Where the High Desert Meets the Mountains: Bishop, California

Nicknamed “A Small Town with a Big Backyard,” Bishop is central to three amazing national parks— Death Valley, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, and Yosemite. The town is nestled between the Sierra Nevada and White Mountains, offering spectacular views of 14,000-foot peaks. Bishop is a special place for outdoor enthusiasts throughout the year to mountain bike, boulder, hike, fish, horseback ride, and view wildlife. Others arrive more casually, stopping during a scenic drive to explore the downtown area, which looks like a movie set from a Western, and enjoy some coffee and baked goods or tasty barbeque before perusing the local boutique stores and galleries.

Embrace the local adventure culture during your visit and head over to Buttermilk Country, Alabama Hills, or Owens River Gorge to view the agile rock climbers, or visit Pipeline, Inyo Craters, and Papoose Flat to watch mountain bikers navigating the dirt trails. Don’t forget your binoculars and camera— you’ll also have plenty of opportunities to see local and migrating wildlife while exploring this amazing small town.

Travel Tip: Plan on spending at least few days exploring the surrounding area. A great lodging option for families can be found in nearby Mammoth Lakes, home to the world-class ski resort, Mammoth Mountain. The resorts offer a wide range of activities for kids of all ages that are less expensive outside of ski season.