The Van Dykens: Yosemite

We survived our first camping trip - got very dirty and had lots of fun. We headed out around 11am on Friday. We stopped for lunch and at Walmart (since I forgot to pack the portable crib for Ben - oops) and made it to Yosemite by 4:30. No traffic and the kids were great in the car. We stayed in Curry Village in the tent cabins which is right in the middle of beautiful Yosemite Valley. Our tent had one double bed (cot) and 3 twin beds (cots). They provide sheets, blankets and towels and it was big enough to set up the crib for Ben. There is a bear locker right outside where you store your food and sunscreen and shower stuff. Curry Village has restaurants, Peets coffee, an ice cream shop, pool and there were SHARED bathrooms and showers so this was far from roughing it but good for first timers like us. Saturday morning we hiked to Vernal Fall Bridge. It was only .8 mile but straight up and it was warm so it felt far. Ani walked and Steve had Ben in a hiking backpack so I was proud we all made it. Saturday afternoon we swam in the pool and river. Sunday morning we hiked (walked) to Mirror Lake but when we got there we discovered it was empty. The kids had fun playing around in the little bit of water that was there. Sunday evening we went to the Ahwahnee Hotel for drinks. Monday morning we had breakfast, packed up, played in the dirt and left around 11am. The kids were great in the car this time, too! It was so nice to be unplugged for 4 days (no TV or internet and no I did not miss Facebook). The kids loved being outside exploring. It was also nice that we went with my friend, Megan, and her extended family. They have been going to Yosemite for years so they knew where to go and what the kids would enjoy. Megan's kids are the same age as Ani and Ben so it was good to have playmates so they could all entertain each other.