Yosemite, often described as the "Crown Jewell" of the National Park System, offers some of the most stunning waterfalls in the world and rock formations almost beyond belief. There are bus tours that will take you all over the Park, and you'll enjoy the unique shops that dot the floor of the Valley, too.

Drive a short distance to see the spectacular vistas of Cherry Valley; the cascades of "Little Yosemite" tumbling into the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir; row after row of the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada; lush meadows and lively rivers. So be sure to bring your camera and plenty of film. From squirrels to the soaring Sierra, they're all fair game for your lens.

Other nearby activities include hiking through the mountains and rolling foothills, and swimming in nearby snow-fed lakes. Don't forget: we are located in California's original Mother Lode Gold Country, so you can pan the rivers and streams for nuggets and flakes of the yellow metal, yours to keep.