One of my favorite things about living in Fresno is that we are located in the middle of California. some people call it the armpit, but I call it the heart. We have so much nature all around us. People from all over the world come to see places such as Yosemite, The Sierras, and Joshua Tree. All of these places at our fingertips. I want to show the people who live here that there is more to Fresno then meets the eye.

The first road trip Ill be writing about is to Highway 395, located on the east side of Yosemite, near Mono Lake. We did drive through Yosemite which requires that you make a reservation that is valid for one week. Call ahead or book online at https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/300015

If you choose to opt out of getting a reservation you can always go around the park, take the 99 north through Merced and get on the 108 East. This option does take a lot longer and driving through scenic Yosemite is greatly encouraged!

We attempted to go to the Tufas on the south side of Mono Lake, the road was unfortunately closed due to a fire. We stumbled upon a sign for Panum Crater, so we decided to take the detour. Located on the north side of the road, this crater was formed by a volcanic eruption of magma that pushed quartz, pumice, and obsidian to the surface.

Another stop on our road trip was the town of Bodie, CA. Bodie is an abandoned mine town. The town was formed in 1859 when gold was found. A lot of the buildings are still standing, such as the chapel, schoolhouse, and the morgue. There is so much to see in Bodie, you will want a full day to explore the town and all it has to offer.

Feeling hungry? In the town of Lee Vining, on the way back to Yosemite, Epic Cafe has the most delicious food with the freshest ingredients. This place was recommended by Derek Vincent, an employee at Yosemite, so we knew it was going to be good! Here is a link to their Yelp page right below.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/epic-cafe-lee-vining-5?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

There’s so much to see on the east side of Yosemite, the 395 has something for everyone. Happy exploring! Until the next adventure-Kylee