Yosemite Park
California

Are you looking for miles of hiking trails, giant sequoias, wildlife and spectacular views? At Yosemite there are activities all year round, ranging from horseback riding in the spring, summer and fall, to downhill skiing at Badger Pass in the winter. You'll want to see the 2,400-foot Yosemite Falls, which cascades from winter usually through midsummer. Then there's the most recognized symbol of the park, Half Dome, rising 4,000 feet from the valley floor.

When to go: Campgrounds fill up fast in the summer.
How to get there: Merced and Fresno airports are 70 and 75 miles away, and San Francisco is a five-hour drive.
More to see: Yosemite Valley, sequoias of Mariposa Grove and vistas from Glacier Point

Get more information at www.yosemitepark.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Kenny Karst | DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite Inc.