What is there to do in Yosemite National Park?
The question is, what isn't there to do?
With it's breathtaking scenery and abundance of outdoor activities year round, once you visit Yosemite you will wonder why you don't make it a regular trip. Whether you're from out of the state, or live a few hours away, it is more than worth it to take a trek to this protected land for almost 1,200 miles of play room.
Check out the Sequoias nestled in the valleys, the wildlife prancing around the meadows, hike up a a few majestic waterfalls, camp before backpacking to Half Dome, or climb El Capitan if you have the guts. But one thing is for sure, do not miss out on taking in this beautiful display of nature at least once in your life!
Months ago, I signed up for my first of many 5K races this year and was completely psyched – I even compiled the perfect playlist for running. However, upon waking up this morning, I was greeted by steady rain, constant winds, and a dreary forecast:
Of course, the easiest alternative plan to take for such a catastrophe would be to spend the first Saturday of the month indoors, in fleece pajamas, sipping hot chocolate while binge-watching House of Cards on Netflix. However, if you’re desperate to get out of the house today, there’s a variety of activities you can look into that won’t involve having to be outdoors to bear the cold weather and has your brain constantly engaged, leaving no room to be depressed over the climate.
Here are a couple of suggestions on what to do on a rainy Saturday in California, for your consideration:
1. Jump!
To cater to the kid within, take a trip to Presidio, San Francisco and visit House of Air. It is an indoor park that features jump structures comprised of more than 40 trampolines, including a few on the sides for maximum fun. You can freestyle, play trampoline dodge ball, and take classes! There’s even a Bounce House for kids ages 3 to 6.
Fun, huh? Normally, weekend tickets sell out fast and House of Air recommends that you reserve slots ahead of time, but I took the liberty of checking today’s schedule, and it looks like there’s a lot of slots available! Go to the website and buy your tickets ASAP.
2. Tour!
The Winchester Mystery House is a mansion in San Jose that used to belong to Sarah Winchester, widow of William Wurt Winchester, a gun magnate. Construction of the mansion took 38 years (from 1884 until Winchester’s death in 1922), mostly due to the widow’s belief that her family and wealth were constantly haunted by the ghosts of those who died because of the Winchester rifles and that building the house for their spirits would appease them.
You can choose between touring just the mansion or the entire grand estate, both of which include a look into 110 of the 160 rooms in the house, windows built into floors, staircases and doors that lead to nowhere, and upside down posts! You can even learn a little bit more about the history of the place through a special behind-the-scenes tour. Day-of tickets must be purchased at the counter, but you can call ahead to ask about availability.
3. Climb!
If you’re the athletic and outdoorsy type and really looking forward to getting a workout in this weekend, you can check out MesaRimClimbing & FitnessCenter in San Diego, a place that boasts to be the largest and tallest climbing gyms in the west coast. With over 200 routes, 150 boulder problems, and 450 lead bolts, any mountain climbing aficionado would love the scaling the walls of Mesa Rim.
The facilities include a center for yoga classes, a ping pong table, board games, and a library. Their rates include an all-in-one day pass that give you access to climbing, yoga, and fitness
4. Fly!
Who says you have to be outdoors to skydive? iFly Hollywood gives you an idea of what it’s like to jump out of an airplane 2,500 feet high, only you’re indoors and safe within the confines of a booth with a strong blower.
It’s a lot more fun than it looks and requires less courage to actually do if you’ve been dreaming of one day giving skydiving a try and are always finding excuses to bail. You can book your flight today. Other locations in California include one in San Francisco and one in Perris Valley.
