Yosemite National Park

In a nutshell

The supreme highlight of any trip to California, no amount of photos can do justice to the beauty that exists in these 'U-shaped' valleys, formed by glaciers during the ice age. One of the world's most dramatic geological spectacles, Yosemite is just 7 miles long and at most 1 mile across. Nonetheless, there are several breathtaking viewing points for drivers, including Glacier Point, located at the top of a 3,200ft almost-sheer cliff. But to really get to grips with it all, ditch the car and hire a mountain bike or don some sturdy boots. Wonders include dense groves of giant sequoia trees, the clear Merced River, the famous rock face of El Capitan and Yosemite Falls, the highest in North America. Wildlife exists in abundance with deer, coyotes and even black bears on the prowl, so take your binoculars and don't get too close! Ghost towns and mining museums also await discovery as does eerie Mono Lake, a greenish alkaline stretch of water in which nothing can live.