Yosemite 2015 | Part I

Do you have a place somewhere in this great big world that you go to where it just feels so nostalgic that you feel like you could burst from the overwhelming feeling you get when you think about it, let alone are actually there? A place where memories flood back to you around every corner, every cherished spot within that location? This is Yosemite for me – the vast valley that is surrounded by giant granite rock formations and shimmering waterfalls, and only about a 6 hour drive from LA. This is my escape from the hustle and bustle of the city—from feeling like I always need to do, do, do. And although it couldn’t feel more different from my City of Angels, I feel just as (if not more) at home there.

I began going to Yosemite with my family before I was even out of my mama’s belly, and have gone at least once a year, every year since. My great-grandparents started the tradition of camping in Yosemite back in the late 20’s, at a time where camping looked much different, (it was the days of first-come-first-serve, tie-a-rope-up-to-claim-your-site) and there were less restrictions (campfires all day?…Why not? Want to spend a couple months camping?…Sure!). And I am so very grateful that they did—because the memories I have camping in Yosemite are invaluable to me, and are ones I will cherish for a lifetime. My memories of Yosemite are full of family gathered around for happy hour (or as we Armenians call it, “meze”), heated backgammon tournaments, water fights with buckets and water guns full of icy-cold river water, afternoon floats down the river that lasted for hours, bike rides to Camp Curry for ice cream, lazy naps on the hammock, laying under wind-swept trees, gathering around the campfire to roast s’mores and tell ghost stories, and sleeping outside under the stars (a tent is just for storage and changing clothes, right?).

This past June I was able to escape to my home-away-from-home that is Yosemite, and go camping with my family and a handful of friends. Year after year I always wonder if I’ll ever get tired of going to the same place over and over again, and the answer is always a resounding NO! The truth is, every year is different and brings a new adventure/experience. It’s always a different combination of people, bringing a unique dynamic each time, and especially as I get older, there is always something new to do/discover. This year was full of newness – and may just have been my favorite trip to Yosemite of all-time, mostly because of one particular experience doing something there I’d never done before…

…to be continued…

Keep your eye out for Part II of my Yosemite trip to find out what made it so magnificent!