Editor's note: The following is sponsor-supported content from Traveler's Essential Park Guide, Summer 2016.

The majesty of Yosemite is all around. Just across from Glacier Point Lower and Upper Yosemite falls plummet thousands of feet. To the right the Merced River feeds Nevada Fall, then Vernal Fall, emptying into America’s grandest landscape. Cloud’s Rest and Half Dome, of course, anchor the horizon to the east, while deep in the valley the forests, meadows, and river murmur.

When you stand on Glacier Point, with its cool breezes, magnificent views, and pine-scented air, you might consider ditching your job and moving to the High Sierra permanently. But you'll settle for a few days of this mind-blowing natural world. Vacations and long weekend getaways let you put things in perspective, forget your daily life and your list of concerns, so that you can revel in the pristine settings of this iconic national park.

Big trees, like big waterfalls and cliffs, are part of the Yosemite experience/Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders

And, this summer especially, will be incredible, with the near-normal snow melt filling the rivers and streams. The falls’ spray will cool your face, the thundering sound will haunt your dreams at night, and the scene will burn itself into your memory.

So now is the time to book your stay with Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders Vacation Rentals in Yosemite West. Both Glacier Point and the Yosemite Valley are just short drives away. Head south to Wawona, where you can marvel at some of Thomas Hill’s 19th century paintings of Yosemite at Hill’s Studio. Or, explore the Pioneer Yosemite History Center with its collection of horse-drawn wagons. Then, grab lunch at the Big Trees Lodge (aka Wawona Hotel), or play a round of golf.

Take a hike, such as the 8.2-mile round trip trail to Chilnualna Falls. The trail from Wawona to the Mariposa Grove of sequoias, however, is closed until spring 2017 for restoration work. But if you are visiting Yosemite to see the big trees as much as the waterfalls and granite domes, then have no worries. There are plenty of other groves of giants nearby.

Tuolumne Grove is the closest, just off the Tioga Road not far east from Crane Flat. You’ll have to hike a mile to reach the stand of two dozen Sequoias, but it's worth the effort. Other groves a bit farther away (drives up to two hours) include the Grant Grove at Kings Canyon National Park, and the North and South Calaveras Groves at Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

If you visit the Tuolumne Grove, make sure you get an early start to explore the Tuolumne area. The Tioga Road leads to Yosemite's high country, where the peaks tower above you. The two-lane road meanders through an incredible landscape of granite domes, pine forests, and alpine streams. The lovely Tenaya Lake was named in honor of Chief Tenaya, the leader of the Ahwahneechee people who lived in the Yosemite Valley when whites discovered it.

It's easy to spend a day on the lake's shore, swimming, picnicking, hiking, or fishing (though you’ll need a California fishing license). Or could you make a quick stop for a photo or two and then head towards Tuolumne Meadows and maybe hike to Cathedral Lakes (a 7-mile round trip), up to Lyle Fork Canyon along the John Muir Trail (8 miles), or to Dog Lake and Lembert Dome (a 4-mile round trip).

When you’ve had enough adventure, head back to your rental home, perhaps the Alpine Aerie, which can sleep a dozen, with its private deck that is lined up to catch the sunset. Or maybe the Chinquapin Retreat, which is designed for a more intimate escape to Yosemite for 2-4 guests, is a better fit for your plans.

Previous guests have rated Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders Vacation Rental properties so high that TripAdvisor inducted them into its ranking hall of fame, as No. 1 for five years in a row for specialty lodging in Yosemite. There are over 80 properties to choose from, so you'll find a vacation retreat for a large family or group up to 16, or one for an intimate getaway for two.

As the National Park Service marks its centennial this August, Yosemite and other national parks will be very busy, as visitors celebrate the agency and the landscapes it oversees. So, join in, and enjoy the celebration, as well as a little solitude, by choosing your lodging wisely.

Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley falls into view from atop Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park/NPS