Schmap Yosemite Art & Entertainment

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Yosemite - Art & Entertainment
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Entertainment in Yosemite National Park has a different meaning than it does in a city. In fact, visitors come to Yosemite to get away from nightclubs, concerts and crowded bars. Here, you will most likely find yourself singing around a campfire, taking a moonlit hike or even going to bed early in order to get up after midnight to do some stargazing. Dawn is prime time here-some claim it's when the fish bite. In many ways, you will be entertaining yourself in the Park. This is not hard to do when surrounded by some of the most spectacular, awe-inspiring scenery on the planet.

Private Encounters

The trick to getting the most out of your visit to Yosemite is to take your time. There is no way to experience Yosemite all in a single visit or, if the truth be told, a lifetime. What you want most to do on your first visit is to get a sense of it-and use all your senses. For example, take a self-guided hike. Stop often to look around you. Look first at the larger picture, and then relax and let the details begin to show themselves. The Sierra mountain range is known for its fabulous light. Every moment is different if you take time to notice it. Do not forget to look down; you might find tiny flowers between your toes. Take a deep breath or two and listen. Sound is so much a part of the Yosemite experience. Is that an eagle you hear whistling above you? What can you smell? Perhaps you will simply sense the freshness of the air, the bite of green pine, the sharpness of clear running water, or the heat of a warm summer day.

Take time to wander the John Muir Vernal Falls Mist Trail Hike. Sure there are likely to be crowds, but when you watch the play of water, mist and light, you'll know that navigating through the throngs was worth it. The falls are good listening places as well, and if you watch carefully, you may see dragonflies flitting about.

Group Experiences

Take advantage of at least one or two Ranger Programs. The trained guides that run the programs have been operating for years and have wonderful stories to tell. Their extensive knowledge of the park is unbelievable. Feel free to ask them questions; you never know what nugget of information you may uncover.

Ahwahnee

Stroll through the Indian Village of Ahwahnee to get a taste of what the Valley was like before Westerners arrived. You may even view a demonstration of an indigenous craft. The village is an interesting place at night, too. If you happen to be here when the moon is full, you will be stunned by its dramatic impact on the landscape.

Offering free art classes for adults and children, The Art Activity Center is another park hot spot. The daily sessions can be difficult to get into during the summer, so check in early to ensure your place.

Lodge and Often Community Activities

The LeConte Memorial Lodge offers entertainment of the educational variety. There are classes for both children and adults during the day and on some evenings. This meeting place for many local clubs including the Yosemite Association. These meetings are usually open to the public, so check the schedule and find out what is happening on the local front.

Live theatre is alive and well in Yosemite Village. You will find it at the Yosemite Theatre; productions are offered at the Visitor Center. Recognized by the National Park Service as one of the best interpretive programs in the park system, these plays are delightful and instructional. You might view a play about pioneers or even star in one exploring the political history of the park. Like all good theatres, this one changes its shows often, so check at the Visitor Center or in the Yosemite News for details.

Outside the Park

Yosemite is not close to any major city, which is part of its charm. People go there to relax rather than kick up their heels. The towns around the Park are small, and entertainment is spontaneous. For instance, on some weekends, you may find live music at the Yosemite Coffee Roasting Company in Oakhurst. The musicians are usually locals, which adds to the fun.

Mystery Dinners

You can enjoy a genuine Mystery Dinner starting on Friday nights at the Yosemite Trail Camp in Midpines on Highway 140. The dinner is a barbecue, and the mystery doesn't really end until breakfast the next morning-late night enthusiasts will delight in this, but you are not required to stay through the entire performance. The mysteries are usually based on early California themes.

The real trick to finding entertainment in Yosemite is to keep your eyes open. You may discover a festival, a banner stretched across the street telling of a street dance or a sign in a coffee shop promising live entertainment that evening. But most visitors to this incredible natural wonder will be so busy with outdoor activities-the hiking, biking, backpacking and simply gazing upon its majesty-that they wont want to do anything at night but turn in.

Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Art Activity Center

Free art classes in Yosemite Village

Yosmite Village
Yosemite, CA 95389
United States
+1 209 372 0200
http://www.yosemite.org

The center is a real find for both adults and children. Located south of the Village Store, it houses a lovely selection of art books with paintings and photos of Yosemite, plus how-to books and books about artists who have worked in Yosemite. You will also find art supplies, including paper, paints, easels and brushes. However, the real surprise is the availability of free daily art classes. These can be hard to get into during the high summer season, so be sure to plan ahead.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: wcities

Indian Village of Ahwahnee

View indigenous peoples' past inside the park Behind Valley Visitor Center
(Yosemite Village)
Yosemite, CA 95389
United States
+1 209 372 0200 This replica of a Native American village gives you a taste of how the Miwok and Paiute peoples lived; the places where they prepared and cooked their food, and more. The village is setup in a more or less natural setting behind the Yosemite Museum Gallery. There is no fee for this attraction. Weather permitting, the staff of the Indian Cultural Exhibit puts on demonstrations of basket weaving, beadwork and game playing. These programs usually take place between 9a and noon and again between 1:30p. and 4:30p.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Dale Carlson

John Muir Vernal Falls Mist Trail Hike

Worthwhile despite crowds Happy Isle Shuttle Stop #16
(Yosemite Valley)
Yosemite, CA 95389
United States
+1 209 372 0200 This hike is also known as the Mist Trail because it passes right beside Vernal Falls, which in the spring blows a heavy mist everywhere. This 1.4 mile roundtrip hike is considered a moderate hike, with a steep 400-foot elevation gain in just over a mile. It is recommended that you wear shoes that grip as the path can be slippery. You can see the rushing water from the Vernal Falls Footbridge as well as the top of the falls in the distance. This is probably the busiest and most crowded hike in the Valley, small wonder given the loveliness of the trail. Plan on spending an hour or two on your walk. The trail may be closed in winter.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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LeConte Memorial Lodge

Educational center Curry Village Loop
(Curry Village)
Yosemite, CA 95389
United States
+1 209 372 4542
http://www.sierraclub.org/educ... The original visitor center for Yosemite National Park, this lodge is now an educational center. The emphasis is, of course, on the park. The children's corner has a variety of interactive, mostly environment-oriented activities, as well as a library. On many evenings, the lodge is used for club gatherings, which may be open to the public, and environmental education events, which are always open to the public. The lodge itself is a good example of Yosemite's original buildings. Admission to the lodge is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Valley Visitor Center

Information source in gallery-like atmosphere Yosemite Village Loop
(west of the main post office in Yosemite Village)
Yosemite, CA 95389
United States
+1 209 372 0200
http://www.yosemite.org/visito... Make this your first stop to discover all the park has to offer. In addition to information about Ranger Programs, bear conditions, location of attractions and other visitor information, the center acts as a sort of gallery, with displays that change each year. For example, you might see an audiovisual presentation on the splendor of the valley, or an exhibit of Native American arts and crafts, or you might even take part in a discussion about future plans for the park. The compound includes an auditorium along with various exhibit spaces.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Yosemite Coffee and Roasting Company

Yosemite Coffee and Roasting Company 40879 Highway 41
Oakhurst, CA 93644
United States
1 559 683 8815
www.yosemitecoffee.com This coffeehouse serves great scones and coffee as well as appetizers. You will find egg dishes, great pancakes, waffles, scones and muffins. Lunch includes sandwiches of all sorts, homemade soup and chili, as well as salads. The coffee is excellent, and if you like espresso, cappuccino, mocha or latte, this is the place.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Yosemite Coffee and Roasting Company photo by wcities
Photo: wcities

Yosemite Theatre

The play's the thing Visitor Center in the West Auditorium
(Yosemite Village)
Yosemite, CA 95389
United States
+1 209 372 0200
http://www.yosemitepark.com/co... Recognized by the National Park Service as one of the best interpretive programs in the park system, this theater features productions aimed at helping people understand the park. For example, The Tramp and the Roughrider dramatized the interaction between park founder John Muir and then-president Theodore Roosevelt when they met in 1903. Another popular presentation was Pioneer Woman Visits Yosemite. Films and feature presentations change monthly. Check with the Visitor Center or Yosemite Park Guide for listing. Tickets: Adults $8 Children $4, except the Story Quilters performance which is $7 and $3.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Yosemite Theatre photo by wcities
Photo: wcities

Yosemite Trail Camp

Camp and enjoy a mystery dinner 6617 Hwy 140
Yosemite, CA 95345
United States
+1 209 966 6444
http://www.yosemitetrailcamp.com/ This facility rents tent cabins, tent sites, and RV spaces without hookups. But, the real draw may be its Mystery Dinner. No, it's not that they aren't sure what they'll serve, the name is derived from the "whodunit" performance hosted here. These performances take place every Friday and Saturday night, and by special arrangement for groups. Dinner, which is usually a barbecue feast, kicks off the fun for the evening. This campground is a 35-minute drive from Yosemite.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Yosemite Trail Camp photo by wcities
Photo: wcities

Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Yosemite - Art & Entertainment"
Yosemite
Yosemite - Historical Background
Yosemite - Neighborhood Guide
Yosemite - Where to Stay
Yosemite - Dining & Drinking
Other nearby cities:
Lake Tahoe (167 miles)
Sacramento (185 miles)
San Jose and Silicon Valley (202 miles)
Reno (214 miles)
San Francisco (223 miles)
Monterey and Carmel (223 miles)
Berkeley (224 miles)
Napa Valley (250 miles)
Los Angeles (433 miles)
Las Vegas (462 miles)

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