Author: Lance J Orton
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🌆 The Great Escape We needed an escape. With a daughter moving out and our dog recently crossing the rainbow bridge, we needed a distraction from the changes at home. Since we did a day tour of New York City with my Uncle Roy in 2022 (he and my Aunt Jane live in Newtown, CT),…
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If you want to experience the absolute full-scale majesty of Yosemite in a single day—and you have the raw endurance to survive 50,000 steps, 20+ miles, and 4,500+ vertical feet (ignore the AllTrails #s)—there is only one route to take. The legendary Grand Tour loop is a monster of a day hike that stitches together…
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Aside from the grueling, high-altitude treks that push your legs to the absolute limit, there is a distinct kind of magic found simply in slowing down and wandering around Yosemite near the valley floor. When you step off the main trails and let yourself drift through the open meadows and quiet pine forests, the park…
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There is a legendary status attached to the Half Dome cables. For years, I dreamed of taking the boys up that iconic granite curve. In 2021, we finally packed our gear, laced up our boots, and set out to conquer the most infamous day hike in the National Park system. Before we even dive into…
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There is a distinct moment when you drop down from the mountain switchbacks onto the Yosemite Valley floor and the sheer scale of the granite walls hits you. Standing on the flat valley floor, looking up at the monumental faces of El Capitan and Half Dome, it is easy to see why this area is…
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As I mentioned in our San Francisco to Yosemite road trip post: “Right as you need a break from the switchbacks, you hit Groveland. We pulled into Mountain Sage Coffee to stretch our legs and get properly caffeinated. It’s an earthy, eclectic spot (some might say a bit weird but we like weird) that perfectly…
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If you are driving from the San Francisco Bay Area toward the towering granite of Yosemite, Highway 120 is your primary artery. And right when you hit Manteca, at the intersection of Highway 120 and Jack Tone Road, you’ll find a mandatory pitstop: Ramos Country Corner. It is one of my absolutely favorite finds in…
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How can you not love a good road trip? From San Francisco to Yosemite Valley, I’m convinced there is no journey in which you experience so much beauty compacted into so little time. Yes, it is about 4 hours from San Francisco to Yosemite, and your arrival will be every bit as stunning as you expect,…
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My 2nd recommended stop in San Francisco may surprisingly be the San Francisco Zoo. My older son really wanted to go there in 2021 so we went while I expected disappointment. We were pleasantly surprised. I took two of my favorite photos ever here: the bald eagle and the gorilla through the fence. But one…
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Before eagerly hitting the road to journey towards Yosemite, I wanted to cover some fun stops in San Francisco. The first is the California Academy of Sciences. Located in the center of Golden Gate Park, it genuinely surprised us with its beauty. Below is a history. But more than that, I wanted to document some…