Leave it to Mother Nature...Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park

What?  Where have I been?  Well, I am glad that you asked (or did you?)!  Yes, it is true, I was able to escape the urban jungle here in Chicago in exchange for a healthy dose of Mother Nature. 

Last Friday the husband and I flew out to Nevada...a crazy-weird state filled with deserts, casinos and sage brush...don't see too many of those things here in the midwest.  We had the fortunate opportunity to spend some quality time with family members that live out there.  They were AMAZING hosts and they not only fed us (oh boy, what a treat!), but they also drove us all around and showed us a great time.

On the schedule?  A trip to Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park.  If you have never been to either of these places, then you must do so at once (or just perhaps when you have the time and money).  Both are insanely beautiful. 

Our trip to Lake Tahoe involved a 10 mile (out and back) hike to the summit of Mount Rose (an elevation of over 10,000 feet).  It was magnificant and breathtaking and well worth the altitude sickness I suffered all the way down. 

The next day we drove to Yosemite via the Tioga Pass...entering from the Nevada side of the park.  It was a super crazy, twisty, turny drive (I think I threatened to puke at least 2 times) and it was again, amazing.  We arrived at Yosemite Valley and hiked the Mist Trail and saw Vernal Falls (awesome waterfall) and then Nevada Falls (super amazing waterfall!).  That night we ate dinner at the Ahwahnee Lodge (very cool, old hotel) and got some pretty poor service (our waitress, like the hotel, was very cool and old)...but the company was great.  :)


Picture of Yosemite Falls from Yosemite National Park Website

 The next day, we got up and hiked the Yosemite Falls Trail.  Wow, that was super-scary (again, I threatened to puke a few times...but didn't...of course) but totally worth it because the scenery was unreal.  We had the unique privilege of actually seeing the falls as it was such a wet spring.  Usually this time of year, everything is all dried up, but all of the falls were flowing and magnificant.

Ok, so maybe you didn't want to hear all about my amazing trip, but as usual, I feel like I really learned something from this trip.  Here's the deal, nothing gives you persepective about life like nature.  Being out there and experiencing all of the natural beauty in our country really made me feel alive and grateful.  I have never felt more free than when I was than standing on top of that mountain, breathing the fresh air,with the sun in my face, looking around at the beauty that surrounded me.  Truly a serene and peaceful moment.

So get out there and go to a park...even if it's just the one around the corner and take in the sights, smells and sounds of nature.  I gurantee it will lift your spirits!