yeah, Yosemite has those iconic views for sure. In Kings Canyon (or Sequoia) I saw my first lynx. That was exciting. Yosemite is spectacular, but like most of these place I prefer the off season. Bring on a little cold, and the people just disapear. For me that makes it all the better. Doug knows that place way better than me, but I found the entrance on the East side had some pretty spectacualar rock walls and Mono Lake to boot.