Our first full day in Yosemite had finally arrived.
Because we’d heard so many stories about overflowing parking lots—especially on summer Saturdays—we decided to leave the car behind and take the YARTS bus into the park. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip.
The bus picked us up right at our hotel for just $4 each and dropped us off at Yosemite Valley Lodge. We hadn’t traveled more than a quarter mile before we encountered the long line of cars waiting to enter the park. Watching hundreds of vehicles inch forward while we relaxed in our seats confirmed we’d made the right choice.
The trip into the valley took about an hour, which really wasn’t bad considering the traffic. Better yet, we didn’t have to worry about finding a parking space once we arrived.
Inside the park we relied on Yosemite’s free shuttle system to get around. The buses were crowded, but they were still far more efficient than driving from lot to lot hoping someone would pull out. Like many first-time visitors, though, we discovered that understanding the shuttle routes and figuring out exactly where to get on and off wasn’t quite as intuitive as we’d expected.
For a while, it felt like we were spending almost as much time trying to navigate the transportation system as we were enjoying the scenery.
Eventually we realized we were trying to do too much.
Instead of rushing from one destination to the next, we slowed down, wandered the Valley floor, and simply soaked in the incredible surroundings. Towering granite cliffs, waterfalls cascading from impossible heights, and the Merced River winding through lush meadows reminded us that Yosemite isn’t a place to conquer—it’s a place to experience.
The day was also a special one for another reason.
It was our 45th wedding anniversary.
Our celebration wasn’t a fancy restaurant or an elaborate event. Instead, we marked the occasion with Häagen-Dazs ice cream bars, which tasted especially good in the warm afternoon sun. Sometimes the simplest celebrations become the most memorable.
That evening we returned to the hotel for an anniversary dinner that, if we’re being honest, was fairly forgettable. But the meal wasn’t really the highlight of the day anyway.
Our biggest takeaway was that Yosemite rewards a slower pace. We didn’t need to see everything at once. There would be plenty of time over the next two days to explore.
So we adjusted our expectations, planned a more relaxed day of hiking for tomorrow, and looked forward to enjoying Yosemite instead of trying to check every attraction off a list.
Sometimes the best travel lesson is simply to slow down.