Year-round. April/May offers waterfalls at their peak and meadows of wildflowers. By June, most of the roads are open allowing greater access to all parts of the park. July and August are the busiest times in the park but also the warmest. We visited in September, and while the waterfalls were low, we had many hiking trails to ourselves. To be able to access all of these hikes, plan to visit May-September, and always check the latest park conditions.

Yosemite is one of the few National Parks with a wide variety of lodging available within the park. From the luxury of the AAA four-diamond The Ahwahnee to rustic camps in the High Sierra, you can choose the lodging style that fits you best. Secure reservations at least six months out as lodging fills up early. High Sierra camps are available via a lottery system that opens in November of the previous year.

Compass & Key recommends avoiding the crowds in Yosemite Valley and staying near the south entrance of the park at the Victorian era Wawona Hotel ($$, travelyosemite.com). Designed with antique furnishings and period pieces, this cherished 1879 National Historic Landmark is rustic but offers plenty of amenities, including hiking trails, golf, swimming and more right at your doorstep, plus one of the best restaurants in the park. About half of the rooms have en-suite bathrooms so make sure to book early.

Gaze across Wawona Meadow from the Adirondack chairs on the front porch, enjoy evening cocktails with resident pianist Tom Bopp in the hotel lobby and meet your neighbors at the Summer Saturday Barbecues. Visit the onsite information station for hiking inspiration from a Park Ranger and tour restored 19th-century cabins and a covered bridge at Pioneer Yosemite History Center. Admire the giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove since the site reopened in June 2018 after a 3-year restoration project designed to better protect these majestic trees.

Should you decide to explore the area just east of Yosemite, as we recommend with our itineraries for Bodie ghost town and Devils Postpile, we recommend the Westin Monache Resort ($$$, westinmammoth.com) in Mammoth Lakes. The summer months offer some quiet outside of the busy ski season and the resort is adjacent to the village at Mammoth, with plenty of restaurants and shops.

It is easy to find dining options in almost all areas of Yosemite National Park. We enjoyed most of our morning and evening meals at the Wawona Hotel Dining Room, particularly on the veranda as weather permitted. The historic ambiance is delightful and the menu is varied. We packed our own lunches for day hikes around Yosemite using provisions from Wawona Store (open 8a-8p daily) next door to Wawona Hotel. The best dining in Yosemite is at the spectacular Ahwahnee Dining Room, open for all meals and offering a beautiful Sunday brunch (advance reservations recommended). After a day of hiking, we brought a change of clothes to enjoy dinner at The Ahwahnee on one of our last nights in the park.

In Mammoth Lakes, we enjoyed dinners at the Whitebark Restaurant onsite at the Westin, and Side Door Café & Wine Bar in the Village at Mammoth.

HOW TO GET THERE

Compass & Key recommends flying to nearby Fresno and renting a car to tour the park. The closest airport is Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), which is serviced by all the major car rental companies.  Expect 1.5-hour drive to the Wawona Hotel or 2.5-hours to Yosemite Valley. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is another option, but expect a 4-hour drive. If you already live out west, plan a roadtrip to Yosemite to enjoy the comfort of your own vehicle.

GETTING AROUND

Most visitors drive around the park, so expect some traffic, particularly during the busy summer season. However, getting an early start and visiting during off-peak months helps avoid these issues. Yosemite offers free shuttle buses in Yosemite Valley, a tour bus to Glacier Point and a hikers bus to Tuolumne Meadows if you prefer to park the car and leave the driving to someone else. Learn more about public transportation here.

All passes can be purchased at any of the park entrances. A 7-day pass is $35 per car while an annual pass is $70. If you're planning to visit more than one National Park in a 12-month period, purchase the America the Beautiful National Parks pass for $80. Seniors have access to an $80 lifetime pass and U.S. Military personnel and dependents qualify for a free annual pass. We love supporting the parks and purchase the $80 annual pass each year.

Learn about all entrance fees here.

The National Park Service offers fee-free days on select holidays throughout the year. For the 2019 list of free days, click here.

The National Park visitor centers have lovely souvenirs, but we are also fond of the unique creations by the artist community. For everything from vintage posters to original art, tea towels to jewelry, check out our curated list of National Park mementos on Kit. If you're looking for a specific location other than the one featured, many of the products are available for different National Parks, just search within the individual shops.

• National Park Service website for Yosemite National Park

• National Park Service website for Devils Postpile National Monument

• The National Park Service app for all 420+ parks, including interactive maps, tours, accessibility information, and more

• Official Visitors Bureau for Tuolumne County, including Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows area / Insider tip: 'Tuolumne' rhymes with 'follow me'

• Bodie State Historic Park website

• Yosemite Conservancy, offering tours, workshops and volunteer opportunities; donations and event proceeds support trail, wildlife and habitat restoration projects

• Yosemite Falls live webcam

• The Ansel Adams gallery - no doubt you have seen the iconic black-and-white photographs of Yosemite National Park by photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams. A family vacation to Yosemite in 1916 captured Adams, and from then on, he visited annually. The Ansel Adams gallery, located just east of the Yosemite Museum in Yosemite Valley, commemorates his work and offers photography classes and workshops.