Seasons of Magic in Yosemite: Splendor in the Sierra Nevada

Yosemite Seasons of Magic was indeed magical! This was our first Road Scholar trip and can't wait for our next one!

A marvellous experience overall which more than surpassed expections!

This program was fun and interesting. The Leaders were great and informative. I recommend this program to anyone interested in experiencing Yosemite for the first time or as a followup to a previous experience.

I can't think of a better way to have addressed this 'bucket list' adventure than this tour/program offered. I will be counting on Road Scholars to help me with other 'bucket list' educational adventures.

If you have any interest in Yosemite and the natural world, I would strongly encourage this trip. A total 4 star experience!

Yosemite National Park took my breath away! I've been to Hawaii, Alaska, Glacier NP, Banff in Canada, Yellowstone NP & Arcadia NP! Yosemite is at the top! An amazing trip with amazing guides! It's well worth the money spent!

Yosemite had been on our bucket list for some time. We can't imagine a better introduction to the history, geology, and natural wonders of this magnificent place.

This was a beautiful program. The scenery, the walking, the guides and the food were all excellent. I highly recommend it.

This spectacular tour of Yosemite and all its natural treasures completed another lifetime bucket list item for me. The waterfalls, trees, wildlife (we saw several bear families!) and vistas were breathtaking. And of course, the quality of our Road Scholar tour directors and presenters was just outstanding. Bravo!

This is my first Road scholar trip and it is going to be one of many.

Program Leader Chris Cameron elevated this programs to heights seldom seen!

This was my first Road Scholar experience. The Seasons of Magic in Yosemite was a great way to explore and learn about this majestic treasure. The trip was rated no sweat and was great for those that have not hiked that much or in a while and at the same time gauge my abilities. I have already booked another Road Scholar trip for next summer and am seriously looking at several others rated hike at your own pace.

This program in Yosemite National Park provided a wonderful opportunity for our family members, both children and adults of all ages from various areas in the US, to get together in a welcoming environment. We not only learned about Yosemite, but were able to visit and enjoy each others company in a wonderful facility. Wonderful program and experience!!

What a terrific trip! I learned so much and loved Yosemite. Great people, a great way to see one of the most breathtaking places on Earth!

This was an excellent program; well-organized, knowledgeable instructors, helpful & friendly group leader. The scenery in Yosemite National Park is totally awesome. I am so happy that I decided on this particular Road Scholar program.

WONDERFUL PROGRAM!! YOSEMITE IS AN UNBELIEVABLE PLACE, SO MUCH TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE. THE WHOLE AREA IS AN INTOXICATINGLY GORGEOUS PLACE TO VISIT, THERE WAS NEVER A SPOT THAT WE SAW OR VISITED THAT WAS NOT UNIQUE!

I'd been wanting to visit Yosemite for 50 years and finally did it! Debbie and Chris were terrific leaders—very well informed, accommodating and fun to be around. The conference center (outside the park) was lovely with good food but it was a long daily commute from there to most destinations inside the park. Be sure to factor in your tolerance for the daily shuttle roundtrip. But overall a great program, and i would recommend it.

THE WEBSITE IS EASY TO USE EVEN FOR ME A NON TECHY PERSON

This is a great way to be introduced to the wonders of Yosemite. The in-depth knowledge of the instructors adds to the experience. Be aware that the camp is some distance from the park and long bus rides are required.

So much magic to experience in Yosemite National Park, and so much to learn! Stunning scenery, breathtaking views of all the top spots in the park. The conference center in Oakhurst is tucked away in a nice quiet landscape. The rooms were spare but comfortable, and the food at the cafeteria was surprisingly good! The instructor was very knowledgeable about local history and culture and made our program so interesting. Excellent educational value in this adventure! I enjoyed it very much.

My week in the Sierra Nevada was exhilarating and breathtaking. To view El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil and Vernal Falls, and more from the floor of Yosemite valley at 4000 ft and then again from Glacier Point at 7200 ft was indeed magical. Our half-day in Mariposa Grove, walking, touching, smelling, listening, almost tasting the giant sequoias was a truly humbling experience. I heard outstanding presentations, both in the "classroom" and on the trails, from a passionate, articulate naturalist. The accommodations at the Episcopal Conference Center Oakhurst were excellent.

Excellent overview of a wonderful national park. Spectacular scenery from a variety of vantage points. Keep the Pace is accurately described. Shirley, our instructor was amazing! Learned a lot from her. Decent accommodations; great, healthy food. Good group of participants to enjoy the tour with. Highly recommend it!

Anyone who wishes to see first hand some of the very special natural assets of our great country should do the Yosemite trip. The water falls, the granite rock formations and the trees are unique not only in the USA, but in the world.

The lodging at ECCO is very basic, bordering on rustic. The rooms are cramped, the furniture is too small to store your clothes, the sink counter is small and part of the main room. The shower/tub combo and toilet have a door that closes. The 2 table lamps have CFL bulbs that are very dim. No food or beverages are allowed in the rooms. The main dining room has tables for 8 and meals are buffet style except for the sack lunches which you pack yourself. The daily trips to Yosemite take 1-1 1/2 hours each way on narrow, winding roads and the shuttle driver Larry did an excellent job. Even in early June Yosemite is overflowing with people and traffic, and park shuttles are standing room only if you can even get on. Our group leader, Marlene, did a great job of keeping the group together and making sure we got to see all the highlights within the park. Her extensive knowledge of the area added to the enjoyment of our trip when she suggested ideas for the free day. The other reason this trip was enjoyable in spite of the lodging drawbacks was Shirley Spencer, who spent many hours with our group giving us her charismatic and engaging narrative of all things Yosemite based on her education, years as a park ranger, and personal experiences hiking and climbing Yosemite's vast terrain. The activity level wasn't very demanding although elevations of 6,000 feet at some locations could leave you winded. Thanks to both Marlene and Shirley, we definitely learned a lot more about Yosemite than we would have on our own, and they made our first Road Scholar trip worthwhile.

Educational and FUN, with just the right amount of learning, field adventure and the opportunity to meet people interested in that which interests me. My first Road Scholar, but certainly not my last. It's a great way to vacation !

Our guides to the park were very knowledgable and made the visit to this beautiful place more interesting, and our leader was very helpful. The evening programs were mostly delightful; however, the first day is mostly sitting. I was ready on Day 1 to go to the park! If I go back to Yosemite, I will stay in the park; the hours on the bus were a waste of time. Also, I was not impressed with ECCO. I have stayed at Kanuga (an Episcopal retreat center in NC) -- it is an A+ facility, but alas, ECCO is not. The bed in our tiny room was comfortable with nice linens, but the property is in need of TLC. Furniture in the sitting area of the dining room was worn, dirty, and had no support. I would not stay here again.

Wonderful program. Strongly recommend Road Scholar Programs.

Are the National Parks on your 'bucket list'? "Seasons of Magic" in Yosemite offers an exceptional introduction to "America's Best Idea". An awe-inspiring natural cathedral, the Park offers fascinating history, rich biodiversity, and a path to a world beyond expectation. Come and see what moved great Americans from Abraham Lincoln to John Muir to Teddy Roosevelt to preserve this remarkable resource for you and me and all who hope to experience the transcendent right here on earth.

This is a great trip. From professional staff and educators to fabulous food and accommodations. Yosemite is beautiful any time of year and to be guided by people who really love the park makes for a very special experience.