California: Tahoe, and Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Pinnacles National Parks 🌲

There are some trips you plan because you want to see a place, and then there are trips that become an adventure you know you’ll be talking about for years.

Our California trip was definitely the second kind.

With our family of four packed up and ready to explore, we flew into Reno at the end of June and started what would become a pretty epic adventure through California. Our itinerary included Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Pinnacles, and San Francisco.

And yes, I know what you’re thinking: Why Reno?

Well, we like to check off states.

Flying into Reno meant the kids could add Nevada to their list, and we got to experience a little more of the state than simply flying into Las Vegas. Two birds, one stone. Or, in our case, one plane ticket and another state checked off the list.

But Yosemite was one of the places I was most excited about.

If you know me, you know that seeing a bear in the wild has been on my bucket list for a long time.

We had seen a grizzly and cubs in Yellowstone (you can read about that adventure [here]), but they were very far away and viewed through a scope—which, let’s be honest, is probably the safest possible way to see a grizzly.

But I didn’t want to count it.

I wanted the real deal.

So I went to Yosemite determined to find my bear.

And eventually…well, let’s just say the bears found us.

Getting to Yosemite: Tahoe, Tioga Pass & Going Off the Grid

After flying into Reno, we made our way toward Lake Tahoe. We were fortunate enough to stay with family for a night, and I’m so glad we did.

Tahoe was breathtaking.

The turquoise water with the enormous, snow-capped mountains in the background was one of those views that makes you stop and stare.

If you have the time, I’d recommend spending at least two nights in Tahoe—or honestly, make it an entire trip. There’s plenty to explore.

A Few Tahoe Tips

If you find yourself in Tahoe, there are a few things we really enjoyed.

Get ice cream at Susie scoops and rent bikes from Flume Trail Bikes and ride around the lake. We didn’t get to bike, but biking is a great way to explore because getting down to the water isn’t always as easy as you might expect.

Sand Harbor Beach looks beautiful, but if you don’t arrive very early and have a reservation, you may not get in. Tahoe has a lot of cliffs and steep shoreline, so easy beach access isn’t everywhere.

The bikes give another way to explore the area.

We stopped at Memorial Beach Overlook and Monkey Rock, both of which were worth adding to the adventure.

One little warning for families: there are some clothing-optional areas around Tahoe, including Hidden Beach. So if that’s not exactly the family adventure you’re looking for, do a little research before wandering too far. 😉

And Then There Was the Bear…

We left Tahoe early because we had a pretty long drive ahead of us.

And wouldn’t you know it? Right after we left, our family told us they had just seen a bear.

Dang it. I was still determined.

We headed toward Yosemite via Tiago Pass, and the drive itself became one of my favorite parts of the trip.

At some point, we lost cell service.

Then we lost the music.

So what did we do?

We sang our own songs.

Were they in tune?

Absolutely not.

But we talked. We laughed. We looked out the windows.

And it was glorious.

It was one of those unexpected moments where being disconnected actually made us more connected.

A Travel Tip I Swear By

I always screenshot our directions whenever we have Wi-Fi.

Cell service around national parks can be spotty—or nonexistent—and the last thing you want is to be standing in the middle of nowhere with a phone that suddenly says, “sos.”

Screenshot the route. Download your maps. Be prepared.

Our Route Into Yosemite

We planned this drive as a scenic adventure rather than simply getting from Point A to Point B.

Total drive time without stops: about 5½ hours.

Our plan was to drive about three hours and stop at Whoa Nellie Deli to grab lunch items to take with us.

From there, we made several scenic stops:

1. Mono Lake South Tufa Area

⏱️ 30–45 minutes

This was our first real stop of the day and a great way to break up the drive.

2. Tuolumne Meadows

⏱️ 15–20 minutes

This was a short scenic stop rather than a major hike.

3. Tenaya Lake

⏱️ 30–60 minutes

This was our favorite stop along the drive.

If you’re traveling this route in the summer, have your bathing suits somewhere accessible.

Yes, the water is cold.

Yes, we went in anyway (we = the boys got in and my feet got wet)

The views were incredible, and this was one of those places where we stopped, ate lunch, relaxed, and actually enjoyed being there instead of rushing to the next destination.

4. Olmsted Point

⏱️ About 10 minutes

Another quick stop, but absolutely worth it.

The views toward Half Dome were amazing, and it was a perfect final scenic stop before continuing toward Yosemite Valley

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And then…

Yosemite.

First Impressions of Yosemite

Yosemite is one of those places that photographs simply don’t do justice.

You can look at pictures of the granite cliffs, waterfalls, giant trees, and mountain views all day long, but standing there in person is completely different.

The scale of everything is what struck me.

The mountains seem almost too big to be real, and everywhere you turn there’s another view that makes you want to stop and take a picture.

Of course, traveling with our family means we’re not exactly moving at the pace of a professional photography expedition.

We had places to go, things to see, and teenagers to keep moving. 😆 

And remember how I said we like to travel rather than vacation? This is where that becomes very obvious.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at Yosemite View lodge, just outside the park.

It wasn’t fancy—and honestly, that’s perfectly fine with us.

There was a little kitchenette, and since we really only use hotels to sleep, I’m always looking for ways to save money without sacrificing cleanliness and safety.

As long as there aren’t reports of bedbugs, we’re good.

Our gourmet travel meals?

Let’s just say we’re not above heating up Lean Cuisine-type meals in the hotel.

One night, we may or may not have left some dishes in the sink because we were exhausted.

Someone may or may not have forgotten to wash them properly.

We were tired, okay?!

We woke up the next morning to ants all over the kitchenette.

Naturally, we wanted to find out who didn’t clean their plate. Then we cleaned it up.

And we learned a valuable lesson: Wash the dishes. You’re welcome.

Exploring Yosemite

Here’s one of the things I loved most about Yosemite:

Park your car and leave it there.

Once we got to Yosemite Village, we used the Yosemite Valley shuttle system to get around instead of constantly moving the car.

That meant no driving from attraction to attraction, no trying to find another parking spot every time we wanted to see something, and no listening to the kids ask why we couldn’t just park closer (or me, hi, it’s me, I’m the problem it’s me).

You hop on. You hop off. You explore. Repeat.

Tunnel View

We arrived early—really early. Our goal was to be in the park around 7 a.m. Our first stop was Tunnel View, which was the perfect Yosemite welcome.

It gives you that iconic panoramic view of Yosemite Valley, and because we were there early, we weren’t dealing with the crowds we’d have encountered later in the day.

Bridalveil Fall

From there, we continued toward Bridalveil Fall. This was an optional stop for us. If parking was easy, we’d stop and walk the short trail. If it was crowded, we’d keep moving. Either way you can see this glroous waterfall from the road.

That’s another thing I’ve learned about national-park travel:

You don’t have to do everything.

Sometimes the best itinerary is the one that gives you permission to skip something.

Mist Trail…or What I Thought Was Mist Trail

Then came Mist Trail.

I had looked at the distance. I thought I knew what we were getting ourselves into. I was wrong.

I thought it was roughly two miles round trip.

We had already walked about a mile just getting to the trailhead.

So in my head, I was thinking:

Three miles? No problem.

Except that wasn’t exactly what happened.

The trail was uphill.

And then it kept going uphill.

And then there was more uphill. Whoops, the distance I looked up was just the uphill hike and not round trip. 

Let’s just say that the family has a slightly different recollection of how difficult this hike was.

Some of us say it wasn’t that bad (although I don’t know that anyone was ready to do it again!)

Some members of the family are still acting like we climbed Mount Everest. 😂

The good news? The walk back down was amazing.

And the waterfalls and scenery were absolutely worth it. So do it! Just be prepared. And the steps can get a little slick from the mist so have good shoes.  

We saw Vernal Fall/Mist Trail and Yosemite Falls, and the water and scenery were incredible.

One important thing to remember is that waterfalls can look dramatically different depending on the season. We were there during summer, when the waterfalls were flowing. Visit during a different time of year and you may have a completely different experience.

And Then…THE BEAR 🐻

Remember my bucket-list bear?

This is where the story gets good.

We were walking through the park when we spotted park rangers carrying what looked like paintball guns.

If you’ve never been around Yosemite rangers before, you may wonder why that immediately caught my attention.

We had just learned…

Bear sighting.

Naturally, I made everyone follow.

We heard the rangers talking over their radios about a mother bear and cub near a campsite.

We headed toward the area.

Then we saw signs indicating that the campsite area was for workers and that visitors weren’t supposed to pass through.

My husband (who apparently has no appreciation for my lifelong bear dreams) made us turn around.

Can you believe it?!

So we headed back toward the car.

We were going to eat lunch.

Then, from the car, we noticed people staring toward the woods.

My youngest offered to walk back with me.

Who was I to say no? I wasn’t exactly hard to convince.

We walked over and saw nothing. Nothing.

So we started walking away, complaining about how Dad had made us miss the bears (it was really just me complaining). 

And then…

WE SAW THEM.

A mama bear and her baby came out of the woods and climbed a tree.

Apparently, mama bears will put their cubs in trees for nap time. 🥰

I was completely in awe. I might have cried. 

My bucket-list bear encounter finally happened.

And now I have a new thought every time we hike:

How many bears have we walked underneath without realizing it? Because apparently, we should have been looking up this whole time.

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Traveling With Kids: The Reality

One of the things I want to share on this blog isn’t just the pretty parts of traveling.

Because let’s be honest: Family travel isn’t always peaceful walks through beautiful scenery.

Sometimes somebody is tired. Sometimes somebody is hungry. Sometimes somebody needs a bathroom. (Probably me.) Sometimes somebody asks, “How much longer?”

(Also probably me.)

And sometimes the thing you thought would be everyone’s favorite turns into the thing everyone complains about, like Mist Trail.

But those moments are actually some of my favorite memories now.

Because years from now, I’m not sure we’ll remember every single viewpoint.

But I’m pretty sure we’ll remember Dad making us turn around when we were trying to find a bear.

And we’re definitely going to remember the hike that was supposed to be two miles.

Our Yosemite Tips

If you’re thinking about visiting Yosemite with your family, check out my Tips for National Park page.

One thing to add for these parks: You Don’t Need Bear Spray

Bear spray isn’t something you need for this trip, and it’s prohibited in these parks. 

The better approach is to follow the park’s wildlife-safety guidance, keep your distance, and never approach wildlife (did we sort of break that rule!? 😬. I have no regrets! But honestly,  if we were going to see the bears, we were going to see them either right behind the park rangers or from a good 50 yards away, so again no judgment, please 😂)

Get There EARLY

This is probably my biggest tip.

When we travel west, we try to stay on Eastern Time as much as possible. I bring black trash bags and painters tape to help darken the room. The challenge is that you don’t get that natural dusk that starts to signal your body that it’s night, but we are doing so much that we are tired and ready for bed. 

We have to get up and out early.  

And we’re not talking about “early” like 9 a.m.

We’re talking about rolling into the park around 7 a.m.

Remember:

We’re travelers, not vacationers.

We want to see things and to see things, we want to beat the crowds.

How Long Do You Need in Yosemite?

We spent two days in Yosemite, and for us, that was enough to see the things we really wanted to see while still having time to enjoy the experience.

If you’re a serious hiker or want to explore more of the backcountry and longer trails, you’ll definitely want more time.

But our goal for this trip wasn’t to see absolutely everything Yosemite had to offer.

We had a lot of ground to cover.

We wanted to experience Yosemite, then move on and get lost in other places, too.

And honestly? I wouldn’t change a thing.

Was Yosemite Worth It?

Absolutely.

We came looking for towering cliffs, waterfalls, incredible views, and a bear.

Yosemite gave us all of that—and a few unexpected lessons about hiking distances, hotel dishes, disconnected road trips, and listening to teenagers complain.

Most importantly, it gave us memories we’ll be talking about for years.

And the bear? Right after we had given up looking. Sometimes you really do have to stop chasing the adventure and let the adventure find you.

And Yosemite was only the beginning.

From there, our California adventure continued through Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Pinnacles National Park, and San Francisco.

So this isn’t the end.

We have plenty more adventures coming—and probably a few more family bloopers that might have you wondering if we actually know what we’re doing.

Secret: We don’t. But who does? That’s half the fun.

Sequoia, Kings Canyon & Pinnacles National Parks: Giant Trees, Tiny Houses & Getting a Little Lost

Leaving Yosemite: Just Trust the GPS

The next morning, we packed up and headed out of Yosemite toward the Three Rivers area, which would be our home base for the next two nights while we explored Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

We took the route through Oakhurst. It might be a tad longer, but it’s pretty, and honestly, I’m usually willing to add a little driving if the scenery is worth it.

Now, here’s where I need you to trust me.

Don’t be surprised when the GPS tells you to turn onto a random gravel road through farmland.

There will be farms. There will be unlabeled dirt roads. There will be a perfectly normal-looking road running parallel to the one you’re on. And your GPS will confidently tell you to turn onto what appears to be someone’s driveway.

Both roads seem to be heading toward the same mountain.

Don’t question it. Actually…we did question it.

And then the GPS told us to turn down the next dirt road that cut right through the farm.

So we listened. Weird? Absolutely.

Correct? Somehow, yes.

We sped down that dirt road because it seemed so wrong. I think all four of us were waiting for a farmer to come running out yelling at us. But nope. Nothing happened. Just dirt flying up behind us in the rearview mirror.

Apparently, the GPS knew what it was doing.

Our Tiny House at Blossom Peak Ranch

We stayed at Blossom Peak Ranch, and it was the perfect little tiny house for our family.

And yes, there is a rooster. The tiny house actually comes with earplugs, which tells you everything you need to know. 😂

We didn’t mind it because, remember, we’re getting up and out early anyway. The only thing that was a little challenging was making the tiny house dark at night. There are lots of windows, which are beautiful during the day…not quite as beautiful when you’re trying to sleep on Eastern time. 

The ranch offers free tours, and you can also book horseback riding if that’s your thing. The owner introduced us to every animal on the property, and yes, they all have names.

They’re also all rescue animals, which made the whole place even more special.

It wasn’t a fancy resort, and that’s exactly what we wanted. We weren’t there to sit around the house all day. We wanted a clean, comfortable place to sleep, a little space to relax, and a good jumping-off point for the parks.

Mission accomplished.

Dinner, Ice Cream & a Laundry Blooper

While we waited to check in, we headed to the local market to grab food for dinner and some laundry detergent (Just wait. Blooper incoming).

They had a butcher with fresh meat, so once again, we weren’t spending extra money eating at restaurants. If we were home, we’d be buying groceries and cooking dinner anyway, so why should vacation be different?

Well…maybe the groceries cost a little more because you’re shopping in a remote area, but still.

We’d much rather save our money for ice cream.

And that’s where you need to know about Three Rivers Yogurt & Ice Cream.

There are two ice cream places almost next door to each other, so make sure you’re at the right one.

Trust us.

They have homemade waffle cones filled with ice cream and brownie pieces or whatever combination you choose. They also have dairy-free options, which makes this a win for us. Hi. It’s me. I’m the problem. 😂 Sometimes an ice cream creation like this is basically a lunch replacement for us. No judgement, please. 

And Then We Realized…We need to do laundry

When I plan these trips, I usually plan for about three days of clothes so that we pack light and then book a stay somewhere that has laundry.

Except this time, I apparently forgot to find the laundry part.

Slim pickings out there.

We might be pretty laid-back travelers, but we are not the kind of people who are going to keep wearing dirty socks and underwear.

More power to you if you can do that. 😂

So, we learned how to wash clothes in the bathtub.

Thankfully, all those windows with the sun beating into the tiny house finally came in handy. We hung everything up and let the California sunshine do its thing.

Problem solved.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon: The Giant Trees

The next morning, we were up early and in the car by about 6:30

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We decided to visit Kings Canyon first and Sequoia on the way back.

These two parks are close enough that you can visit both in one day, but there is a catch: doing both in one day means you’ll probably miss some things. By the time you get to the second park, it can be much busier.

So this is one of those days that takes a little planning and a little flexibility.

We entered Kings Canyon and headed to Grant Grove to see the General Grant Tree. There are also giant tree stumps that you can stand on. And when I say giant, I mean all four of us could stand across one with plenty of room.

It’s hard to comprehend the size of these trees until you’re standing next to one.

We climbed through trees, walked around enormous trunks, and basically spent the morning looking up and saying, “How are these trees real?” It felt like we were in the movie, Honey I Shrunk the kids! 

These aren’t even the mega trees.

Apparently, nature decided that “enormous” wasn’t quite enough and that’s where Sequoia NP comes in.

Sequoia National Park

From Kings Canyon, we headed into Sequoia National Park.

Our first stop was the Big Trees Trail, which was the perfect introduction to the giant sequoias.

It’s flat, easy, and gives you plenty of opportunities to stop, look around, and take approximately 4,000 pictures. It is down hill and you know what that means for the way back. It’s not Mist Trails bad (see my Yosemite blog), but just want to have you warned. We just zigged and zagged and stopped a few times to catch our breath. 

Of course, we also had to see the General Sherman Tree. There was a longggg line to get a picture right in front of it. We just took it in and kept moving on the trail so that we could see other trees that to us, were just as impressive, plus we could get up close to them.

This whole day ended up being several miles of walking, but it didn’t feel difficult. There were so many places where we stopped for pictures, looked around, and just took in how massive everything was.

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We had also hoped to do Moro Rock, but the parking area was too full when we got there.

Sometimes that’s national park life in the summer.

You make a plan.

The park makes a different plan.

You adjust.

Back to the Tiny House

After a long day of giant trees, we headed back to Blossom Peak Ranch.

And instead of immediately collapsing into bed, we played games.

One of our family favorites is Dutch Blitz, so we spent some time playing before packing up for our next adventure.

Because apparently we don’t know how to sit still.

The next morning, we were back in the car around 6:30–7:00 a.m. and headed toward Pinnacles National Park, which would be our last national park stop before continuing on to San Francisco.

Pinnacles National Park: The Underrated One

I’ll be honest. Before this trip, Pinnacles National Park wasn’t exactly at the top of my must-see list. I actually had never heard of it until I started googling national parks in California.

 

Now? I think it’s incredibly underrated.

We entered through the East Entrance and headed toward Bear Gulch.

Our hike was Moses Spring, with the option to continue through Bear Gulch Cave if it was open.

If you do the cave, bring a headlamp. It’s narrow, can have water in it, and conditions can cause it to close. It was still full of water and closed for us so we just detoured around. 

We made it all the way to the lake at the top, and I have to admit, I was shocked.

All of those giant boulders and rocks led to a flat lake.

I was skeptical.

But who am I to question my Google searches? 😂

We had a picnic at the lake, where we were joined by three chipmunks and some squirrels who were clearly very familiar with humans—and probably very familiar with human snacks.

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I know what you’re thinking.

No, I didn’t feed them.

Did everyone want to?

Yessssss.

Was it hard?

Also yes.

But we behaved ourselves.

Pinnacles was so different from Yosemite and Sequoia. Instead of giant waterfalls and enormous trees, you get red rocks, boulders, caves, and trails that wind and weave through the landscape.

And my boys loved it.

They loved climbing over the rocks and figuring out how to make their way through everything to get to the lake—the lake I had promised was at the top. 

Thank goodness it was actually there. I think I would have heard about that one for the rest of the trip if it wasn’t. 😂 So Mist Trail can continue being the complaint for the rest of the trip (or eternity-see my Yosemite blog).

The park was also surprisingly empty when we visited.

I just don’t think enough people have heard of Pinnacles.

It’s not one of the big-name parks that everyone immediately puts on their California itinerary, and honestly, that’s part of what made it so enjoyable.

I would have loved to spend more time there.

For us, this was a quick stop on the way to San Francisco, but it definitely made an impression.

And That’s a Wrap on Our 2026 National Park Adventure

Did we literally get lost? No.

But were we lost in adventure? Absolutely.

We saw giant trees, climbed rocks, trusted questionable dirt roads, lived in a tiny house with a rooster, washed our clothes in a bathtub, ate way too much ice cream, and somehow managed to make it through another family adventure with everyone still talking to each other.

I’d call that a successful trip. And my favorite…Every morning, our youngest wants to know the plan. Mostly because he hates not knowing what’s going on and Is probably nervous Ill have him hiking some crazy trail, but I like to tell myself it’s because he’s excited about the next adventure. 

But we weren’t done yet.

Next up: San Francisco.

And that’s where we headed for Alcatraz…

Which, after traveling with teenagers for this long, seemed like a perfectly reasonable place to visit. We might have even been ready to throw them in jail. 😂

And, of course, we had to see the sea lions. We spent 2 days in San Francisco and took a red eye flight home. I think after seeing Alcatraz and the sea lions, we could have headed home. The next day we just did a few other touristy things and got to the airport way to early. Like we couldn’t even check our bags because we were over 4 hours early! Lesson learned, but I would rather have had more time than too little. We were all ready to get home!