California
The Best of Yosemite National Park: An American Icon
Program No. 19237RSBLOG
Discover the wonders of Yosemite National Park alongside naturalists as you learn about and explore Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, Mariposa Grove and many other iconic treasures.
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800-454-5768
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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Jun 8 - Jun 13, 2025
Starting at
3,649Jun 15 - Jun 20, 2025
Starting at
3,649Sep 14 - Sep 19, 2025
Starting at
3,649DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Jun 8 - Jun 13, 2025
Starting at
4,519Jun 15 - Jun 20, 2025
Starting at
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6 days
5 nights
12 meals
5B 4L 3D
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Brisbane (San Francisco Airport), CA
2
Yosemite National Park, Ahwahnee Hotel
Yosemite, CA
3
Mariposa Grove, Wawona Hotel
Yosemite, CA
4
Glacier Point, Free Time
Yosemite, CA
5
Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows
Yosemite, CA
6
Transfer to Brisbane, Program Concludes
Brisbane (San Francisco Airport), CA
At a Glance
On an unforgettable adventure in Yosemite National Park, learn on-site about monumental natural wonders like Yosemite Falls, Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley. Expert naturalists address the geologic saga of the park as well as its interwoven natural and human histories. As Half Dome and El Capitan loom overhead, explore the Native American history of the Ahwahneechee, and learn the intricacies of rock climbing, a popular park activity. Stay at lodgings inside the park on this fantastic adventure!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 1.5 miles over varied terrain including paved and dirt paths. Standing up to 45 minutes at a time. Elevations range from 4,000-8,000 feet.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Experience the impressive granite formations of Half Dome and El Capitan, a favorite for rock climbers.
- Discover Yosemite’s cultural and natural history with a local naturalist on trails in Yosemite Valley and Wawona.
- Explore Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias to stand in awe of hundreds of these impressive trees, and explore The Ahwahnee Hotel with a local expert.
General Notes
Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.
Suggested Reading List
(8 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Best of Yosemite National Park: An American Icon
Program Number: 19237
My First Summer in the Sierra
In the summer of 1869, John Muir made his first long trip to Yosemite. When a friend offered him the chance to accompany his flock of sheep and a shepherd to the high pastures of the Sierra, it was an opportunity Muir could not resist. This book reprints the journal he kept of those summer days, of the wildlife and plant life, and of his explorations into the magical places of the mountains.
Yosemite: The Complete Guide
Filled with vivid color photography and informed writing, Yosemite: The Complete Guide puts the best of Yosemite National Park at your fingertips. Fully updated to include current travel info (including the new rules for hiking Half Dome), the second edition offers expanded chapters on geology, ecology, wildlife, and history. James Kaiser takes readers on a joyous romp through Yosemite, revealing the fascinating story behind the scenery. From the thundering waterfalls of Yosemite Valley to the sparkling granite of the High Sierra, Yosemite: The Complete Guide equips travelers with everything they need to know. Lodging, camping, and dining are covered in-depth, as well as outdoor adventures (hiking, biking, rock climbing, rafting, skiing), transportation issues, and seasonal weather patterns. Over 20 hikes are listed, with trail descriptions, topographical maps, and photos.
Ansel Adams' Yosemite: The Special Edition Prints
The photographs of Ansel Adams are among America's finest artistic treasures, and form the basis of his tremendous legacy of environmental activism. In the late 1950s, Adams selected eight photographs of Yosemite National Park to offer exclusively to park visitors as affordable souvenirs. He hoped that these images might inspire tourists to become activists by transmitting to them the same awe and respect for nature that Yosemite had instilled in him. Over the following decades, Adams added to this collection to create a stunning view of Yosemite in all its majesty. These photographs, the Yosemite Special Edition Prints, form the core of this essential volume. Adams' luminous images of Yosemite's unique rock formations, waterfalls, meadows, trees, and nature details are among the most distinctive of his career. Today, with America's public lands increasingly under threat, his creative vision remains as relevant and convincing as ever.
Introduced by bestselling photographer Pete Souza, with an essay by Adams' darkroom assistant Alan Ross, Ansel Adams' Yosemite is a powerful continuation of Adams' artistic and environmental legacies, and a compelling statement during a precarious time for the American earth.
Geology Underfoot in Yosemite National Park
Many of the features that visitors find most tantalizing about Yosemite have unique and compelling geologic stories—tales that continue to unfold today in vivid, often destructive ways. While visiting more than twenty-seven amazing sites, you’ll discover why many of Yosemite’s domes shed rock shells like onion layers, what happens when a volcano erupts under a glacial lake, and why rocks seem to be almost continually tumbling from the region’s cliffs. With a multitude of colorful photos and illustrations, and prose tooled for the lay reader, Geology Underfoot in Yosemite National Park will help you read the landscape the way a geologist does.
Geology of the Sierra Nevada (California Natural History Guides)
Geology of the Sierra Nevada (California Natural History Guides) is a comprehensive guide to the geologic history of the Sierra Nevada.
The Yosemite Grant 1864-1906: A Pictorial History
A comprehensive, well-illustrated history of the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees.
Sierra Nevada Natural History
First published forty years ago, this handbook has become an enduring natural history classic, used by thousands to learn more about virtually every aspect of this spectacular mountain range--from its superb flora and fauna to its rugged topography. Comprehensive yet concise and portable, the book describes hundreds of species: trees and shrubs, flowering plants and ferns, fungi and lichens, insects and fish, amphibians and reptiles, and birds and mammals.
History of the Sierra Nevada
The History of the Sierra Nevada covers all aspects of the human history of the area from the prehistoric native Americans, Spanish exploration, mountain men, pioneers, 49'ers, railroad, John Muir and the national parks to recent trends of utilization and recreation.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Brisbane (San Francisco Airport), CA
Program Concludes
Brisbane (San Francisco Airport), CA
Meals
12
| 5B |
4L |
3D |
Activity Level
On an unforgettable adventure in Yosemite National Park, learn on-site about monumental natural wonders like Yosemite Falls, Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley. Expert naturalists address the geologic saga of the park as well as its interwoven natural and human histories. As Half Dome and El Capitan loom overhead, explore the Native American history of the Ahwahneechee, and learn the intricacies of rock climbing, a popular park activity. Stay at lodgings inside the park on this fantastic adventure!)
Best of all, you'll...
- Experience the impressive granite formations of Half Dome and El Capitan, a favorite for rock climbers.
- Discover Yosemite’s cultural and natural history with a local naturalist on trails in Yosemite Valley and Wawona.
- Explore Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias to stand in awe of hundreds of these impressive trees, and explore The Ahwahnee Hotel with a local expert.
General Notes
Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 1.5 miles over varied terrain including paved and dirt paths. Standing up to 45 minutes at a time. Elevations range from 4,000-8,000 feet.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(8 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
12 meals | 5B | 4L | 3D |
1 expert-led lecture
5 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Brisbane (San Francisco Airport), CA
Meals:
D
Stay:
DoubleTree by Hilton San Francisco Airport North
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:30 p.m. After you check in at the hotel front desk and have your room assignment and key, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Introductions: 6:30 p.m. We’ll gather for a session we call Crossing Points to begin getting to know our fellow Road Scholars and discover what we share beyond a love of lifelong learning. A naturalist will provide educational content throughout the program. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
2
Yosemite National Park, Ahwahnee Hotel
Location:
Yosemite, CA
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Yosemite Valley Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 275 miles, approximately 5.5 hours riding time; one rest stop en route. Walking about 1/2 mile throughout the day; dirt and paved paths. Bring binoculars if you have them. Highest elevation for the day is 5,288 feet in Yosemite Valley.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel, board a motorcoach, and ride to Yosemite National Park in central California. The “gold rush” of 1849 wreaked havoc on the environment, followed by extensive commercial exploitation. In response, President Lincoln designated Yosemite Valley a public trust in 1864, the first time the U.S. government protected land from private development and for public enjoyment. Yellowstone became America’s first national park in 1872. Today, it is one of America’s most beautiful and most visited national parks.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will board our private coach to the historic Ahwahnee Hotel where our naturalist will tell us about the classic architecture and the various historic characters that stayed at the elegant hotel. Next, our naturalist will lead a field trip via private motorcoach through Yosemite Valley, world-famous for its impressive waterfalls, cliffs, and unusual rock formations. We will learn about the valley’s glacial past that carved the grand walls we see today. Our first stop will be El Capitan Meadow. From the meadow, use binoculars to scan for climbers on El Capitan, one of the world’s most popular climbs. Rising more than 3,000 feet above the Valley floor, it is the largest granite monolith in the world. The first ascent on El Capitan was made by Warren Harding in 1958 and records continue to be broken. We will ride on to Tunnel View that gives us a bird’s eye view of the Valley with El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome. It is one of the more iconic scenes of Yosemite. Riding by Bridalveil Fall, we’ll see it plunge 620 feet. Bridalveil thunders in the spring but during the rest of the year its light, swaying flow resembles a “bridal veil.” It is one of the many waterfalls that can appear in Yosemite Valley. After our exploration of the Yosemite Valley, we will check in and get our room assignments at the hotel.
Dinner:
On your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. There are many opportunities to enjoy the park independently after dark. Use the “Yosemite Guide” to find out what programs are being offered. Programs offered by the National Park are free of charge. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm Programs at the Yosemite Theater require a ticket that can be purchased the day of at the visitor center bookstore or on-line at https://yosemite.org/experience/theater/.
Day
3
Mariposa Grove, Wawona Hotel
Location:
Yosemite, CA
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Yosemite Valley Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time; curvy mountain road. Hiking up to 3 miles, approximately 3 hours; wooden boardwalk, paved path. Potential crowded conditions at Mariposa Grove. Mariposa Grove road is closed seasonally, please see note about Yosemite Seasonal Road Closures. Mariposa Grove starts at 5,600 feet with elevation gain up 500 feet, Wawona Hotel is at 4,000 feet.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach and ride to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias that contains some 500 mature giant sequoias. We will park near the shuttle stop at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Center where restrooms are located. We’ll then board a National Park Service bus that will take us into the grove and to the start of the wooden boardwalk to see the sequoias. Our naturalist will lead us through the grove and explain giant sequoia ecology and our connections with these large trees. Giant sequoias are perhaps the largest living things on Earth and may exceed 3,000 years in age. Reopened on June 15, 2018, the Mariposa Grove restoration project aimed to restore the grove’s dynamic ecology and increase the grove’s resilience. Many visitors from around the world are eager to visit the beloved grove of trees that was closed for three years. Keep an eye out for the sequoia saplings that have taken root with the absence of people. Note: The park is likely to be crowded with others who also want to see these wonders of nature. Please exercise patience.
Lunch:
At the historic Wawona hotel, we will have a plated meal.
Afternoon:
We will board our coach after lunch and return to Yosemite Valley. Free time has been scheduled for the remainder of the afternoon. The Group Leader will be happy to make suggestions.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Dining choices will be listed in the “Yosemite Guide” park newspaper published several times a year and available on line at https://www.travelyosemite.com/dining/yosemite-dining-experience/.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Glacier Point, Free Time
Location:
Yosemite, CA
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Yosemite Valley Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach; traveling 60 miles, up to 3 hours roundtrip depending on traffic; Walking less than 1/2 mile; paved trail with inclines. Elective hike is about 1/2 mile loop on paved walkways to a series of terraced viewpoints reached via granite steps overlooking the Valley. Extent and duration of free time activities according to personal choice. Glacier Point Rd is closed seasonally, please see note about Yosemite Seasonal Road Closures. Glacier Point elevation is 7,215 feet.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
After breakfast, we’ll board the motorcoach with our local expert and Group Leader and take a field trip to Glacier Point. From the end of the road, we’ll walk to an overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and the High Sierra. Many say this is the most spectacular viewpoint in the entire park. We’ll learn about the glacial past of this site and gain more insight into the high country of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Lunch:
On own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. Visit https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/index.htm to find ranger-led programs and other events happening in the park. There are many hikes in the Valley including Mirror Lake, Vernal Fall Footbridge, Lower Yosemite Fall and Cook’s Meadow. You might also like to visit the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center or the Ansel Adams Gallery. Yosemite Valley Lodge also offers bicycle rentals for the paved, flat bike path that loops through the valley. You can find out more about bike rentals at https://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/biking/.
Dinner:
At Basecamp Eatery located in the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure. There are many opportunities to enjoy the park independently after dark. Use the “Yosemite Guide” to find out what programs are being offered. Programs offered by the National Park are free of charge. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm Programs at the Yosemite Theater require a ticket that you can purchase the day of at the visitor center bookstore or on-line at https://yosemite.org/experience/theater/.
Day
5
Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows
Location:
Yosemite, CA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Yosemite Valley Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 round trip, approximately 5 hours riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile total (weather permitting), paved path to beach. Tioga Pass (Hwy 120) is closed seasonally, please see note about Yosemite Seasonal Road Closures. Elevation 8,000 feet. Olmsted Point is at 8,428 feet, Tuolumne Meadows elevation is 8,600 feet.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach for a full day in the subalpine environment of the High Sierras. Our naturalist will provide a narrative that touches on many aspects of the natural and human history along Tioga Pass Road to Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows. Tioga Pass Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive between Crane Flat and Tuolumne Meadows through forests, meadows, lakes, and granite domes. The road is one of the few roads that pass over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the eastern side into Owens Valley. It started as a dirt road in 1915 and was slowly paved and widened over the years. It was fully completed by the 1960s with the rise in car sales and families taking road trips to the national parks. Olmsted Point looks down on Yosemite Valley from the east and from a very different angle. Tenaya Lake is a magnificent High Sierra lake surrounded by granite domes, lodgepole forests, and Yosemite’s vast wilderness. Tuolumne Meadows is a large, open subalpine meadow graced by the winding Tuolumne River and surrounded by majestic peaks and domes. At Tenaya Lake (weather permitting), we will walk approximately 175 yards on a paved path to the beach. Additional opportunities may be available depending on local conditions at the time of the program; the Group Leader will discuss prior to the field trip.
Lunch:
We will have boxed lunches at a scenic spot on Tioga Pass.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll set out on a stroll into lush, alpine Tuolumne Meadows. Surrounded by lodgepole forest, it is at an elevation of 8,000 feet. The Tuolumne River flows through the meadow on its way to the Hetch Hetchy Valley and Reservoir. We’ll walk about 1/2 mile walk towards Soda Springs while learning about the alpine environment.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Transfer to Brisbane, Program Concludes
Location:
Brisbane (San Francisco Airport), CA
Meals:
B,L
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 200 miles, approximately 5 hours riding time with a stop depending on traffic.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel, board a motorcoach, and begin our return trip to the hotel in Brisbane.
Lunch:
En route to Brisbane.
Afternoon:
We expect to arrive at the hotel in Brisbane by approximately 3:00 p.m. (depending on traffic). This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
12 Meals
5 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
3 Dinners
LODGING
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Participant Reviews
Based on 63 Reviews
Sort By:
Road Scholar was everything I expected it to be. The Yosemite trip visited all the places I wanted to see without me worrying about navigating nor traffic. Dawn, Leo & Andrea were awesome.
— Review left October 14, 2024
The Yosemite trip provided a comprehensive experience and understanding of the national park, its history, its origins, its geological formation, its role in helping get the national park system of the US started. You also get to see the largest, oldest tree in the world!
— Review left October 12, 2024
Outstanding trip! You see all the diverse and amazing areas of Yosemite, and learn a lot about why they are so special. And you will have a lot of fun with great people!
— Review left October 11, 2024
Our Yosemite Adventure was a wonderful experience! Very well organized with a variety of educational opportunities. Marty,our Master Naturalist guide, is a wealth of knowledge and expertise that he shares with such a deep love and respect for the land. We need to take good care of our National Parks, not only for our enjoyment but for the benefit of future generations!
— Review left October 6, 2024
I expected to enjoy the trip to Yosemite but the enjoyment exceeded my expectations, by far. Every day of the time there was a new delight for the eyes.
— Review left September 29, 2024
Very good program; we've seen all interesting places in Yosemite and learned a lot about the park
— Review left September 29, 2024
A wonderful trip filled with lovely people, led by a fun guide and informative teacher. The National Park was amazing!
— Review left August 28, 2024
Great trip. Moderate to easy hikes. Great tour guides, accommodations and food.
— Review left July 31, 2024
Incredible trip. The group leaders, Mino and Steve Anderson were awesome and went out of their way to make the experience memorable. I've been to a number of beautiful places and Yosemite ranks with the most beautiful. Staying in the park made the experience more memorable as the beauty of the Yosemite was accessible early in the morning, in the evening, and at night. I love Road Scholar trips not only because of the places visited, but also the educational aspects and the interesting people I meet. I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left July 29, 2024
This was a wonderful trip. We’ve been on 14 Road Scholar programs and all were great. This was one of the best. We’ve covered quite a few national parks with Road Scholar and each one is unique and this was no exception. It definitely is a majestic park and Road Scholar provides a variety of views and insights to make this a very memorable experience. I would add that we took this trip in July and the weather was in the 90s. There is no air conditioning in the cabin but plenty of fans (we had 3 and used them all). So it was a bit uncomfortable, but we survived and the location inside the park just below the incredible water falls made it worth the slight discomfort. Plus there is a large cool pool within a few feet.
— Review left July 28, 2024
I highly recommend Road Scholar programs, particularly if you are new to traveling solo. I was made to feel welcome and included from the very first day. It got me outside my comfort zone and showed me that I can continue to broaden my horizons.
— Review left July 28, 2024
Yosemite is a great location that would be a challenge for us to visit on our own and so we are so happy to have had this opportunity with Road Scholar.
— Review left July 19, 2024
If you want to really see Yosemite Valley , Road Scholar will take you from the bottom of the valley where everyone explores to the top at glacier point looking down into the valley to the beautiful meadows at 8500 feet which many would miss.
— Review left June 22, 2024
The trip itself was incredible! I thought the sites we visited were a good sampling of the "best of Yosemite" in the few days we were there. Everyone in our group was friendly and fun to be with. Accommodations were perfect for the setting. Our group leader and naturalist both went above and beyond to assure an enjoyable and educational experience! The trip was well above my expectations in every way!
— Review left June 21, 2024
This is a great way to visit Yosemite - with a group and a bus that can get to some of the more distant parts of the park outside of the Valley.
— Review left June 18, 2024
What a wonderful way to see and experience Yosemite Park while being provided Park history and geology. All this and more was received as we journeyed along with other friendly, interesting and convivial Road Scholar travelers. Great program!
— Review left June 1, 2024
This Yosemite program is truly the best! We experienced Yosemite up close and personal. The scenery is magnificent and this program includes so many sights. Mary, Marty and our fellow Road Scholars enriched our experience and our lives.
— Review left May 30, 2024
Loved being able to choose the pace that was right for me. Having the group leader and the scholar manage many of the details made the trip more enjoyable. Great group to travel with. I’m looking forward to taking more trips with Road Scholar.
— Review left May 26, 2024
Yosemite has always been on our bucket list but often felt intimidated by the travel distance to the park and between all the sites once inside the park This was an excellent way to stay in the valley and see the majority of the park in an organized way with a naturalist sharing their knowledge with you on the way to the sites. It was an amazing experience. Yosemite is a national masterpiece .
— Review left October 30, 2023
Yosemite is magnificent and the guides Marty and Nate were amazing with their knowledge and passion about the Park. Our leader Lisa was so caring and did a great job letting us know what to expect each day. October 8th is a little late for best waterfalls and lakes but otherwise great for temperatures. Beware that walking daily is more like 6-7 miles rather than what is stated in the itinerary. What a gift to see this Park up close and personal!
— Review left October 21, 2023
October was perfect for visiting Yosemite. Fewer crowds, beautiful weather. Scenery not to be beat.
— Review left October 15, 2023
I forgot to include deserved praise to Drew Jackson, one of our group leaders, when I sent in my review of this trip recently.
I discovered that I had left my phone in my rideshare vehicle after I arrived at the hotel in San Francisco. He kept using his cell phone to call my phone until he finally contacted the driver and I got my phone back. Phones are so important these days and I was extremely relieved!
— Review left October 12, 2023
Highly recommend Road Scholar's program "Best of Yosemite". Six days was adequate time to see the main sights. Very comfortable accommodations, variety of meal choices, and just the right pace and free time. Excellent group leaders.
— Review left October 2, 2023
This is a great overview of Yosemite National Park. You get to see and visit so many beautiful places, and the classes by the Park Naturalists are so very informative. It was a beautiful week in an astounding area.
— Review left October 1, 2023
You cannot experience this adventure through books or photos but need to be there in person to get the full new value of God’s creation. Thank you for that experience.
— Review left October 1, 2023
Fabulous trip, beautiful place & learned much about the area of Yosemite & those who live there! Mary & Drew were great leaders!
— Review left October 1, 2023
Our trip to Yosemite July, 2023 was amazing. Anne was a great guide, she was there to handle all of our needs, inform, and suggest things to do in our free time. Dan Webster was AMAZING. His knowledge and ability to communicate in an informative, fun way made every outing a great adventure. We enjoyed all aspects of our learning experiences!
— Review left August 8, 2023
Yosemite is breathtaking. Waterfalls and granite rock are beautiful. The park is so diverse, it takes more than 4 days to see the whole thing. It had been on my bucket list, and I'm so happy to have the experience. The guided tours are so educational, I would not have had the same experience and appreciation for its history without Dan Webster !!
— Review left August 3, 2023
Seeing is believing! I have heard about the rock walls and giant sequoia trees all my life. However, seeing them dwarfed my preconceptions. Well worth going on this trip. Warning: Be prepared to look up frequently to see the grandeur!
— Review left July 15, 2023
We had a fabulous trip to Yosemite National Park. We had a friendly and engaging group. Our free time was well balanced with our programming time and our instructors were wonderful. It was perfect for us!
— Review left July 15, 2023
Terrific visit to Yosemite. Much better than trying to visit Yosemite by car. Accommodations in the heart of the park, good group of participants, well organized. Visiting Yosemite by bus, Monday through Friday, is the best way to do it!
— Review left July 10, 2023
Excellent program for a taste of Yosemite National Park. Although the extreme winter snows kept our group from Glacier Point and Tuolumne Meadows, we enjoyed Yosemite Valley as well as visits to the Mariposa Grove, Wawona, and the Yosemite History Center. Highly recommend this program.
— Review left July 5, 2023
If you want to learn history of settlement and development of Yosemite as a national park you will learn it here.
— Review left June 17, 2023
There wasn't a wasted minute in this wonderful program!
— Review left June 17, 2023
This was my first experience with the Road Scholar staff and programs. I was impressed with all of the staff members we dealt with and thouroughly enjoyed the entire experience. I will certainly consider using their services again in future adventures.
— Review left June 10, 2023
This was an unusual trip. I almost cancelled because the park had been closed a couple of weeks before we were to begin, due to high water in the Merced River, and it was unclear to me whether this trip would actually happen. (Road Scholar did not make a final decision until two days before the trip started.) But I'm very glad I went. The group was quite small -- only 11 of us -- due to individual cancellations, and both the trip leader and the naturalist from the Yosemite Conservancy were outstanding. Some of the standard Yosemite sights were unavailable because of deep snow in the higher elevations, so instead we saw giant sequoias at another location and did other alternative activities. Because of all the water, the waterfalls were at their best -- full and beautiful. I thought the high water itself was an unusual sight worth seeing. The weather was lovely. Going early in the season to Yosemite is a good idea. Even in mid-May, the park was starting to become well populated, and it looked like it would be very crowded at the peak of the summer.
— Review left June 8, 2023
My trip to the granite cathedral of Yosemite was a study in contrasts. The park was flooded, and yet it was more beautiful for the water. Our schedule was altered immensely, and yet we got to do things that were unexpected and wonderful. Most of our meals were only tolerable, and yet most of my favorite and amazing conversations took place while eating. Thank you, Lisa, Paul, and Marina for working so hard to make what could have gone badly into my very favorite trip.
— Review left May 29, 2023
This program provided interaction with all the iconic sights of Yosemite, as well as LOTS of information from the naturalist about the park itself.
— Review left May 28, 2023
This was a "bucket list" trip for us. It was our 12th RS trip. We have enjoyed all of them, but this one particularly exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend this Road Scholar adventure.
— Review left May 22, 2023
The trip to Yosemite was wonderful. The group leaders kept everything on schedule, were knowledgeable, and fun to be around. The tour guides from the Yosemite Conservancy shared their love for the park and taught me a great deal.
— Review left October 12, 2022
This tour was a wonderful overview of Yosemite National Park. Very well organized and informative-would highly recommend!
— Review left October 3, 2022
Wonderful program with amazing, knowledgeable instructors. So nice to have everything organized. The fellow participants were all really fun and knowledgeable in their own rights, too!
— Review left September 23, 2022
I loved the trip and was so thankful that in June the weather was in mid-70's to low-80's plus we were there 2 weeks before the Mariposa fires. Hikes, trip leader & info from guide were fantastic. So happy I went.
— Review left September 4, 2022
This was my sixth Road Scholar trip. Everything about it was outstanding. The group leader and the Conservancy experts were absolutely wonderful. (I will look for other trips that our group leader accompanies!) Accommodations were ideal. Meals were well beyond expectation. As a vegetarian, I was bowled over by the exceptional offerings at every meal. And of course meals also provided a chance to better get to know the delightful people in our group. Their good humor and experiences shared around the table, in the bus, and elsewhere added to the joy of this trip. Well done, Road Scholar!
— Review left August 22, 2022
Best of Yosemite National Park is an awesome experience. The views are breathtaking!
— Review left August 17, 2022
An outstanding program! The magnificence of Yosemite was enhanced by the knowledge and enthusiasm of our naturalist instructor, Paul, and the joy of experiencing this place was definitely projected by our group leader, Dawn. If visiting Yosemite is on your bucket list, enroll in this program now!
— Review left July 10, 2022
A wonderful program. Of course, the setting is tough to beat, but it's the sum of the park's beauty, its nature, its history and its people that add up to a decidedly more impressive whole. If one walks away from this program not having been awed, inspired and uplifted, I'd have to wonder. Dealing with the crush of the tourists visiting the park does require one to do a reset: let the park's beauty and nature do their thing and rise above the occasion. And, our leader and instructors definitely helped me do that reset. Stepping out of the pool of constantly aired "breaking news" for a few days was absolutely delightful.
— Review left July 2, 2022
The Yosemite Road Scholar trip was awesome! Our group leader "Dawn" was fantastic! Our daily expert guide "Paul" was also awesome! The group was wonderful and everyone in between from the lodge staff to the side presenters and bus captains were all great! My mother and young adult daughter all really enjoyed our blessed trip. This first trip with Road Scholae was so memorable.
— Review left July 1, 2022
If you want to get in touch with Mother Nature and "saunter" through the forests then this is the trip for you.
— Review left June 28, 2022
Visiting Yosemite should be on everyone's bucket list. People from all over the world visit our parks and love them as much as we do. I feel strongly that every congress person and senator should visit the parks. Maybe then they would fund them instead of bombs.
— Review left June 27, 2022
A geologic wonder land.
— Review left June 27, 2022
This trip is a great overall sample of the park and the highlights. Staying in the park is a real asset.
— Review left June 23, 2022
This trip has it all with 4 full days in Yosemite Valley Lodge. Sharon our Tour guide & Paul our naturist we're excellent. All of concerns & needs we're met. Thank You
— Review left June 20, 2022
If you go on this trip, try to go in the early spring so the water is flowing in the rivers up on top of the mountains.
— Review left May 27, 2022
This program was an inspiration! Each day was filled with awe inspiring experiences. The beautiful images of Yosemite are etched in my being.
— Review left May 25, 2022
For the description of this program, please emphasize e.g., that we won't go to Tuolumne Meadows if the road is closed, won't go to Glacier Point if road still under construction. I.e., be more specific, don't just say "program subject to change."
— Review left May 21, 2022
This was a really fun trip in a wonderful location and hotel.
— Review left September 23, 2019
We had a wonderful time on our Yosemite trip. Mary Jackson and her husband, Drew, were fun to be with and made everything go as smoothly as possible. Michael Ross was interesting and informative as he served as the naturalist for the tour. It was also fun to meet John Muir as played by Frank Helling, and hear a little of his adventures. The only problems had to do with the food. One dinner was at 8:30 p.m., the picnic lunches were pretty bad, the dinner with John Muir was cold and in a room where the AC had not been turn on and our final lunch took three tries before a place was found to serve us. All of these should be addressed by Road Scholar. However most of us did not come on this trip for the gourmet meals and between Mary, Drew, Michael, Frank and our other fellow travelers, we had a great time and would certainly recommend this trip to others.
— Review left June 26, 2019
Yosemite is fabulous, Mary and Drew Jackson were perhaps the best group leaders I've had on any outing, and the other program participants were a joy.
Once again, though, your vegetarian choices were terrible. Issues:
1. Plated meals leave us no choice - we bailed from four and bought our own meals, usually at the same venue. We packed cheese, crackers, fruits and nuts for our outings. Hotels and restaurants now routinely serve a variety of good vegetarian choices - the issue is what the Road Scholars staff orders for our vegetarian plated meals.
2. A salad and pasta primavera is not nutritionally adequate meal. We were served this four times in a six day program. It makes us second class citizens when others are served generous portions of salmon, chicken, beef, or sea food.
3. Your vegetarian options were almost all vegan. That would be okay if they had adequate vegan nutrition and flavor, but they did not. Some eggs, dairy, yoghurt, gardenburgers or other protein source would have helped those options. The soggy roasted vegetable wrap for a picnic lunch was the low point of nutrition and aesthetics.
4. No problems with breakfasts - eggs, yoghurt and the usual offerings work just fine.
5. This is the 6th Road Scholar program we've had this problem with. The vegetarian choices have been good to excellent on the cruises (Aegean Odyssey, Paul Gaugin, and the Great Lakes cruise), but even the land portions of those excursions were disappointing for vegetarian meals.
6. I am a physician with training in public health and also edited a health and nutrition newsletter ("Doctors Orders") for 20 years. I would be happy to discuss vegan and vegetarian nutrition and dietary options if your staff need help.
7. I recognize that the Road Scholar demographic has not as widely embraced vegetarian and vegan diets as other age groups. If you had more 30-something clients, you would already have fixed this.
Christopher H. Coulter, MD, MPH
714-296-3333
— Review left June 19, 2019
Yosemite National Park should be experienced by everyone and more than once. The Road Scholar program does an excellent job of housing you right in the valley close to the magical places of the park. The program offers a nice balance of education on the park, its flora, its animal life and its history. But Mother Nature provides you the big stuff....waterfalls, granite walls, star-lit nights and a deep sense of spiritual uplift. Go experience Yosemite!!
— Review left June 13, 2019
Yosemite is an awe inspiring place. Don't miss seeing and experiencing it and do it with Road Scholar because they handle ALL the details for you and give to access to intructors, experiences and information you may not otherwise have.
— Review left May 27, 2019
Yosemite is a beautiful place with a rich history. Road scholar provided an excellent trip.
— Review left May 26, 2019
This trip exceeded my expectations! The big plus was to be able to stay in the park so that you could get up early and walk to Yosemite Falls or Cook's Grove before people came in the morning. You could attend Nature Conservancy programs on free nights, which were excellent. I saw the program on Search and Rescue. Very well organized and excellent educational speakers. Due to snow, programs had to be changed and the changes were excellent! I highly recommend this program.
— Review left May 26, 2019