Yosemite National Park Tours & Activities | Yosemite Vacation
Guided Hikes Nature and Photo Workshops with Global Trips
A Solo Half Dome Adventure By John P. DeGrazio Do we choose our adventures or do our adventures choose us?I moved to California two years after my first visit to Yosemite. On that trip, our group hiked to the top of Half Dome and were left craving more adventure, but not necessarily more Half Dome. When I started YExplore, there were … [Read more...]
Half Dome From Mt. Watkins By John P. DeGrazio I take a lot of photos in Yosemite that I post on this site as well as my YExplore Instagram account. Most of my shots are admittedly from my iPhone camera in an attempt to share with the world that you don't need an expensive camera to take expressive images in a place as beautiful as Yosemite … [Read more...]
The Storm that Wasn't By John P. DeGrazio Rain and snow were in the forecast for Yosemite yesterday so we showed some flexibility in rescheduling our events for the weekend. We flip-flopped a photo workshop with an adventure hike, and everything worked out perfectly.As the leader of the hike, I was thrilled to be greeted by fresh … [Read more...]
It's How You Finish By John P. DeGrazio I was up at the plate with a runner on second base and one out. I hit the ball pretty well but lined out to the right center fielder for the second out. Our cleanup hitter followed with a fly out to right. It was the first time all tournament we failed to score a single run in the first inning. … [Read more...]
Looking on the Bright Side By John P. DeGrazio Last week it rained for a couple days, and then it stopped. Soccer practice ended, and we were off. Making it to OMG Point is quite an adventure for a 4 year old who was up to the challenge. Sure, we hiked back with the aid of headlamps, but the memories and the burgers were worth it. Here's a … [Read more...]
Enjoy Every Milestone By John P. DeGrazio I was leading a group of explorers who were all close friends when one of the hikers looked at the others and said "Well, we all made it here, what's our next trip?" This seemed a bit odd since they were beginning the first day of a three day adventure in Yosemite. There was an uncomfortable silence … [Read more...]
A Winter Celebration on Yosemite Valley's Highest Peak By John P. DeGrazio Lasting friendships are built through wilderness adventures. Last week I hiked to the top of Half Dome with a group of three other friends. Some in our group had never met which always makes for fun times of sharing many great stories and lots of food. Pat supplied … [Read more...]
A February Ascent of Yosemite's Most Famous Dome By John P. DeGrazio On Thursday I had an opportunity to do something I've never done before in Yosemite, summit Half Dome in February. After carefully selecting a group of friends, we set off on our journey from the trailhead parking lot. We were so confident we'd be back in about 8 hours, … [Read more...]
Have you every captured the night sky in a photo? I have always enjoyed looking at images of the Milky Way, and last July I had the unique opportunity to join Jesse Summers for a night skies workshop in Yosemite National Park. Jesse and I hiked, camped, and photographed together for 3 summer days and nights. It's always fun to get to know someone … [Read more...]
This is What "It" is all About By John P. DeGrazio The "It" factor is a concept that there are certain intangible characteristics individuals possess that set them aside from other peers. It's a widely used phrase in our daily lexicon whose meaning is often implied, yet it is never fully explained. It's often used in sports when people talk … [Read more...]
YExplore is the only Yosemite Tour Company offering custom guided Yosemite experiences (Adventure Hikes, Half Dome Hikes, Multi Day Backpack Trips, Nature Walks, Birding Walks, Wildflower … Learn more...
The Glow of Half Dome By John P. DeGrazio Every story worth telling is crafted from an experience replete with highs and lows that are accompanied by the pain and triumph that ultimately go along with them. Humility will let you remember but not dwell on the negatives while relishing but not overstating the positives. It will also teach you that no matter how proud of your … [Read More...]
