Depart early in the morning, around 7 am. The three and a half-hour drive takes us through the Bay Area, across the Central Valley, where you'll have several hours to enjoy however you wish. There's a range of options, from chilling next to the Merced River to a strenuous hike up to Columbia Rock or Vernal Falls.

You may even spot some climbers on El Capitan with your Yosemite tour guide.

Climb up the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, finally arriving at the gate by 10:30. 

The 6 to 7 hours in the park are packed with sightseeing and varying outdoor options. Look at Yosemite's towering granite walls and the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias that have been California's biggest draw for centuries. The long day is worth every minute checking out the 'Crown Jewel' of national parks. 

Typically, we pick up a picnic lunch and/or breakfast midway of the drive, however, there are sit down options in the park.