Obamas to visit Yosemite, honoring nation’s public lands

WASHINGTON — The first family will visit Yosemite National Park next week as part of President Obama’s effort to burnish his legacy of protecting public lands.

The video shows the president, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia on past visits to national parks.

In its announcement, the White House noted that Obama has added protection to 256 million acres of public lands and waters, a presidential record.

The White House also emphasized Obama’s desire to make public lands more accessible to people of different backgrounds and to better reflect the nation’s ethnic history with such designations as the Cesar Chavez National Monument in Kern County.

Other California monument designations by Obama include the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, across seven counties including Napa and Solano, and the Fort Ord National Monument in Monterey County.