Thank you David!!!...your book was such a fantastic tool as we navigated the Eastern Sierras and Yosemite.

Here is a quick recap of our adventure (FYI..this was done with 2 adults (in ok, but not great shape), a 10 yr old girl and 8 year old boy):

We spent a few days in LA with family.

We drove to the Mammoth Lake area...had a great lunch at Angel's (my BBQ brisket french dip was stellar) and then on to Devil's Postpile (very cool).

Stayed overnight in Lee Vining at the Lakeview Lodge, in cabins. Not luxury by any means but perfectly fine. Dinner #1 at Tioga Gas Mart (Fish Tacos...THE BEST!!!)

Ate breakfast at Nicely's (homemade breakfast sausage was yummy). Spent the day tooling around the area, first to Mono Lake to see the Tufa and accompanying birds...then a hike up to Panum Crater (the kids thought the obsidian was amazing). We then drove around the June Lake Loop, ate a nice lunch at Trout Town Joe's and stopped at the beach for an afternoon dip. Dinner #2 at Tioga Gas Mart. WE LOVE THAT PLACE.....so much that the next morning....

Breakfast at the Tioga Gas Mart (fresh smoked trout on a bagel....are you kidding me?!?!?!?) and packed lunches to go. Drove the Tioga Pass stopping along the way to take pictures and hike down to a lake or two. Then into Yosemite. Spent the day hiking....Dog Lake and Lembert Dome....a little hazy from the fires but otherwise spectacular.

Out of the park to Yosemite Bug in Midpines (my wife thinks this is the best place on the face of the earth). The quality of the food at dinner was certainly an unexpected treat!

Breakfast and packed lunches from the Bug and off to hike Sentinal Dome...probably the most beautiful place I've ever been!!!! We didn't want to leave (must have been up there for 2.5 hours) but the kids wanted to see a waterfall, so from there we went to Bridalveil. They loved hiking on the rocks!

Another dinner and breakfast at the Bug and off to the coast. Spent a few hours in Monterey....drove down to Big Sur...and because of the fires...drove back to Monterey and then on to Cambria.

Spent half the next day in the lovely town of Cambria, had a great breakfast at The Creekside Garden Cafe and got amazingly close to a group seals hanging out on the rocks at the beach. We then drove down to Santa Barbara and back to LA.

Only back in reality for a little over a week and miss it already! We'll be back!!