Yosemite:

A hiking trip turned into a rolling tour of Yosemite

Yosemite was absolutely stunning — just not the trip we had imagined. We planned for long hikes, endless trails, and quiet moments surrounded by granite cliffs and waterfalls. That was the plan, at least, until three days before departure when my wife called me from San Ramon… with a broken foot from stepping off a curb.

So, our Yosemite adventure began with my wife in a walking boot, a knee scooter ordered on Amazon and shipped directly to AutoCamp Yosemite, and me assembling said scooter in the lodge lobby.

Our first day became a lazy one — relaxing at AutoCamp, enjoying the scenery, and accepting that the trip had taken an unexpected turn.

The next morning, we ventured into the park and booked a Valley Floor open-top tram tour. Thanks to the scooter, we had the entire back carriage to ourselves in the accessible section — a silver lining if there ever was one.

The real lifesaver came from the park volunteers at the parking area. When they saw my wife’s scooter and walking boot, they issued us a temporary handicap parking pass, which granted us access to closer parking spots and even special vehicle entry to the Sequoia Forest. That single act of kindness completely changed what we could see and do.

The following day, we drove to the southern end of the park, visited the giant sequoias, and enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the Ahwahnee Hotel under perfect weather.

In the end, it wasn’t the hiking trip we envisioned — but it turned into an incredible experience of adaptability, generosity, and unexpected beauty. Sometimes, when travel plans fall apart, the best thing you can do is simply roll with it — literally.