Yosemite
If you live in Southern California and need a little snow to make winter real, you need to travel Northwards.
I've lived here for 43 years, no excuses left, it was time to go and see Yosemite.
The first look you get at the park (at least, in Winter) is also the best known image. Everyone takes this photo, I couldn't help it either:
El Capitain to your left, Bridal Veil falls center right and Half Dome dead center in the distance...It's the establishing shot!
The temperature brought on something known as Frazil Ice:
A pond and a barren coppice of Aspen...
El Capitain from the valley floor. This is one large hunk of rock...
And a look at the Bridal Veil from a closer perspective...
Nothing can get you ready for this place. Teddy Roosevelt made it the first national park. He was right.