Family Time: Yosemite National Park, California

My ideal way of seeing Yosemite is loading up the Volkswagen bus for shelter, planning day-long hikes over a morning cup of coffee, and falling asleep under the Milky Way high in an alpine meadow. But not every trip can be so dreamy, and sometimes you've gotta shake things up given the circumstances.

Which was exactly my last trip to Yosemite National Park when my parents came to town.

My parents aren't exactly what you'd call "adventurous." They enjoy their quiet home in their small Midwestern community, and an evening walk by a nearby lake is about as much exercise they desire.

I surprised them with a trip to Yosemite National Park a few weeks ago. Neither are bucket-list kind of people, but they appreciate the great outdoors and Teddy Roosevelt's part in preserving said spaces. We were lucky enough to get a spot at the Yosemite Falls Lodge, and we badgered park rangers with questions about the area while soaking in the sites from an open-air bus.

It was a perfect way to spend a couple days in a beautiful place, all while ensuring my parents felt comfortable. Yosemite shows that our outdoor public spaces are the one place remaining for everyone to come together and enjoy.