Eastern Sierra

If your time is limited, explore Yosemite National Park. Use the Big Oak Flat Entrance on Highway 120, and head east toward Yosemite Valley. Once you reach the valley floor, traffic is diverted onto a one-way loop road. Continue east, following the signs to day-use parking, and ride the shuttle to Yosemite Village and the Valley Visitor Center. Loop back west for a short hike near Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America. Hop back in the car and continue west for a valley view of famous El Capitan. This area is a good place for a picnic. Double back onto Southside Drive en route to Highway 41 southbound, stopping at misty Bridalveil Fall; then follow Highway 41/Wawona Road south 14 mi to the Chinquapin junction and make a left turn onto Glacier Point Road. From Glacier Point (road closed in winter) you'll get a phenomenal bird's-eye view of the entire valley, including Half Dome, Vernal Fall, and Nevada Fall. If you want to avoid the busloads of tourists at Glacier Point, stop at Sentinel Dome instead.