Kurt

We are looking into visiting Yosemite with another couple this summer. We have a total of four young kids aged 6 months, 3, 4 & 5 yrs. Has anyone gone with children that young? Is there enough for them to do or would we have a better time if we wait until they are a bit older and can hike, etc.? We are thinking about staying at the Yosemite Lodge. -Suggestions? Thanks

Utahtea

Our first son was only 15 months when he went to Yosemite for the first time. We go almost every year and both our boys have always loved this park.

In fact our first son took his girlfriend to the top of Vernal Falls to propose to her.

There are easy walks to see waterfalls like Yosemite Falls and Bridel Veil Falls. You can ride the free shuttles. If it is in the summer you can find a calm place to take a dip in the river. There are junior ranger programs. You can go on picnics and watch for deer. There are bike/walking paths all over the valley that you can use a stroller on.

We took our two boys to national parks at all ages and they had a good time because we were having a good time.

Utahtea

Yosemite Sam

It would be difficult to really enjoy Yosemite with kids that young. If possible, I would leave the kids home with the grandparents, or someone else I trust, so that you can make the most out of your trip. To appreciate Yosemite there is a lot of walking to do.

Susan

I absolutely disagree with Yosemite Sam, respectfully. We've taken our kids when they were young to Yosemite and they loved it. It's true, you can't hike up the falls with the little ones, but it sounds like you will have a group of adults and can probably take turns doing that. Our kids were thrilled to have treasure hunts in the woods, spot deer and other creatures, throw rocks into the river, climb rocks, see the stars at night, etc. You'll have a pool at the Lodge so bring swimsuits and floaties. There are also ranger-led activities for kids, and campfire programs the whole family can participate in with singing and marshmallow toasting.

You can take a tram ride around the valley to see the highlights of the park with the kids. You can also rent bikes with trailers and ride the older ones around while someone stays with the baby.

Be advised that the roads are pretty curvy on the way in so be prepared for motion sickness.

I wouldn't pass up an opportunity to experience Yosemite just because you have little kids.

Just My .02

Kurt: I believe children should be exposed to the beauty of nature as early as possible. I love when a child looks at birds, animals, & spectacular scenery with awe & respect.

Yosemite Sam

Susan, I did not suggest to Kurt that he not go to Yosemite because they have young children, I advised him to leave the little ones at home with friends or relatives so that they could more fully appreciate Yosemite. Young children don't even know what they are looking at. Also, there is not much a chance to really get close to any wildlife in the park. Children would get a lot more enjoyment out of a day trip to a petting zoo. Why go to Yosemite if you are not going to hike the trails? Activities such as swimming, treasure hunts, and roasting marshmallows are nice, but you do not have to go to Yosemite to do that.

Utahtea

Yosemite Sam,

I don’t know about you, but when I had my children I enjoyed spending my time with them. We started taking our boys on our vacations when they were 6 months old. Yes, it is a lot of work but I would have missed them too much to leave them home and I just would not have enjoyed myself without them. Children learn to love what you love to do by experience and not by being left home with friends or relatives.

Children need to be taught not to approach wildlife. They need to learn that wildlife is dangerous and should be observed and enjoyed from a safe distance. You don’t learn that in a petting zoo. I don’t remember a time that I went to Yosemite and I didn’t see a deer. There are tons of squirrels everywhere.

The 6 month old can be carried in a child’s backpack and the other three can do some hiking. When my oldest son was only 3 1/2 years old he did the 3-mile Queen’s trail in Bryce Canyon and his baby brother of 6 months was in a child carrier.

There is also more to Yosemite than just the waterfalls and hiking. I enjoy setting by the river and just having Half Dome as my backdrop. Kids love to play in the dirt and sand.

My son’s are all grown up and out of the house now and we miss the days when they went on vacation with us. Children grow up to fast to miss out on wonderful experiences like Yosemite and sharing good times with their parents.

Utahtea

Faina

Kurt, you shouldn't postpone the trip. Although it's may be too early for the 6 month old to travel the fresh air will do no harm. You will be surprised how much the 3 year old and the older ones will enjoy this trip and how much they will remember later. Make sure the children rest if you hike and make a rest stop, bring a book or tell them a story so they don't run around during stops and don't get over-tired.

travellyn

I'm with Yosemite Sam on this one. I know I'd have a hard time appreciating the park if I had to keep track of several small children, even if we were trading off.

A state park close to home might be great fun. Mine liked camping and staying in cabins when they were quite young, but they were more impressed by looking at a caterpillar or watching a sparrow taking a dust bath than seeing beautiful views.

Those shuttle bus trips wouldn't have been very pleasant for them or me. They would have gotten tired, probably acted badly, and I would have been watching them instead of the scenery.

It would be worth taking them to Yosemite when the youngest is around 5.

Shannon

Kurt,
I assume you mean the summer of 2003, since summer is now over. Thus, your 6 month old will be nearly 18 months old when you take him/her. Likewise, the other children will be close to a year older as well. The Yosemite Lodge is a great place for them and you to stay. You'll see loads of kids (including under 1 year olds) in their swimming pool, which has a great big shallow water area. They will have great fun checking out the deers that wander around, the racoons and the squirrels (especially at Curry Village), playing around the teepee (did I spell that right?) by the visitor's center, and just running around. At that age, you will not be able to rent a bike for them (I recall the smallest bike is 20"). If you can bring a couple of bikes for the two older kids, there's plenty of places free from cars where they can ride. Kids that age also seem to be much more adaptable than adults are to the frigid Merced River, and there are little pebbly or sandy areas where they can wade in the FREEZING water.

We waited until our kid was 3 to go there, but that was only because we go camping, and I didn't want to do the diaper thing in the campground.

Have fun!

kam

There's a wonderful collection of stories written by the children of Mariposa Co. school district about the legends of Yosemite. For the 4 and 5 y. o. this would be well worth search the web for. Some beautiful Indian legends and then they can try to "see" the various characters in the rocks. As someone wise above said, the kids will be happy being with happy parents. Just promise yourself that you will take them back when they are older as well. Yosemite is a magical place on earth. Go for it.You might check to see if there is any babysitting service so the adults could sneak off just one night for dinner at the Ahwanhee. I bet there is.

Joe

Travellynn and Yosemite Sam are right on. Yosemite would not be a good place for young children. You will want to take advantage of the natural beauty of the park which can best be done on the hiking trails. As Travellyn pointed out, even if you take a bus tour (ie Glacier point, it will get boring real fast for the kids. You can't appreciate Yosemite from a swimming pool at the Yosemite Lodge

Utahtea

Kurt,

Yosemite National Park is a perfect place for children. If you are like a few of the other posters on this board and don't want to hassel your kids then don't bring them, but don't let them fool you into thinking that children don't belong in Yosemite.

Utahtea

Utahtea

All you nay sayers about children in Yosemite take a look at the Little Cubs program. It sure looks like I'm not the only one who takes small children to Yosemite.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/jr.htm

Children on vacation are a lot of work, but they deserve a vacation with the family as much as the adults do. Sometimes I really wonder why people have kids.

Utahtea

Give it

Utahtea, Okay I think we know where you stand on the issue of bringing kids to Yosemite. Just beacuse you and other people bring their children to Yosemite, does not mean that everyone else must do the same. It is not the best way to be able to take advantage of the park. Personally, I would not bring the kids because at this young age they would not enjoy it, and they would get tired easily. Just because its a great place for the adults, does not mean that we have to drag the kids along as well.

J Correa

I think that Yosemite is a fine place to take kids. Kids that age can do some hiking and climbing around on rocks, wading in the river, and there are always animals around for them to observe.

mary f

Many families bring their children to Yosemite year after year, because they have an enjoyable and memorable time. These parents know their limitations...and they also know children need vacations, a change from their routine, and families should have time together. These kids can take a mile hike, doing childish things. Down the road, this couple will have many years of being able to take vacations, hike, etc., alone, and they will remember all the good times, and laugh about the not-so-good times. Time with children is precious, and their time is now.

Utahtea

To Give it a Rest,

Why don't you take some of your own advise. We ALSO know how you feel about parents. They should be self fish, self centered and lazy.

Some of my best memories of my boys growing up are on vacations. There is NO WAY I was going to leave them home.

Susan brought up a good point. Do you tell people who are in wheel chairs not to go to Yosemite because they can't hike? We've gone to Yosemite plenty of times since our boys have grown up and didn't take any hikes longer than the one to Yosemite Falls. You don't have to beable to hike to enjoy this park.

Not every waking minute has to be on a hike to enjoy Yosemite. A dip in the pool on a hot day sounds like fun.

Utahtea

Utahtea

I don't know, there is something about someone trying to make me stop talking about a subject that just eggs me on more

Any whooo, I thought you might be interested in all the places our son went to before he even turned 3 or 4 years old.

Carlsbad Caverns, Yosemite (at least twice), Monument Valley, Natural Bridges National Monument, Arches, Canyonlands Needles District and Island In the Sky District (which was before they had any paved roads in the park!) Capitol Reef National Park (most of the road wasn't paved yet), Cedar Breaks National Monument, Pinnacles National Monument, Lassen National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Crater Lake, Mt. Rainer National Park, North Cascades National Park. Manning Provincial Park BC, Vancover Island, Victoria BC, Olympic National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison when it was still a National Monument, Colorado National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument and this was all before he turned 3 years old.

Second son entered the pictures and we went to Zion, N. Rim Grand Canyon, Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, Bryce, Flaming George National Recreational Area, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks. My oldest was only 4 1/2 when he had been to all these places.

I know he doesn't remember all these places from when he was little but he does remember the love he received on these trips. I have wonderful memories like the one of him sitting on a log in the campground in Yosemite at 15 months and his Dad playing teter toter with him.

Over the years we went back to many of these places over and over again and we also went to many other new places. Both my sons love to go back to these kinds of places. My older son has taken is wife to some of these places and is looking forward to showing her more of them.

Utahtea

Suzie

We have taken our kids to Yosemite since they were very young. Starting at under 1 year. Since we live reasonably close, it will never be a once-in-a-lifetime event that must be enjoyed to the fullest before we die. Because of that, we are able to enjoy it differently each time we go. Very young children like to see fish and other animals. They do enjoy seeing water and flowers and bugs. They may not be able to walk long distances but they really do have a good time being outdoors so much and they do sleep well at night. The lodge is a great idea. With really young kids see if you can stay on the ground floor. We did and we just felt better about not having to deal with the stairs.

Perhaps if we think about how much people who have restricted movement enjoy Yosemite even though they are unable to do the hikes or get around very well we might be able to see how very young children might enjoy the sights there as well.

Good luck Kurt.