# @sovanna.photo on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DIw6G4PzcZW
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/66733152-sovannaphoto-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/ad457c07b5.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-04-22T21:37:09.000+00:00

## Caption

Happy Earth Day!🌎 

Last week our family visited Yosemite National Park for the first time (well, second time for me) - and what an unforgettable experience it was!
I’ve received a lot of questions about where to stay and what to see, so here’s a quick summary:

We drove about 3.5 hours from San Jose. The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle (valid for 7 days), or $70 for an annual pass. Since Alex is in 4th grade, our entry was free - thanks to the Every Kid Outdoors program that gives 4th graders a free National Parks pass for the whole school year!

Day 1:
🏔️ Tunnel View + Wawona Tunnel
💧 Bridalveil Fall - be prepared to get soaked if you want to get close! Bring a change of clothes.
😍 A scenic 1hr+ hike to Mirror Lake - this time I finally saw water in it (last October it was completely dry - check the stories!).
🐻 And… we spotted a mama bear and her cub on our way out of the park!

🏡 We stayed overnight in a cozy little house in Mariposa - perfect for a family of four, about an hour drive from the park. The next morning, I opened the curtains and found a deer staring right at me, then four of his friends joined him!

Day 2:
🥾We headed back into the park. I highly recommend parking in one place and using the free shuttle bus - it takes you to the main spots around Yosemite Valley, and from there you can explore on foot.
We hiked up to the top of Vernal Fall - it took a bit over 3 hours, but the views were worth every step. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the valley and enjoying the beauty of the wildlife.
Spring Yosemite -
Pros:
🌊 Powerful waterfalls & mountain rivers
❄️ Snowy peaks
🌸 Lush greenery & lots of blooming flowers

Cons:
⛔️ Some roads are still closed due to snow/ice (no Glacier Point this time)
☁️ Afternoon clouds cover the mountains - no views of Half Dome, unfortunately😶‍🌫️
📱 There’s no or very limited cell service in the park, so plan your trip ahead and use the paper map you’ll get at the entrance.

We had an amazing time - there’s still so much more to explore in this unbelievably beautiful and massive park!

#sovannaphotography #yosemite_national_park #yosemitenationalpark🌲 #earthday2025 #californiaadventures

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## Tags

sovannaphotography, californiaadventures, yosemite_national_park, earthday2025, yosemitenationalpark

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