This was the BEST experience and I highly recommend! We could tell the horses are well taken care…read moreof, respected and trained. Chloe took us on our ride and she was so friendly and knowledgeable. She made our ride so fun hopefully when we go again, we would want Chloe on our ride!

I cannot thank Yosemite Trails Horseback Adventures for the incredible experience and memories I…read morewill never forget. I had a camping trip to Yosemite National Park planned in September and knew I wanted to propose to my Fiancé while on the trip and didn't know exactly how I would plan this. We are avid outdoor/hikers and love horses. When I found Yosemite Trails Horseback Adventures, I knew that this was the PERFECT place for me to propose to the love of my life. I wasn't quite sure how the proposal would go down to begin with, but Cami and the entire team made the experience unbelievable. I felt like part of the family and cannot thank them enough. They scouted out various different locations along the route for the spot prior to my arrival and communicated with me every step of the way. Jolene found the location on the trail, and was our guide. We did a private trial ride as I wanted the experience to be intimate. Jolene was INCREDIBLE and we cannot thank her enough. She was an expert guide and made the entire experience a memory we will never forget. Jolene took pictures for us and planned the entire proposal location, she was fantastic in every regard. The horses were beautiful and looked extremely well taken care off and loved. The trail ride itself was the best we have been on, and we have done quite a few. It was beautiful, fun going through the creeks and riding up/down the mountainsides. We cannot thank Cami, Jolene and the entire Yosemite Trails Horseback Adventure Team for the memory and experience of a lifetime, and we cannot wait to do it again!

Balanced Rock was everything I was searching for that I didn't know I needed. They created a…read morewonderful and personalized backpacking trip complete with gourmet meals, yoga, meditation, journaling and just the right amount of physical and mental challenge. So grateful to the team and my guide.

My first trip to Yosemite will be such a cherished memory thanks to Balanced Rock! My bf and I are…read moreso happy we went with a guide through the Park. She shared her vast knowledge about the park's history, knew all the best popular spots to take us, (plus showed us a few special gems only the locals know ), and even picked us up lunch on the way to enjoy at the foot of El Capitan. The best part...all our pics and videos look like we're the only people there!! (Definitely gonna hang a few at home!) We can't wait to come back again and experience a longer hike now that we know who to trust. Highly recommend them!

Best sight to see here just make sure you go early and find the right time for the waterfall which…read moreis in spring which is when the snow caps are melting. Hikes can range with difficulties but there are simple trails for kids

I never expected to love Yosemite. I've been fortunate enough to travel to different places and…read morehave seen some truly breathtaking natural wonders. And so when I stepped off the Yosemite Close Up Tours van as Ken (our guide and the tour owner) parked it beside a few rocks to test our climbing/walking ability, I wasn't expecting much. But it's pretty appropriate that this tour group has this name, because Ken gave us a close up and intimate glimpse into the beauty of Yosemite. They say mountaineering is a lonely experience and so it is a very close/tight-knit community. They also say that there is something about Yosemite that brings people together. We were fortunate enough to have Ken bring both these things to us, as he shared his decades of experience scaling Yosemite's mountains and hiking its trails; imparted his knowledge about the delicacy and power of the nature around us; and allowed us to experience his lifelong love story with this national park. In our one day tour on a bright spring day, Ken taught us: - Balance: He started the tour by asking our group of 10 to walk up and down a few rocks, just so he could see what level we were each at. The 5 year olds in our group loved this 'playtime' while the 60+ year olds in our group loved this proactive calibration of how much (or little) help was needed throughout the day. - To look up, out and inward: While Ken was great at picking spots for photo opportunities, I loved it most when he picked spots that were set-ups for stories. He would ask us to look up at specific sections on the mountains and talk about how climbers would tackle this crevice or that ridge. So as we looked up at El Capitan or the Half Dome, we not only saw the beautiful shots seen in pictures and screensavers, but also the solitary suffering and the exhilarating exhaustion of challenging oneself, of being one with that challenge, and of finally and triumphantly scaling the top (and getting down afterwards). - Respect for the danger/risk: Ken lightly but seriously talked about this book he had that detailed different ways people had died in Yosemite (e.g., there's a whole chapter on rivers). It wasn't meant to be morbid or macabre, but matter-of-fact. And it made us aware and respectful about what was around us. - Conservationism without the hard sell: In between the more tour guide-y stories, Ken made sure to drop some geological/biological knowledge on us. For example, he explained what meadows were and how they came to be (which was his thesis if I remember correctly) and talked about the regular volunteer work that climbers do to clean up the park. - The evolution of climbing: Mid-tour, Ken brought out his different hooks and clamps to show us how climbing gear has changed and become more sophisticated over the years. And this may sound like a boring history lesson but it actually helped us appreciate Yosemite's mountains - and the people who dream/do climb them - even more. - Picnics are the best: I'm not sure whether it was because we had been walking a lot, or because Ken's tour provides locally sourced food, but that picnic lunch of sandwich+chips+cookie+apple absolutely hit the spot. Ken ended our tour with a funny/folksy song about 2 climbers at Yosemite. And in a way, I thought that was a kinda perfect way to end the day. Because it was only later on when, through good ol' Google, that we found out Ken was a sort of mountaineering legend, with many initial ascents (i.e., first time anyone ever scales a mountain) credited to him. But at that moment, as he was singing his folksy song to bid us goodbye, he wasn't Ken Bouche, a known mountaineer. He was just another guy who was completely in love, and wanted to playfully share that love with the people he was entrusted with that day. 5 stars. Highly recommended.

This place blew me away. I had Rhanda (I think that's the spelling) as a guide and she was SO…read moreterrific. This is a historical landmark and she walked me through every room with great detail on the origin story and the rooms we were in. One of the best tour guides I've had. I have never experienced anything this - you have to really appreciate the amount of work, design and detail by Baldassare Forestiere - truly a feat! Very grateful the family makes this available for tours. Highly recommend if you appreciate gardening, architecture, art, engineering etc. They also did a great job of reminding me of my appointment and following up afterwards. If in Fresno area, this is a don't miss!!

My family along with our cousins and aunt decided to tour the Forestier Underground Gardens. It was…read moresuch a gem to visit. The gardens were built in an unexpected park of Fresno and these is a lot of history behind them. Parking was somewhat difficult but once you enter, the staff were very kind, organized, and positive. Our tour guide Raul was super sweet and provided a lot of history regarding the gardens and the family who built them. Raul had my 3 young boys engaged and interested. He answered all my questions and was so open to conversation. You could tell Raul was proud to be there telling all of us how the Gardens came to be. The Gardens are very interesting. I've never seen anything quite like these. The smell of all the citrus trees combine with the natural cooling underground was amazing and made the tour comfortable. If you have any time i do recommend visiting these secret gardens.

This company was the only bus tour to come up on my Google search other than the free shuttles…read moreavailable in Yosemite Park. We wanted to avoid driving to the Park because of the rainy winter conditions. I called the company 3x and each time a woman answered and said she would call me back when she was in the office. Twice she called back and was not able to give me a specific date for a tour but wanted to take my credit card info. When we arrived at our Bass Lake destination there were glitzy brochures from this touring group. We called and got a slightly better response with a specific date that was available; we booked a full-day tour. The tour guide was punctual. Another couple at our hotel was also on the tour. The guide was pleasant but lacked a certain exuberance and historical/local lore knowledge that I associate with great tour guides. This beckons the question -- why go with a tour company? It's often more relaxing to let someone else do the driving, someone who knows the area and where to park. But, tour buses are more than taxi services. You expect them to "entertain" you with information tidbits. Our guide wasn't bad...but she was so tentative and seemed mostly to recite dates and little factoids. I was surprised to learn that she was leading bus tours for 12 or so years. But I ask a lot of questions...I'm inquisitive. The couple from Sacramento asked virtually no questions during the tour. We had asked ahead of time if we could dine at the Ahwahnee Hotel for lunch and the tour bus confirmed we'd stop there. The other couple was unfamiliar with the Ahwahnee but agreed to eat there after I told them about its historical significance compared to the "Food Court." The guide called to make reservations and asked if we wanted to sit together which made for some awkward silence until I said "two tables." How many people would want to spend $100 on lunch and sit with strangers? When the guide dropped us off at the restaurant she said she'd give us 30-45 minutes. Again, does it make sense to go to an expensive restaurant for a lovely lunch and leave within 30-minutes. I felt rushed. The tour consisted of driving around and looking out the van windows at lovely mountains and waterfalls. It was cold and wet and no one wanted to go hiking. I regret having to rush through the Ahwahnee Hotel and I never got to go to a Yosemite store or visitor station. Our tour would have ended about 2 hours earlier than usual if I'd not requested that we stop at a museum in Mariposa. The guide obliged but it was apparent she was interested in ending the tour early. I've had some terrific tours and a lot of it has to do with the personality of the tour guide -- their passion about the place, their willingness to go beyond and treat their guests to interesting experiences. Yosemite & Beyond is not there yet.

From the owner: Yosemite and Beyond Tours goes beyond any other company does. We specialize in Yosemite tours, Wine…read moreTours, Agriculture Tours and provide shuttle services to and from Airports, Train Stations and Bus Stations

It was a fantastic experience. Sean was also an incredible…read morestory teller in the caboose and we learned a lot. The landscape is breathtaking. The whole team make you feel very very welcome! We will be back with more family!

This was such a great experience for my husband and I; and if we had children, this is the spot for…read morechildren! They had a cute kids depot which offered a variety of awesome toys - Knick knacks - to buy. There was also a gift shop that offered products at a lower price than other places (Tenaya). There's an area to do some gold mining haha such a cool spot - definitely worth the visit! Tip: arrive early so you get a good seat. If you arrive late, you may be separated from your group and will seat in the open spots available.

Dave is AMAZING! We had the best day with him on our private tour of Yosemite. He is so fun,…read moreknowledgeable, a great conversationalist and made the day fabulous. I had the best time and felt like we got to really see Yosemite and get to know the park. I would 100% recommend booking with him and his company. Hands down the BEST!!

I cannot say enough about David and the two days he spent with us in the park. It was our first…read moretrip to Yosemite and David planned two great days that really gave us a feel for the incredible natural beauty that surrounds you in the Valley. While you can only see so much in two days, his skillful guiding made the most of that time covering the multiple waterfalls in the valley, the Sequoia Grove, Hatch Hatchy and many others. He is a self taught naturalist and gave us just the right mix of park history and insights into the floral and fauna. He also balanced our hiking so it was challenging enough to keep me interested but not to difficult that Thelma could not enjoy it as well. He was also terrific about assisting her through some of the more difficult and rocky sections so she was never uncomfortable. His planning was simply impeccable and more than worth every penny as we could never have enjoyed as much as we did on our own. There is just no substitute for having a professional guide a Dave was as professional as it gets. Simply cannot thank him enough and more highly recommend him to anyone who wants an extraordinary experience.

The goats have moved on to greener pastures and I'm ecstatic with the results! There is not a…read moresingle square inch of green less than 6 feet off the ground anywhere. We thought this would take a week but it took 3 days - those goats take their work seriously. The good: -Billie and the goats and dogs (and emu) are all delightful. Billie was extremely accommodating and hard working. The goats and dogs are absolute sweethearts and all come running when they see you for pets. -Poison oak is now extinct on my property. -The ground is fertilized and there is nothing to clean up other than sticks. The bad: -Noise. The "baaa"-ing was one thing, but the guard dogs were pretty brutal through the night. We had some coyotes hanging around so there was lots of barking. So that's it, thanks for following. I'm really happy to finally be able to present this and I'm actively brainstorming on how we can get a goat co-op going in our neighborhood.

Lost Emu Farms run by Billie was one of the best decisions we had made. She came out to the…read moreproperty promptly on time to meet with us for an estimate. Her assessment was spot on and we decided to go with her services. She was kind, compassionate, extremely thorough and just plain fun to be around. The result of her services left our property so much safer and useable. We are so grateful for Billie and will have to have her back sooner than later! Thank you again!!! To anyone in the market for her services, we have recommended her to all of our close friends, if appropriate for your needs, you will be beyond satisfied! Best value ever!!!

We visited Mercer Caverns in Murphys for my daughter's 24th birthday and it turned out to be a…read morereally unique experience. We arrived around 10:30 AM and were able to join the 11:00 tour with no problem. The tour lasted about 50 minutes, which felt like the perfect amount of time. Our guide had a bit of a dry sense of humor, but was knowledgeable and kept the group moving at a good pace. The caverns themselves were impressive -- it's amazing to see such a beautiful natural space that has been left mostly undisturbed for thousands of years. The formations are stunning and unlike anything you see above ground. A couple things to be aware of: some of the stairs are steep and can be wet, so you definitely need to watch your footing. There are also a few spots where you have to duck your head. It's not difficult, but you do need to be mindful as you go. The temperature inside stays cool year-round (around the mid-50s), which is nice on a warm day but you may want a light jacket. The entire tour is guided, and you descend about 160 feet underground via metal stairways. It feels adventurous without being overwhelming. Overall, it was a neat, memorable stop and a fun way to celebrate a birthday. If you're in the Murphys area and looking for something different to do, this is definitely worth checking out.

Discovered by William Mercer in 1885 who noticed a breeze coming out of some rocks, he thought he…read morefound gold but instead found this amazing underground cavern. He charged a pinch of gold for admission and probably made way more money from the caves than he would have if there was gold. Parking lot is small so its best to get there early, they have a set amount of people that can go on each tour and they do sell out. The giftshop is easy to burn some time at and if you are a fan of classic boardwalk fortune telling automatons, there is a Zoltar set up inside. I loved this cavern, there are steep wooden stairs you'll be scrambling on and low hanging rocks, you feel very intimate with the cave and even if it's hot outside, it's always nice and cool underground. Our tour guide was amazing and I loved hearing the stories as we descended. The most interesting anecdote was how they used to conduct tours by holding a wooden plank with a candle on it in their mouths. It's a very enjoyable family adventure though you may have to help young children up and down some of the stairs.

Earlier today I showed up with a dog, yes the place is dog friendly, the down side is that perhaps…read morethe staff forgot that my Mrs. Walked in and sat outside. I walked through the outside into the patio because manners. 25 minutes passed by no one went out to give us a menu or anything. Went into the restroom to assess the situation, clean restroom by the way, the guy had maybe 2 or 3 parties inside and he couldn't take 2 minutes to at least offer a glass of water and an I'll be right with you? Lack of attention to detail, I became displeased and left. Sorry not sorry but not worth it Please read reply. Then check out my other 271 reviews I've typed, who is the bad human here? Pull up with lawn chair and popcorn

Although we've not yet purchased wine here, we've visited the adjacent restaurant, and have looked…read morethrough the Local Grape. If you're in "downtown" Mariposa, it's worth stopping in. There is fair variety of wine, though you need to take "Local" in its broadest definition. The folks who work here are friendly and helpful, and, if you like wine, the shelves are worth a browse.