Yosemite National Park Attractions

While snowfall can vary greatly from year to year, ski season in Yosemite runs roughly from mid-December to late March, and during that time the park's Badger Pass is a popular destination for families. Yosemite bills itself as the best place in the west to learn to ski or snowboard, with 85 percent of its slopes devoted to beginner or intermediate skiers. Near the slopes, there are also cross-country ski trails if that's your preference, and the park offers a variety of private and group lessons ranging in price from about $20 to $150.

Yosemite has some of the most challenging cliffs in the country for experienced climbers, but for the less experienced or the less inspired, or families with the youngest children, a leisurely bike ride along the 12 miles of paved bike path in the valley may be more your speed. The nice thing about biking here is that the valley floor is essentially flat, which makes it great for all ages. So you can cruise around and enjoy much of the park's best scenery, occasionally stopping by a stream or meadow. Bike rental outlets in the park offer bicycles as well as helmets and trailers for youngsters, and tandem bikes.

With 1,000 miles of hiking trails, most which are well-marked and often accessible from the Valley area, Yosemite is a hiker's delight: a place where you can pretty much turn in any direction and find a path leading somewhere. There are hikes on flat territory that are perfect for families with different skill levels and there is the very popular hike to Half Dome, which is strenuous, but doable even for an amateur like me. So while it is by no means necessary to hire a guide, Yosemite does offer guided tours and overnight backpacking trips that also cater to a range of different skill sets from beginner to advanced. Group hikes are generally 2.5 hours, cost $10 per person, except for those under 10 who can join the group for free. One of the popular group hikes is the "Bike to Hike tour," which incorporates a bike ride to the trailhead.

All families visiting Yosemite are welcome at the Ahwahnee Hotel, even if you are staying at one of the park's less pricey hotels or campgrounds, and no one should leave Yosemite without a quick walk through the lobby of this majestic old hotel, which blends art deco and native American design, with massive wall tapestries and oversized windows that invite in the stunning natural light. With a grand public lobby featuring cozy couches and a massive stone fireplace, the Ahwahnee will tempt you away from that hike, and judging from all the folks lounging about with their feet up, many succumb. This is a hotel that really makes you feel at home, even if you aren't staying here, and features a number of family-friendly restaurants.

Park guides actually offer a series of tours covering all of Yosemite's major attractions but if you happen to be visiting during a full moon between May and October, you are in for a treat. The Moonlight Tour shows off Yosemite Valley under a special lighting that is really magical. This two-hour tour departs at varying times depending on the season, but typically late in the evening. It costs $22 for adults, $18 for seniors, $11.50 for children, and is free for children under 5.

Three separate stables in the park offer a variety of mule and horseback trails to anyone who is at least seven years old and 44 inches tall (maximum weight 225 pounds). Depending on your interests, you can chose from the half-day tour of Yosemite's high country from the Tuolumne Stable (209) 372-8427, the easy, two-hour course from the Yosemite Valley Stable (209) 372-8348, or the half day rides from the Wawona Stable (209) 372 8348, which take you on a climb along a historic wagon trail. Because all three are popular destinations, it is recommended that you make reservations.

Rafting down the scenic Merced River is made easy at Yosemite, which offers rental rafts and arranges for return travel at the end of the ride. Rafts complete with paddles and flotation devices are available to rent from the Curry Village Recreation Center, from where you can head on a 3 mile trip down the river, which usually takes about half a day. The per-person fee is $26 for adults and $12 for children under 16, although children must weight at least 50 pounds to participate. When you disembark, a shuttle takes you back to Curry Village. Raft rentals are typically offered late May through July, although in some drought years the water is insufficient.

If your family is visiting Yosemite during the summer months, chances are excellent that you'll want to take a dip somewhere to cool off. From the Merced River, which runs right through Yosemite Valley and offers some nice sandy beaches, to swimming holes around Tuolumne Meadows and the High Sierra region of the park, the options are abundant. Hikers in some of the park's more remote areas may come upon one of the lakes that dot the region, while closer to camp, there are swimming pools patrolled by life guards at Curry Village and Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. Both hotel pools are open to all park visitors and charge non-guests a feel of $4 or $5 per day.

Yosemite's Wawona Golf Course is a 90-year-old course designed to fit seamlessly into the surroundings, and is generally open from early spring through the fall months. Wawona charges a greens fee of $18.50 for 9 holes and $29.50 for 18 holes, and rents carts for $15 for 9 holes and $24.50 for 18 holes. There are age restrictions.

This free, 45-minute class offers the youngest members of your family a way to celebrate their love of animals through stories, songs and games, and is one of the reasons families feel so welcome here. It meets at different times depending on the season, but typically gathers in the Curry Village Amphitheater.