Yosemite | A scratch on the surface

If you are in California you must see Yosemite. Here's a list of Yosemite's popular attractions; the must-sees for a first time visitor to this National Park in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Yosemite's popular attractions: Tunnel View
Yosemite's popular attractions -- Tunnel View.

Have you visited someplace and felt like kicking yourself for not getting there much earlier? I feel that way quite often and the last time that happened was when I was when I was standing at a view point that showed me Yosemite’s very celebrated Tunnel View. (To my defense, I’d planned that trip several times and had those plans crashed every single time, until this one time, last fall.)

Let me tell you what it was like to stand and stare at the Tunnel View. I felt like I was in a daze. I cross my heart and hope to die — I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing with my own two eyes, a sight I’d seen in pictures many, many times.

Yosemite’s popular attractions

The Tunnel View is a panorama of the granite drops that measure up to several thousands of feet, two rows of rocky walls and a conifer-covered valley in between. Β Of the cliffs that line ‘the tunnel’ Β the A-listers are: the sky-scraping El Capitan on the left, the eye-catching Half Dome on the right and near it the graceful Bridal Veil Falls that was having a quiet day when I visited. Β One cannot visit here and leave without seeing these sights.

Yosemite's popular attractions: El Capitan, Yosemite
El Capitan
This cliff Β is over 7,500 ft tall.
Yosemite's popular attractions: Half Dome, Yosemite
The Half Dome
This almost-hemispherical rock is over 4000 ft. above the valley floor and its highest point is at an elevation of Β over 8,800 ft.

 

Yosemite attractions -- El Capitan Meadow, Yosemite
A meadow in Yosemite Valley.
And that’s the El Capitan on the right.

 

Yosemite attractions -- Sentinel Rock, Yosemite.
Sentinel Rock
This natural structure is said to be over 7000 ft. in height.

 

Yosemite's popular attractions: Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite.
Bridal Veil Falls

If you are wondering how these behemoths came into being, let me tell you that they are believed to have been igneous rocks formed below the surface of the earth, which were later exposed by glacial activity on the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Lying on the western slopes of the Sierras, Yosemite is known for infamous winter weather and snowfall. [If you are visiting in the winter or even in Spring, you might want to look up the weather and road conditions before you are on your way to Yosemite National Park.]

Bridal Veil Falls

The Bridal Veil Falls was not at it’s best that day; it was ‘fall’ after all. And this waterfall which is fed by snow-melt doesn’t have much water to pour down after the hot summer months. But I must say it is quite something to stand at the foot of that 617 ft. drop and watch the wind and spray put up a show.

And I accidentally shot a rainbow while I stood there clicking a few pictures. (See it here — Is that a rainbow?)

Yosemite attractions -- Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite.

Another photograph of Bridal Veil Fall.

 

Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite.
The spray at the top of the waterfall.
The spray also looked like a bridal veil that afternoon.

During our day at Yosemite, we also stopped at a few other points-of-interest that demanded attention and forced me to take landscapes and portraits.

Yosemite National Park, California.
Yosemite National Park, California.

 

El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California.
El Captian from Northside Drive.

With all this, I’ve merely scratched the surface of this National called Yosemite. Glacier Point, Tenaya Lake and Mariposa Grove (more of Yosemite’s popular attractions/must-sees), I’ll be coming to see y’all soon. And I’m sure I’ll visit again and again.

Stay tuned for Yosemite’s popular attractions – II
For now, let me leave you with my most favorite sight from the trip — a panorama of Tunnel View.
Tunnel View panorama.

 

If you like Rock Formations, you might want to
click here–> “Geological Attractions featured on Tipsy from the TRIPΒ “
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Lithic LandscapesMountainsNational ParksNatural WondersNature

Dee (Divya) Blogger, Freelance Content Writer & Content Strategist. πŸ“Έ Loves tripping.πŸ›£ Tipsy from every TRIP!😬🫣 🏞Follow > for intoxicating virtual trips!πŸ₯‚πŸ˜‰
57 Comments on this post.
  • Durga Prasad Dash
    7 July 2016 at 1:38 am
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    Great photos and nice write up

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 3:34 pm
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      Thank you so much, Durga Prasad.
      Welcome here. πŸ™‚

  • Swati Dixit
    7 July 2016 at 2:02 am
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    I visited Yosemite recently too and I know that feeling of kicking yourself for not having explored it earlier! Its too beautiful, did you get to see the glacier point at night with the sky full of stars? It's breathtaking, for a moment I almost forgot about everything around me! It's unexplainable in words. Hopefully I should be sharing some pictures soon on my blog! Love your pictures, so glad you had a great time! πŸ™‚

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 3:39 pm
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      Hey Swati, first of all, Welcome to Tipsy from the TRIP. πŸ™‚
      Isn't Yosemite quite a sight? The kicking part, more so because I've been in the SF Bay Area for a few years now. I'm sure you understand what I mean. πŸ™‚
      It was just a day trip. Glacier Point and a few other POIs for the next trip. I'd like to go when Summer is behind us. I'd actually love to take the Tioga Pass and go all the way to the other side of the Sierra to see Mono Lake too.

      I look forward to seeing your pics, Swati.
      Stay in touch. πŸ™‚

  • Ka Jo
    7 July 2016 at 4:17 am
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    Beautiful photos. Amazing place. I guess, this is another must visit place after Niagera falls.

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 3:41 pm
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      Thank you, Kaustubh. Nice to see you here.
      Amazing indeed. Those cliffs are so, so, so huge, I tell you. Absolutely a must-visit place. πŸ™‚

  • magiceye
    7 July 2016 at 4:46 am
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    Awe inspiring sights beautifully captured!

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 3:42 pm
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      They were awe-inspiring sights in the true sense, Magiceye.
      Thank you. πŸ™‚

  • Anupam Patra
    7 July 2016 at 4:49 am
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    Stunning. Enchanting. Scrolled up and down five times by now.

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 3:44 pm
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      I have to agree it is a stunning place.
      You did? Now you know why I'd like to go there again. πŸ™‚

      Thank you for stopping by, Anupam. πŸ™‚

  • Amit Agarwal
    7 July 2016 at 6:14 am
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    Breathtakingly beautiful! Loved it, Divya:)

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 3:46 pm
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      I swear — this place can literally take your breath away.
      I'm so glad you liked this place just by seeing the pics, Amit. This place deserved that. πŸ™‚

  • Ravish Mani
    7 July 2016 at 6:35 am
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    WOW!!! Thanks, Divya, for jaw-dropping views. Your description of Tunnel View made a picture in front of my eyes. An awesome presentation.

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 3:54 pm
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      Hey Ravish, long time. How have you been?

      These really are jaw-dropping sights, Ravish. Especially that of the Tunnel View. My having seen several pictures of the place and the longing to see that sight for myself only made that moment even more precious.

      Thank you so much, Ravish.

  • Jyotirmoy Sarkar
    7 July 2016 at 7:28 am
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    Awesome read, fantastic shots, very nicely written.

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 3:54 pm
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      Thank you so much, Jyotirmoy. πŸ™‚

  • Prasad Np
    7 July 2016 at 7:42 am
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    Such a magical place.. I have been there long ago just as snow has started melting and the scene was very different. The images are so inspiring me to go there again.

    And not many remember a scene of Star Trek was filmed here at the very rock you show πŸ™‚

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 3:58 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Yosemite could look different every season, Prasad. I really hope you have the opportunity to see these sights again. And soon.
      And you'll catch up with me when you are in CA, won't you. I'd love to have some coffee with THE desitraveler. πŸ™‚

  • Easwar Arumugam
    7 July 2016 at 10:27 am
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    A great blog with nice write & beautiful pictures

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 3:59 pm
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      Thank you so much, Easwar. πŸ™‚

  • Kalpanaa M
    7 July 2016 at 3:00 pm
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    Absolutely stunning photos. I visited Yosemite many years ago but had 8 children in tow and although I have wonderful memories I have no photos so was delighted to see yours.

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 4:02 pm
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      Thank you so much, Kalpana. I really hope you get to see Yosemite again. I'm sure the next time you are here you'll return with a tonne of pictures. πŸ™‚

      Thank you so much for coming this way today. πŸ™‚

  • Maitreni Mishra
    7 July 2016 at 3:58 pm
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    Awe-inspiring… very beautiful place and equally amazing pictures!

    • dNambiar
      7 July 2016 at 4:03 pm
      Leave a Reply

      It truly is a one-of-a-kind of a place.
      Thank you so much, dear Maitreni. πŸ™‚

  • purba chakraborty
    7 July 2016 at 4:10 pm
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    Stunning captures dear….such a beautiful place πŸ™‚

    • dNambiar
      8 July 2016 at 9:26 pm
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      Thank you so much, Purba.
      Yosemite really is a very unique kind of place.

  • umashankar
    8 July 2016 at 1:56 am
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    Yosemite is nature at its virginal best, untouched, unpolluted by virulent species of the planet. Thank you for taking me there: those exposures are all I'll ever have the valley.

    • dNambiar
      8 July 2016 at 9:49 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Despite the large numbers people visiting here, Yosemite it pretty much a virgin. It's so nice to see it so well kept.
      The pleasure is mine, USP. And looks like I'll take you there a few more times and then you'll want to come and see it for yourself. I really, really hope you'll be able to visit this side. πŸ™‚

  • joshi daniel
    8 July 2016 at 12:04 pm
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    so beautiful πŸ™‚

    • dNambiar
      8 July 2016 at 9:50 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Isn't it so beautiful?! πŸ™‚
      Thank you for coming by, Joshi.

  • Rahul Bhatia
    9 July 2016 at 6:42 am
    Leave a Reply

    A lovely read with stunning pics:)

    • dNambiar
      13 July 2016 at 8:14 pm
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      Thank you so much, Mr. Bhatia.
      I was stunned seeing those huge cliffs in Yosemite.

  • R Niranjan Das
    9 July 2016 at 9:29 am
    Leave a Reply

    Absolutely majestic and breathtakingly beautiful! Awesome post, Nambiare.

    • dNambiar
      13 July 2016 at 8:15 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Indeed.
      Thank you so much, Nomad. Tell you me you are adding this to that US list. πŸ˜‰

  • Alok singhal
    9 July 2016 at 11:33 am
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    I loved Yosemite. The formations are marvelous and so are the falls – especially bridal veil!
    I did hike to Vernal falls too, pretty steep it is though.

    I guess early April is the best time to visit…the falls were in full flow and everything was open.

    • dNambiar
      13 July 2016 at 8:19 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Marvelous indeed. You saw Vernal too? That's so cool. I'm yet to see that one didn;t want to take those trails that were not quite kid friendly. I will try to to that on my next visit there. I see myself returning there many more times. πŸ˜‰
      Yeah, around this time of the year it gets pretty dry around here.

      I look forward to your travel story from Yosemite National Park.
      Have a good week, Alok. πŸ™‚

    • Alok singhal
      17 July 2016 at 4:15 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Yep, but the path to vernal is very steep. Yosemite is coming up next in a few days…

    • dNambiar
      19 July 2016 at 7:52 am
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      I look forward to it. πŸ™‚

  • Shweta Dave
    12 July 2016 at 2:40 pm
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    I get to see US from yours and Alok's posts πŸ™‚ awesome account and amazing pictures. I tried finding the rainbow didn't see it Dee πŸ™

    • dNambiar
      13 July 2016 at 8:23 pm
      Leave a Reply

      I hope these posts make you want to see these places for yourself. Yosemite is a natural wonder, really.
      Thank you so much, Shweta.
      You didn't see the post? πŸ™ Let me get you the link.

    • dNambiar
      13 July 2016 at 8:24 pm
      Leave a Reply
  • Mridula
    16 July 2016 at 4:42 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Ah such majesty, captured so well by you!

    • dNambiar
      17 July 2016 at 1:31 am
      Leave a Reply

      Majestic indeed.
      Thank you Mridula. πŸ™‚

  • Bikram
    18 July 2016 at 9:42 am
    Leave a Reply

    WOWOWWOWWO….

    glad i got time to come over and see these beautiful pictures ,…

    Bikram's

    • dNambiar
      19 July 2016 at 7:52 am
      Leave a Reply

      This is another place that has to go into that list of yours, ok.
      How have you been, Bik?

  • Maniparna Sengupta Majumder
    21 July 2016 at 3:59 am
    Leave a Reply

    Yosemite sounds like an amazing place and the pictures hold testimony to it. Great write-up… πŸ™‚

    • dNambiar
      22 July 2016 at 7:14 pm
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      It is Maniparna. I'm definitely going to see more of this place. So, hopefully I'll soon have more pictures to show you.

      Thank you so much for stopping by. πŸ™‚

  • Photo(Geo)grapher
    27 July 2016 at 5:14 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Beautiful trip in the footsteps of Ansel Adams – a master of landscape photography πŸ™‚

    • dNambiar
      29 July 2016 at 12:41 am
      Leave a Reply

      He was the best!
      He made Yosemite so famous and it deserves to be. Just look it. πŸ™‚

      It's so nice to see you here, PhotoGeographer. πŸ™‚

  • Photo(Geo)grapher
    27 February 2017 at 6:06 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Such magical place!

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