California travel: Yosemite vs. Redwood National Park--which do you prefer?

We are visiting California in the Summer. We can only take one long drive from San Francisco. Our choices are Yosemite OR Redwood National Park. Which do you prefer, and why? Which offers more? Which is more majestic and will offer better camera shots?



Thanks!California travel: Yosemite vs. Redwood National Park--which do you prefer?
Yosemite is one of the most unique places on earth. It's one of those places you must see before you die. There is much more to do and see there.

http://www.nps.gov/Yose/index.htm



If you want stunning vistas, Yosemite is the place. Glacier Point is breathtaking.

http://www.yosemitefun.com/glacier_point鈥?/a>



Due to the snowfall we've had this year, the summer melt should keep the waterfalls running in spectacular fashion all summer long.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wa鈥?/a>



For big trees, there are groves of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite. Mariposa Grove has some of the largest trees on earth, larger than the redwoods.

http://images.google.com/images?sourceid鈥?/a>

http://jrabold.net/yosemite/intro4seq.ht鈥?/a>



After you visit the Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Grove, and Glacier Point, if you have the time, drive across the park on CA 120. It takes you to the east entrance to Lee Vining near Mono Lake. The lake is in a caldera of an extinct volcano. CA 120 crosses Tioga Pass, the highest vehicle pass in CA. You climb thousands of feet on a mountain road and reach the Alpine meadows of Tuolumne.

http://images.google.com/images?sourceid鈥?/a>

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q%26amp;source=s鈥?/a>California travel: Yosemite vs. Redwood National Park--which do you prefer?
Yosemite is obviously one of the most popular places to visit in California and for good reason. Its views are breathtaking and the pictures those views produce are wonderful. However, one thing that the Yosemite Valley lacks is the quiet and natural feeling of Redwood National Park. In Redwood National Park, you only need to hike half a mile from the closest major road to feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, to feel like you are back in prehistoric times. At Yosemite, you'd have to hike into the back-country- an expensive and troublesome process if you have young kids with you (though the Yosemite back-country might be unparalleled in its grand vistas). Yosemite's valley floor will provide you with hundreds of great pictures, but it will also be packed with thousands and thousands of other tourists, which might be a turn-off if you are looking to "experience" a National Park. Redwood National Park, on the other hand, is completely uncrowded when compared to the constant stream of visitors at Yosemite. At Redwood National, you can take a hike through the park in the middle of summer and not see more than 10 people all day. The pictures you take at Redwood won't be expansive and as large as Yosemite, but they will be just as beautiful. Check out my pictures here: http://themightysparrow.com/index.php/2010/02/05/everything-you-need-to-know-about-redwood-national-park/



Also, lodging is much cheaper at Redwood National Park. For example, you can stay in newly renovated 3 bedroom, 2 bath cabin with a full kitchen and living room in the middle of Redwood National Park for $229/night during peak summer nights. That means you could sleep 8 at the minimum. It would be extremely hard finding that deal within 30 miles of Yosemite, if at all. Go to www.redwoodadventures.com for information.