A Pregnant Lady's Guide to Yosemite National Park in a Day

Lauren Barrett

This California park is stellar. Absolutely stellar. It has views, heights, domes, waterfalls, sequoia trees, wildlife, and so much more. I can't do the beauty here justice, so if you have to pick a park to go to, choose here. If you can afford it, I would splurge and stay in Yosemite Valley at either The Ahwahnee (formerly known as The Majestic Yosemite Hotel), Yosemite Valley Lodge, or Wawona Hotel. The Valley also has more primitive lodging in Curry Village. Staying in the Valley will allow you so much easy access to all the popular spots. The Valley has a shuttle that will take you to many popular spots throughout the Valley. We utilized it throughout the whole day. Put Yosemite on your bucket list today!

The Logistics ​

• Flew to San Francisco, rented a car, and drove here
• Traveled with James
• Stayed at the Homestead Cottages in Ahwahnee, CA
• Stayed 2 nights and visited the park for 1 day

The Itinerary
Day 1

• First stop: Tunnel View
  • Amazing views of Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, and El Capitan. 
• Second stop: Bridalveil Fall
  • Climbed up rocks and could feel the mist of the falls
• Third stop: Lunch at a picnic bench in Yosemite Valley
• Fourth stop: Ahwahnee Hotel to catch the free shuttle
• Fifth stop: Lower Yosemite Falls
  • Walked to the bridge
  • Sat on rocks again 
• Sixth stop: Mist Trail
  • Took trail up to Vernal Falls Footbridge
  • Beautiful views
• Seventh stop: Curry Village
  • Ate dinner here
• Eighth stop: Mirror Lake
• Ninth stop: Tunnel View to see the nighttime sky (barely missed sunset) 

Recommendations/Suggestions

• Stay in the park
• Watch the sunrise or sunset at Tunnel View
• Rent rafts or tubes to go in the river in the Valley
• Nevada Falls hike (8 miles roundtrip)-Go up the Mist Trail and down the John Muir Trail
• Half Dome if you are up for an adrenaline rush
  • Camp in little Yosemite Campground if you want to backpack. There is a great spot along the Merced River. It's 5 miles up. Then it's another 2-3 miles to Half Dome
• Glacier Point Hike

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​My name is Lauren, and I was born in New Jersey, grew up in West Virginia, went to college in Pennsylvania, and now live and work in North Carolina. I'm a high school teacher of the deaf and hard-of-hearing by day, a cross country coach by the afternoon, a writer by night, and a full time mom to an amazing toddler. I love my faith, running, watching baseball, chocolate, scrapbooking, pretending I would actually do well on the Amazing Race, re-watching The Office, listening to Bobby Bones, and helping out all moms.