Answering the call of the Sierra Nevada

When Americans look for the best vacation ideas near home, is it any wonder why the Sierra Nevada ends up somewhere at the top of the list?

Whether it’s a Old West ghost town or an alpine lake, pristine camping and fishing spots or the best places for bird-watching and stargazing, visitors can’t get enough of what this region has to offer.

Of course, as one of our most beautiful natural gems, Yosemite National Park is on millions of visitors’ lists of “can’t-miss” destinations year after year. Below you’ll find a myriad reasons to answer the call of the Sierra:

Sunset magazine extended its first travel awards, and California made it as a finalist or winner in almost every category. Two first-place winners are located in our own backyard:

Congratulations to O.A.R.S., an outdoor adventure company based in Angels Camp. With custom packages and destinations around the world, O.A.R.S. took first place in the best guided outdoors trip category.

And Tenaya Lodge won the best resort for pets award for its pet-friendly amenities. But Tenaya also offers pet owners and other two-legged creatures the same four-diamond excellence it’s known for worldwide.

For more of the best in the West, visit www.sunset.com/travel/sunset-travel-awards.

U.S. News ranks Yosemite No. 7 in its top 20 U.S. travel destinations. And this year marks Yosemite’s 125th anniversary as a national park. Since 1890 when President Benjamin Harrison signed the official document, over 1,500 square miles of wilderness lands have been preserved and enjoyed by people from all over the world.

“The Lure and Lore of Yosemite” exhibit is on display at the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau in Oakhurst through the end of the year.

Historical documents, photographs and artwork, books and maps – all in some way contribute to the story of Yosemite. The display features Lafayette Bunnell’s written account of how the area was discovered and the original 1855 pencil sketch of Thomas Ayres, the first artist to capture the famed valley and cliffs on paper.

Admission and parking are free. The visitors center, open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is at 40637 Highway 41, Oakhurst. Call 559-683-4636 or visit www.yosemitethisyear.com for details.

In the Sierra’s lower altitudes, springtime’s vibrant colors have faded, giving way to summer’s golden hues. But in the higher elevations to the east, now’s the time to enjoy wildflowers, clean air, crystal lakes and more.

Tioga Pass is open, welcoming visitors to breathe deep and settle in for some relaxation among the peaks and canyons of Mono County: Mammoth Mountain and Mammoth Lakes are at the southern end, and Topaz Lake and the nearby community of Topaz, in the northernmost section, are a recreation paradise.

Fishing is big this time of year. On most summer weekends, tournaments are held in one of the county’s fishing holes.

But that’s not all you’ll find: mountain biking and road biking, off-road routes for exploring on wheels, mountain trails for going by horseback or on foot and over 100 campgrounds for sleeping under a midnight sky. A few historic towns provide dining and music at the end of the day.

Check www.monocounty.org for complete information on what to do and places to see.

How about three parks in three days? Majestic Mountain Loop Tours offers expert guided tours to Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon and Yosemite. Contact jackie@centralcaliforniainbound.com, or call 559-298-8528 or toll-free 877-581-0745. Learn more at www.centralcaliforniaexplorations.com.

After the devastating Rim fire and a government shutdown two years ago that wiped out half the season’s tourist trade, Scott Gehrman, founder and executive director of Lasting Adventures, says the nonprofit is recovering.

The Groveland-based organization offers guided hiking, backpacking and camping trips across much of Yosemite. From one-day hikes to 11-day trips and outdoor education programs, Lasting Adventures works with individuals, families, corporate groups, schools, boys and girls clubs and Scouts to develop and refine valuable life skills in the great outdoors.

For details, visit www.lastingadventures.com or call 800-513-8651.

Want more of what the Sierra has to offer? Visit the Yosemite/Mariposa Tourism Bureau website: www.yosemiteexperience.com. Once there, click the link to join Yosemite Nation for current news and information about this iconic region. And don’t miss the call to the mountains.

This story was originally published June 27, 2015 at 8:34 AM with the headline "Answering the call of the Sierra Nevada."