The Minarets, a collection of granite pinnacles in the Sierras, are located in the heart of The Ansel Adams Wilderness. This photo was taken through a viewfinder at the observatory atop Mammoth Mountain.
Unique California: Mono Lake Canoe Tour
On our recent trip to Mono County, my family and I were fascinated to take a Canoe Tour of Mono Lake. 
You won’t see speed boats or fishing on this lake. No one is water skiing or wake boarding. You won’t throw your towel on the shores and sunbathe here. 
The Mono Lake Committee offers a guided Canoe Tour out of Navy Beach. Here you meet your guide, suit up in life vests and learn how it’s very different at Mono Lake than any other lake.
2 times the salt content of the ocean, this saline sanctuary supports a unique and productive ecosystem.
Home to trillions of brine shrimp, alkali flies, and absolutely no fish, freshwater streams feed Mono Lake supporting lush riparian forests of cottonwood and willow along their banks. From the shore you are intrigued by the limestone formations known as tufa towers that stand jagged from the waters.
Tufa is something only my husband knew about. It’s bizarre and strange and something we had never encountered, let alone in a lake. It’s prehistoric appearance had us staring and asking questions of our guide.
Underwater springs rich in calcium mix with lakewater rich in carbonates, and as the calcium comes in contact with carbonates in the lake, a chemical reaction occurs resulting in calcium carbonate–limestone.
The calcium carbonate precipitates (settles out of solution as a solid) around the spring, and over the course of decades to centuries, a tufa tower will grow. Tufa towers grow exclusively underwater, and some grow to heights of over 30 feet.
Millions of migratory birds (eared grebes, Wilson’s phalaropes, and red-necked phalaropes) visit the lake each year, often nesting high in the tufa and feasting on the alkali flies.
Our 9:30am tour had us gliding over mirrored waters that just made the entire tour smooth and the surroundings so perfectly photogenic!
A little history:
From 1941 until 1990, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) diverted excessive amounts of water from Mono Basin streams. Mono Lake dropped 45 vertical feet, lost half its volume, and doubled in salinity. In 1978, The Mono Lake Committee was founded and led the fight to save the lake with cooperative solutions. Protection, restoration, and education efforts are made today with the support of 20,000 members and in 1994, after over a decade of litigation, the California State Water Resources Control Board ordered DWP to allow Mono Lake to rise to a healthy level of 6,392 feet above sea level–twenty feet above its historic low.
The reason visitors see so much tufa around Mono Lake today is because the lake level fell dramatically after water diversions began in 1941. Since 1978, the Committee has achieved many accomplishments in the fight to protect Mono Lake. Working with the public and an extraordinary coalition of government agencies and non-profit groups, the Committee has brought negotiation, legislation, and litigation to Mono Lake’s support.
About the halfway point, plastic cups are given to collect and view some of the lake water and to check out the brine shrimp (my youngest’s favorite part). Sandals can be worn on the canoe, but barefoot is better especially if you don’t want to ruin your shoes. The salinity of the water leaves white marks and dries out shoes as we experienced with our flip-flops, anything more expensive you may want to go barefoot.
The Mono Lake Canoe tour is about an hour long and so worth the time and education you get about this unique California landmark! Our 3 kids still bring up the facts and experience they had a month later, so I’m glad we had the experience. For more information on Mono Lake or to book a canoe tour visit, http://www.monolake.org/.
Our tour was hosted as part of our media trip, gratuity and opinions all our own.
June Lake Loop: Boating and Kayaking at Silver Lake Resort
Four gorgeous lakes can be enjoyed on the June Lake Loop in Mono County. Just down the road where we stayed at Double Eagle Resort and Spa is Silver Lake. Established back in 1916, it’s known as the oldest trout fishing retreat in the Eastern Sierras!
It was too bad we didn’t bring my dad with us on the trip, he would have planted himself on one of the motor boats and stayed the whole trip pulling up trout! For our family of five, we woke early and came to enjoy a lovely morning on these clear waters by boat and by kayak, no fishing this time!
Silver Lake Resort is open the last weekend in April through mid-October and has an old-fashioned General Store, Gift Shop, Cafe, Cabin Rentals, RV Park, and Boat Rentals. Since we had reservations on the water, the first order of business was choosing who was going where. One adult per watercraft, both people on the kayak need life jackets, and kids 12 and younger must have a life vest.
Dad and the two girls on the motor boat, and my son and I were going to paddle the kayak. Luckily I had practice not to long ago in Kauai. The lake is large, not crowded at 10am, and we had no rush for our two hour excursion. 
My son and I would paddle a bit, coast and rest, snap some photos and repeat. The morning air was cool, but the sun was warm and with the reflection off the water, don’t forget your sunscreen. Kayaks are offered $18 for the first hour and $10 and hour there after!
After a quick lesson on starting and steering the motor boat, my girls and husband set off. Motor boats also have paddles when you’re not using the power. 
Boat rentals are available for a reasonable $45 for a full day (7am-7pm) or half day at $35. 5 people max per boat. My oldest took a turn steering the motor boat then paddled a bit with my youngest all the while taking in the amazing beauty around the lake.
Towards the southerly end of the lake, we reached and docked at a little island. 
Here you can have a picnic (picnic table on site) or fish off the banks. 
Only about100 feet long, the island is a quiet little stop and my youngest coined it “Kendall Island” after herself naturally and loved exploring for about a half hour. My husband and youngest decided they wanted to take a little kayak ride.
After this nice break, we decided to put my son on the motor boat and my youngest with me on the kayak to work our way back to shore. I thought about taking over on the boat, but the motor is heavy and a bit tough to maneuver (pulling it up and in when switching to paddle) for me so I stuck to the kayak and left my husband on the boat.
Our Kauai kayak experience only allowed for me to have the paddle, so my little one was thrilled at the challenge to stay in line with mom and not counteract my paddling. She was a trooper, but at one point we both got tired.
The area is simply gorgeous with the surrounding mountains and trees encompassing the lake. Everywhere you look is picturesque we have about 150 photos of this excursion alone! The action on the lake picked up and the fishing was very productive when we asked others as we passed them in the boats. If you’re looking for a fishing spot with great rates for a boat rental (or you can launch your own), Silver Lake Resort is a great place for you to explore in Mono County! Or do what we did, a little leisurely ride with some exercise thrown in and bring a picnic for a stop on the island! Be sure to get there early, at 10am there was only one other motor boat left!
Can’t wait to make a return visit next summer and we’re bringing Grandpa!!
Our experience was hosted through our press trip, all opinions 100% our own.
June Lake, CA: Double Eagle Resort and Spa
Surrounded by the Eastern Sierra mountains and among beautiful alpine lakes, the Double Eagle Resort and Spa in June Lake is a wonderful retreat for a tranquil summer getaway! 
Our first trip to the Mono County area, it really had the Lake Tahoe feel that we are used to but with a slower, quieter pace. In every direction, the views are phenomenal. Our stay was far too short.
Walking around the property you look up and down to see the beauty of nature’s work. 
Grey peaks reach up 11,000 feet contrasting the green pines with waterfalls in view, while streams dot the property and make for fantastic photo opportunities. 
Lodge rooms on site overlook Ron’s Pond and reflect in perfectly still waters.
Cabins are perfect for a family trip with 2 bedrooms, one for the parents, and one my two girls shared, plus a sofa sleeper for my son! To the children’s delight, wifi and a television was offered in the cabin, while we enjoyed our own bedroom TV. Don’t get me wrong, electronics don’t make or break a trip for us, especially when you have the beautiful surroundings like the resort offers. It’s just a nice added perk for early mornings or late evenings.
The living room is comfortable and cozy with a fireplace and opens up to the full kitchen. Kitchen and BBQ are nice to have available to save money on meals. The large front deck is great for reading, playing, or napping! The dining table is set for four and there’s also patio table and chairs for bigger groups.
Along with a full-service Creekside Spa and Fitness Center, the 60 ft indoor pool shows off near-panoramic views from the windows. Though the hot tub was out of order, our kids swam to their hearts content during the “family hours” and even attempted to race in the lap portion of the pool. Plenty of lounge chairs indoors and on the sundeck provide parents a place to relax and watch the kids. 
Eagle’s Landing Restaurant on property offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner with delicious food. 
Their rustic pine lodge ambiance with high windows for spectacular views just adds to the mountain feel. Along with the amazing nachos, the creamy macaroni and cheese and burgers, the family appreciated the large comfortable booths and friendly waiters!
We were lucky to have planned our stay the same night as the annual Double Eagle Jazz Fest featuring the cool tunes of Jelly Bread! The outdoor concert, where we threw our thick blanket on the lawn and enjoyed some adult beverages, was family friendly and had a fun vibe to it. A full BBQ was offered along with beer from a local brewery and sweets sold by the women’s club. 
With Yosemite National Park’s eastern entrance just 12 miles away, Mammoth Mountain 20 miles south, and the unique Mono Lake just down the road, June Lake Loop should be on your radar for your next California family adventure. The Double Eagle Resort and Spa is definitely a place the family can enjoy on a summer vacation and would be just as lovely for a winter romantic escape with your honey.
Our stay was hosted as part as a press trip, all opinions are our own.
Travel Photography: Mono Lake’s Still Waters
The reflections, the Tufa Towers the family, beautiful Mono Lake’s still waters.
