I've lived in Los Angeles for five years, so I'm about 30 minutes inland from Santa Monica. It's a beautiful, classic Southern California destination with a beach, a pier, and an abundance of classy shopping and dining spots.
26.06.2024 - 16:41 / lonelyplanet.com / Abraham Lincoln / El Capitan
Jun 26, 2024 • 10 min read
Surrounded by Yosemite’s waterfalls, cliffs and ageless mountains, you truly feel in nature’s thrall. Are the crowds, camping reservations and hiking permit lotteries – all side-effects of the park’s 4 million annual visitors – a headache? Of course. Are Yosemite’s technicolor meadows and vast, abyssal valleys worth it? Ten times over.
More than a national park, Yosemite is a milestone in the story of conservation in the United States. The signing of the Yosemite Grant by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864 is one of the earliest examples of land in the US being preserved and safeguarded as a public good, which paved the way for the national parks system. The activism and lyrical writing of John Muir further embedded Yosemite in the public consciousness; he described it as "the grandest of all the special temples of Nature".
If it’s your first time in Yosemite, you might be inspired to wax poetic, too. You might equally be left tongue-tied by the sheer scale of its 1187 sq miles of forests, coursing rivers and granite domes.
Here’s how to get started on your first-ever foray into Yosemite National Park.
No hyperbole: Yosemite is truly a year-round destination, large and varied enough to keep outdoor-lovers busy even during low season. It’s most popular from spring to fall, with heightened popularity in midsummer.
Unpredictable snow conditions mean the start of spring hiking season varies by the year. But by May, waterfalls are at their magnificent best. Now’s the time to head for 2425ft Yosemite Falls, ideally hiking the tough 3.4-mile trail to the top, and checking out mighty, multi-cascade Sentinel Falls (1920ft) and Ribbon Fall (1612ft).
Peak visiting times, including summer, require preparation. Park reservations are essential from July 1 to mid-August, and on weekends and holidays in spring (mid-April to the end of June) and late summer to fall (mid-August to late October). Check the exact date restrictions and book your pass on the park website. If you don’t have a reservation, set your alarm: you’ll need to enter the park before 5am.
Winter is much quieter, with snow-hushed forests and lighter crowds to compensate for some road closures (like up to Glacier Point, usually closed off from November to early June). But crowds assemble in February for the Yosemite Firefall, when Horsetail Falls are bathed in burnished light, transforming into an infernal cascade that tumbles down the face of El Capitan. On clear days, head to the El Capitan Picnic Area toward twilight to see the spectacle.
You could easily spend a month exploring Yosemite’s trails without tripping over the same boulder twice. But with careful planning you can make the most of a few days – or even 12 hours.
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I've lived in Los Angeles for five years, so I'm about 30 minutes inland from Santa Monica. It's a beautiful, classic Southern California destination with a beach, a pier, and an abundance of classy shopping and dining spots.
Jun 27, 2024 • 6 min read
Jun 26, 2024 • 9 min read
Cold brew coffee lovers can now enjoy their favorite beverage in the friendly skies. United Airlines will soon add the popular beverage to their in-flight menu. The cold brew, made by the Italian, family-owned coffee manufacturer illy, is brewed for 12 hours before being sealed and sent for distribution to passengers. The official launch of the beverage on board is July 1. However. travelers flying between New York / Newark (EWR) to Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) will be able to enjoy a preview of the brew on red-eye flights between now and July 3. “We know fliers enjoy a pick-me-up during travel, and illy’s canned cold brew is the perfect beverage option for coffee lovers looking to stay energized and focused during their trip," United's Managing Director of Hospitality Programs Aaron McMillan shared in a statement to T+L. United also shares that cold brew will be available on flights longer than 300 miles, which is a majority of their mainline routes.
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National park vacations continue to be extremely popular, especially during the summer travel season.
I spent my first afternoon at Art Basel getting lost.
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