10 Eastern Sierra Must-Visit Stops On U.S. 395

Above, yours truly at Devil's Postpile National Monument.

Back in 2016, before California's gasoline prices got outrageous, I took a little jaunt up U.S. 395 in the Eastern Sierra.

I stopped at places like Manzanar National Historic Site, Bishop, Devil's Postpile National Monument and Mammoth Lakes. I also drove along Tioga Pass on Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park. 

There are places that I missed and RV Travel posted an article with video on ten places considered "must-visit" to RVers.

They begin it with:

U.S. Highway 395 in California runs along the Eastern Sierra and is home to arguably some of the most spectacularly beautiful scenery in the entire U.S. In the video below, join outdoor photographer Gabriella Viola on a trip along this famed highway to discover her favorite places and stops along the route.

Encompassing both Mono and Inyo counties, the Eastern Sierra is on the remote eastern side of California’s Sierra Nevada range. Gabriella says this rugged region is home to crystal-clear alpine lakes, granite peaks, hot springs, waterfalls, and much more. Even if you don’t intend to plan a trip, the video, created by a professional outdoor photographer, provides some amazing eye candy.

To read more, go here.

National Plan For Vacation Day

Above, yours truly at Devil's Postpile National Monument in 2016.

Guess what today is?

It is National Plan For Vacation Day. What exactly is that?

According to National Day Calendar: 

National Plan for Vacation Day, celebrated on the last Tuesday of January, is a day to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the rest of the year at the start of the year.

The only vacation I am currently planning (at least so far) is one for early July in Cody, Wyoming, Little Bighorn Battlefield and the Black Hills of South Dakota. The last time I've been in those areas was around 1990. 

I've been meaning to do this trip in 2019, but the pandemic put a little crimp on it. 

Along Yosemite's Tioga Road

Above, an early morning view of Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Five years ago, I took a "little" trip up the Owens Valley on U.S. 395 in California.

I stayed one night in Bishop and a couple of nights in Mammoth Lakes. Along the way, I stopped at Manzanar and Devil's Postpole National Monument. After this, I headed a little further north up 395 to Tioga Pass Road into Yosemite National Park.

This was the first time I have ever been in this part of Yosemite and it was well worth a road trip.

Travel Awaits has an article on the seven best experiences along Tioga Road.

They begin it with:

During the hottest days of summer, the best way to enjoy Yosemite National Park is to spend most of your time in the higher elevations, in the eastern side of the park, along Tioga Road. The area is open only in the summer, but when it is, it offers breathtaking views of the High Sierras and the High Country of Yosemite National Park. 

I visited the park with my family during the first week of June, just a few days after Tioga Pass opened. Since we ended up in the park during some of the hottest days of the early summer, Yosemite Valley proved too hot for us to spend much time in. So we spent most of our time in the High Country of Yosemite National Park, along the Tioga Pass Road. 

The scenery was just as stunning as in the more famous areas of the park, and the lower temperatures made our visit more enjoyable. The following are only a few of the many things to do in Yosemite’s High Country along Tioga Road. 

 To read more, go here.