The Trailmix.Net Blog

Writing and developing a scavenger hunt in Yosemite National Park has provided our family with a number of opportunities to visit and explore the valley over the last couple of years.  If you are planning a visit and have children in tow, here are five quick tips to maximize the fun.

Photo Credit:  James Gordon

1. Do Some Research Before You Go
   One of the first steps that we recommend when developing an Educational Expedition is to create a vision of your expedition project.  Usually this involves gathering the kids and talking about what you plan to see, photograph, or visit.  If you are planning a trip to Yosemite, here are some great links to review before you leave:
   
   The Flickr Yosemite Photo Pool
   The Flickr Yosemite National Park Photo Pool
   Yosemite Blog
   The NPS Kids Site

2. Utilize the Free Yosemite Shuttle System
   Riding the free shuttle is something that we avoided for a long time, irrationally it turns out.  We associated the shuttle with crowds and our agoraphobia kept us away.  Once we had kids and couldn't walk and/or carry them to all of the places that we needed to go we bit the bullet and jumped on board.  We haven't looked back.
   
   The shuttles are timely, clean, and filled with pleasant people.  If you are pushing a stroller you may need to fold it up, so be prepared at the stop.  Other than this, the free shuttle system is a great way to move around the park with children. 
   
   Here is a link to the shuttle map and schedule in PDF format.
   
   
3. Stamp the National Parks Passport
   Most of the tips in this post are free, but the NPS Passport Book will cost you a few bucks upfront.  Once you buy the book, your up-front costs are paid and it's well worth it.  The e-parks National Parks Passport is a passport booklet that contains a list of all of the national parks sites.  When you visit a National Park Visitors Center, you have access to a cancellation station where your kids can stamp the page of their passport that corresponds to that particular park.  It is a great way to track your visits.  The book costs $7.95 and should last a lifetime.
   
   
   
   
4. Keep Your Eyes Open for Animals
   Even in the valley, busy as it may be, we have seen a number of different species of wildlife including deer, bear, bobcat, and various birds including woodpeckers and stellars jay.  Animal watching is a fun and educational activity and in our experience the highlight of the trip.  If you are new to animal watching, here are some tips and safety guidelines on Animal Watching with Kids and an excellent post on responsible wildlife photography.
   
   
5. If You Have The Opportunity, Visit the Yosemite Valley in the Off Season
   The Valley has a reputation for extraordinary beauty, but it can also draw traffic and crowds.  We made more than a few visits this winter and were amazed at how easy it was to access the areas that we were interested in.  In fact, in our opinion, fall and winter are the best times to visit the park.