September 22, 2025 – Yosemite National Park – Mariposa Grove
We drove to Yosemite the previous day and stopped in Visalia to visit Sophon’s aunt. It’s always such a treat to see her. We had lunch at a Mediterranean restaurant and then headed up to Oakhurst, California.
We’ve been to Yosemite before — it’s an enormous park, spanning more than 1,100 square miles with five different entrances. Oakhurst is near the South Entrance. On our previous visit, we stayed in Oakhurst but came up Highway 49, which was very windy. This time, entering the South Entrance and driving through the park was much easier.
There isn’t a lot going on in Oakhurst, and only a couple of restaurants are good, but it’s convenient and there are a few fun spots. We stayed at the Fairfield Inn, the same hotel as last time.
Once in the park, we parked the car and took the shuttle to the Mariposa Grove of the Giant Sequoias, home to some of the largest trees in the world — many over 2,000 years old. Standing among them, I found myself thinking about how peaceful and timeless this place feels. Photos can never quite capture their size or the sense of awe they inspire. We saw the Grizzly Giant, the oldest tree in the grove, and it was truly magnificent.
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