Mammoth Lakes

Leaving the Yosemite Village look, we joined the Tioga Road to go nearly 10,000ft over the Tiago Pass. This is closed from about November to May for to weather conditions, and having seen the snow on the mountains as we passed in scorching mid-July sunshine, I can see why. The views were wonderful and ever-changing, from pine forests to deer-filled meadows to snow-capped mountains. The vastness of the park and the landscape is indescribable and the photos do not do it justice.

Once through the pass, we headed to Mammoth Lakes, a ski resort where we were stopping a night. The hotel, Austria Hof, was brilliant. We overlooked the mountains and they even had a Jacuzzi outdoors on the deck which we took full advantage of after dinner. The $5 happy hour bratwurst and fries and $4 happy hour beer were just the job after a long day.Read more