Yosemite Travel Tips with a Three-Year-Old

1. Take lots of quick pictures. Especially when the lighting is just right. Then, in the car, ignore the 5 million requests, "I want something to eat." Because even the foods that he might have loved a few minutes ago will no longer be right. (On the way home, stop at the store and pick up "spicy chips" and pudding, because you can no longer bear to starve him.) 2. Forget trying to cross-country ski if the kid won't even put on his skisuit. Or puts on his skisuit because he wants to, but then takes it off again, because it just wasn't right, finally agrees to put on a puffy jacket, but pulls off hats and gloves unless said hat and gloves belong to you. (Do bring along extra snow pants in case he realizes that his rear end is cold and relents.)

3. Watch the "Spirit of Yosemite" movie in the auditorium and then stay for another round and take a nap! Of course, be warned that grumpiness will commense directly upon waking up. Strawberry popcicles will not even solve the problem of the non-existant "chocolate chip bar" from the snack bar/deli. Only a bus ride around the valley will solve the problem, but this will not convince the child to try ice-skating.

4. Run away to big trees [actually, a very brisk 30 minute hike in the snow] when said child is distracted with his dad building 10 little snowmen. And ask a stranger to take a picture of you with said trees. Be sure and wear the 3-year-old's hat since he is wearing yours.
5. Be sure and stop at Tehachapi Loop. Upon returning home, he can recreate it with his toy trains. And it is pretty neat.

6. Take grandma along. Oops, we didn't do that one.