center, which detail hikes for every level of experience.

Day 1 Today is more for the little ones & also to introduce you to Yosemite Valley's Services. This is a good day for tours! Yosemite National Park continues to take steps to reduce automobile traffic in the valley. To make sure people can get where they are going, the park has built an excellent free shuttle bus service. The exact routes and schedules change quarterly, but the current schedule is easy to find at shops, the Valley Visitor Center and other locations in the village. In general, you can get to all lodging, dining, shopping and trailheads within the valley by shuttle bus. The shuttles are a great bargain and convenience, and are less impactful on the environment.
Day 2 Today you'll enjoy some valley hikes. The one to Mirror Lake is quite easy & handles strollers easily. You won't be STAYING at the Ahwahnee Hotel, but it's definitely worth see, just for its rich history! Also, your Twilight Stroll will jump off from this hotel site. This twilight tour covers less than a mile & a fun one to take with the entire family.
Day 3 Hiking day!
Day 4 Today the group might split up, some going for a strenuous hike to the Top of Half Dome, others staying at the base...or checking out the Indian Village of Ahwahnee & then renting some bikes! Here again, you won't be staying at the Yosemite Lodge, but it's where you can rent the bikes & a nice building to explore.
Day 5 Today, you'll visit one of the "other" Yosemites (there's also what I call the Tioga Pass Yosemite). Hetch Hetchy Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park. It is currently completely flooded by O'Shaughnessy Dam, forming the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and filled by the Tuolumne River. Upstream from the valley lies the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. The Hetch Hetchy Road drops into the valley at the O'Shaughnessy Dam, but all points east of there are roadless, and accessible only to hikers and equestrians. There has been a decades long controversy surrounding Hetch Hetchy because many want to see this gorgeous area restored to its former state -- before the dam -- Hetch Hetchy Valley has been submerged for eight decades. Named after grass native to its valley, Hetch Hetchy was once glorious, pristine wild land. It could have the same splendor as its neighbor, Yosemite Valley (but it's got a beauty of its own & one worthy of seeing).
Day 6 Wawona and Southern Yosemite Visitors are often pleasantly surprised at the relative quiet in the southern end of Yosemite National Park. From the amazing views at Glacier Point, to the charming historical village of Wawona, to the magnificence of Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the Wawona district is not to be missed. Access to this area is via Route 41, and a private car is necessary, as there are no bus routes between Wawona and Yosemite Valley. Glacier Point, atop the sheer granite cliffs towering 3,200 feet above the valley floor, offers breathtaking views of the entire valley, and is especially popular at sunset. The village of Wawona drips old-fashioned delights. The historic Wawona Hotel, built on the site of Galen Clark's original cabin, offers food and lodging with yesterday's charm. Step back to an earlier time at the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, where park staff creates a living account of Yosemite's fascinating past. One of the true jewels in Yosemite's impressive crown is the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. You can take an open-air tram through the Grove, or hike on your own. Some of the massive trees date back 3,000 years. Traffic is discouraged on the narrow winding road up to the grove, and parking up top is quite limited. It is easier to hop the free shuttle in front of the museum.

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