#yosemite-national-park

#yosemite-national-park

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

After a few warm days, Southern Californians are again seeing temperatures drop as a low-pressure system moves down the state, bringing rare rain and mountain snow for the first week of May.Temperatures across the region fell Monday by about 10 to 20 degrees from Sunday as a strong marine layer from the coast brought light rain to the Southland, according to the National Weather Service.

Image The di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art in Napa features many Northern Californian artists, including Mark di Suvero and his sculpture For Veronica.Credit...Grace Hendricks NAPA There's a popular stop in Wine Country, along a winding highway with acres of vineyards unfurling on either side.But it isn't a place to taste chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon, nor is it a new Michelin-starred restaurant.

Manteca.Modesto.Merced.Of all the cities along Highway 99 en route to Yosemite National Park, one stands out as a growing tourist destination.Merced has been developing a vibrant, reimagined Main Street anchored by a stylish, full-service hotel - El Capitan.Reopened in 2021 under the boutique brand Joie de Vivre by Hyatt, El Capitan brings comfort and a celebratory vibe to this gateway to Yosemite.

Jeff Watters and his friends weren't sure what to think of the streaking lights that dashed across the Sacramento night sky late Friday.About seven meteor-like blazes appeared to dart by around 9:30 p.m., diverting attention from ongoing St. Patrick's Day revelry, as evidenced by video that Watters took.

After days of heavy snow left roads dangerous and impassable, Yosemite National Park closed to visitors Saturday.It will not reopen until Thursday."Over the past few days, we've had a lot of cars spinning out," park spokesman Scott Gediman said, adding that there had been no injuries."We couldn't keep up with clearing the roads, so we made the decision today to close the park."

Recent storms have transformed Southern California's usually bone-dry wildlands into brilliant green landscapes, snow-capped mountains and something even more breathtaking: seldom-seen waterfalls.After heavy storm systems brought rain and snow to Angeles National Forest, drivers along Highway 39, north of Azusa, were gifted with the rare sight of temporary waterfalls cascading down the rocky cliffs.

Fresno is a bustling city located in the heart of California, offering plenty of things to do and see.However, sometimes it's nice to get out of the city and explore the surrounding areas.Fortunately, Fresno is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, historic sites, and quaint towns, making it a great starting point for a variety of day trips.

Yosemite National Park plans to "restore minimal public access" Saturday, after shuttering for almost a month because of multiple strong winter storms that dumped record-breaking snow, caused several rock falls and damaged many park facilities.Yosemite Valley - one of the most popular and accessible parts of the world-famous park - will reopen to visitors Saturday during daylight hours, but park officials warned that many roads in the park remain closed and trails are still snow-covered, according to a statement from park officials.

If you're looking for the best national parks in the United States, you've come to the right place.This article will give you expert tips on what Parks are must-sees and which ones you can skip.You'll also get some history on each of these unique places so that you can appreciate them even more when you see them in person.

Alex J. Wood was in the Yosemite Valley on Monday morning taking photos of El Capitan's picturesque rock face when he heard what sounded like the "loudest thunder ever."He immediately looked up and saw a huge rock falling down the famous granite slab."I couldn't believe what I saw," Wood said, who happened to be taking photos at the time and captured the final portion of the rock's fall on video.

Editor's Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter.Get news about destinations opening, inspiration for future adventures, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments.Sun and water can cooperate to make a visit to Yosemite National Park in California potentially extra special.

After up to 15 feet of snow fell on some areas of Yosemite National Park, the park has been closed with no estimated time of reopening, among the many closures of parks and forestlands across California following a series of powerful winter storms."Park crews are working to restore critical services so visitors can safely return," Yosemite park officials said.

Overnight at the edge of the state, temperatures dropped in the area around Bridgeport, hitting minus 27 degrees in the early morning hours Saturday.The mountainous area near Yosemite National Park - situated between Mammoth Lakes and Lake Tahoe - is accustomed to cooler temperatures but since the two weeks of storms that hit California, it has been running about 30 degrees below its average low of 10 degrees for the time of year, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Tony Fuentes.