The shutdown of the federal government means that our national parks -- including Yosemite -- are being closed today. Ironically, the closing of the awe-inspiring California park comes as it celebrates its 123rd anniversary, which is noted in today's Google Doodle. Look for the park's website, and you get this depressing message: Because of the federal government shutdown, all national parks are closed and National Park Service webpages are not operating.
I've been to a number of our western parks, and Yosemite, with its varied views of mountains and meadows, is among the most stunning. So if you're dying to see more of the park, here are some alternatives, books that capture the park's amazing scenery: