My family spent 3 days in Yosemite National Park during Memorial Day Weekend and had an incredible time as first time visitors. 

I created this guide to be as helpful as possible. Less pictures, more crucial info. 

Let the travel plannin' begin! 

Here's why you should bike through Yosemite Valley:

1) Biking is a great way to orient yourself to the valley and its main landmarks.

2) It's a great family activity with paved and relatively flat roads. 

3) Rather than sitting in your car in traffic, biking allows you freedom to roam. 

Here's the important info: 

1) There are three locations where you can rent bikes -- Curry Village, Yosemite Village, and Yosemite Valley Lodge. 

2) You can rent with two options. 
- Half day (5 hours) $30
- Full day (10 hours) $40

3) Bike rentals open at 8 AM. You must return your bikes no later than 6:45 PM. 

4) There is a designated map of where you are allowed to go.

Here's the link to that map: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/biking.htm

Important info about biking in Yosemite: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/biking.htm

Below are 4 points of interest along the route loop. We began our trip from Yosemite Valley Lodge in a counter-clockwise fashion. 

Important Trail Info
- 1.2 miles, 55 feet elevation gain, loop
- EASY
- FAMILY FRIENDLY

Here's why you should include this on your trip:

1) Easy to incorporate into the itinerary, taking you no longer than 1.5 hours. 

2) Spectacular views with minimal effort.

3) Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America! Tick it off the bucket list. 

Here's my tips on maximizing your experience: 

1) Go clockwise. Best views of the waterfall. 

2) Get closer to the falls by rock scrambling, but do so at your own risk. 

3) For a great photo-op, check out "Yosemite Falls View" on Google Maps. 

4) Combine your hike to Lower Yosemite Falls with a hike to the Sentinel / Cook's Meadow loop trail. It adds an extra mile and is also family-friendly.

All Trails Link to Lower Yosemite Falls: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/lower-yosemite-falls-trail?u=i&sh=mcplma

All Trails Link to Sentinel / Cook's Meadow: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/sentinel-meadow-cooks-meadow-loop-trail

Here's why you should go:

1) Glacier Point is one of the most iconic viewpoints in Yosemite. It overlooks the Yosemite Valley floor and you can appreciate nearly all of the quintessential landmarks like Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, etc. 

2) Appreciating the view of Yosemite from above is a wildly different experience than enjoying it from the valley below.  

Here's my tips on how to make the most of your visit:

1) First, make sure it's even open. Glacier Point Road, the road to get to Glacier Point, is typically open during mid-spring to fall. You can check the historic opening dates for the road here: 

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/seasonal.htm

2) Go during sunset. 

3) Combine a trip to Glacier Point with a hike to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. It's a 5.1 mile trail with even more stunning views of Yosemite Valley. 

Here's a link to that trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/sentinel-dome-and-taft-point-loop?u=i&sh=mcplma

It would be untruthful to call Hetch Hetchy a hidden gem nowadays, BUT it is still certainly less crowded than its Yosemite Valley counterpart. 

While it is sadly plagued with its controversial past from a valley to a dam, it is still a beautiful place to visit.

Here's why you should go:

1) Less crowds. However, this doesn't mean no crowds. I recommend coming in the mid-afternoon to let the crowds die even more.

2) A lot of people only stay in Yosemite Valley. It's nice to change up the scenery. 

3) There's a hike called Wapama Falls that is so much FUN! 

Link to the trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/wapama-falls-trail?u=i&sh=mcplma

Important Trail Info
-4.7 miles, 1100 feet elevation gain, moderate

Here's why you should hike it:

1) There isn't too much to do at Hetch Hetchy other than to hike. 

2) Like I mentioned, my family and I had a lot of fun here. At the end of the hike when you reach Wapama Falls, there is a boardwalk section where you can get sprayed by the waterfall. It was just such a cool experience, figuratively and physically. 

3) Unlike some of the trails in Yosemite, there was something about the terrain here that reminded me a lot of my backpacking trips in the Sierras. While you are next to a man-made dam, the vegetation and the trail seemed more unspoiled and more wilderness-y.

Here's my tips on how to hike it: 

1) Don't start the hike too late because Hetch Hetchy Road closes at sunset. You don't want to get stuck here. 

2) Bring insect repellant! Your hiking near a body of water the entire time. 

3) While biased, I think it's only a must-do hike in the spring during peak waterfall season. 

Important Trail Info
- 6.4 miles, 2200 feet elevation, hard, loop

Why you should do it:

1) It's epic. It has diverse views. It's the best hike we did.

2) There's two main waterfalls and it is a lot of fun to get "misted" at Vernal Falls. 

Here's my top hiking tips:

1) If you go during peak waterfall season, you may want to bring a poncho if your water-averse. We didn't bring ponchos, got soaked, but dried up quickly.

2) You can turn around at the top of Vernal Falls if you are too tired. It's a strenuous hike. Listen to your body. 

3) Eat a lunch/snack at the top of Vernal Falls / Emerald Pool. Nice open space there. 

4) Avoid going down the same steps along Vernal Falls, by bypassing it with the JMT trail. This is to help eliminate traffic and descending slippery steps is a safety hazard. 

Link to trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/vernal-and-nevada-falls-via-the-mist-trail?u=i&sh=mcplma

Extra Tips

Accommodation
- If you are camping-averse (like me) and want to save money, then you should stay out of the park. 
- You can consider Groveland (where we stayed), Mariposa, or Wawona. However, each place is about an 1 hour+ drive from Yosemite. 
- Groveland worked great for us, because there were never lines to enter Yosemite at its North entrance. 

Other Yosemite Highlights
- Tioga Pass (Tenaya Lake, Olmstead Point, Lembert Dome)
- Tuolumne Meadows
- Upper Yosemite Falls 
- El Capitan Meadow
- Mariposa Grove
- Half Dome
- Clouds Rest

How Many Days
- It depends on how much you want to see, really. Personally, I think 4 days would have been ideal. I wish Tioga Pass was open when we went to spend an entire day checking out each spot. More reason to visit Yosemite again!