A couple of years ago, my family and I visited Yosemite National Park. Of course, we couldn’t miss a chance to hike up the famous Yosemite Falls. With my legs being the same length of my arms back then, I got tired pretty quickly so my dad had to essentially carry two backpacks for the remainder of the hike.
After an uphill battle, we finally reached a vista point where we could see the falls. The magic of the roaring water racing towards the bottom, into a placid lake of still water was a mind-blowing phenomenon to an eight year old.
Mother Nature had surprise for us. On the walk back to camp, we stumbled upon a black bear cub. Broad shouldered and sharp teeth, it looked at us innocently, yawning after its meal. I, not knowing any better, wanted to pet it but my parents quickly ushered me back to our camp. Looking back, it was an unforgettable experience and I hope to make more memories exploring other national parks in the future.
Sincerely,
Yosemite National Park
With its sculpted granite rock formations, towering ancient sequoia trees and spectacular waterfalls, it's no wonder Yosemite is one of the most celebrated national parks in the world.
State(s): California
Established: 1890
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