President Obama to visit Yosemite next week

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- White House officials announced Thursday President Obama and The First Family will visit Yosemite National Park next week to celebrate the 100th anniversary of America's park system.

President Obama is expected to visit sometime between Friday and Saturday of next week and will likely bring more people out to a place that thousands come out to every day.

A message from President Obama was posted on the White House's Facebook page letting everyone know he, his wife, and two daughters would be visiting the popular attraction.

One Kyle Hrabovsky from Pittsburgh is seeing for the first time.

"Great thing for the president and his kids to do. I'm in awe honestly, I do not see this in Pittsburgh."

White House officials said the president has made it a point to invest in America's natural resources, supporting national parks, monuments, and forest.

It's a mission that since he's been in office has led him to protect more than 265 million acres of public lands and waters across The country, something the White House noted is more than any other president in history.

Some tourists though, like Laura Wolfe from Chicago, think it's great the president is coming, but Wolfe is also relieved it's not happening during her trip to this breathtaking place.

"I'm bummed that I missed it, and yet I'm excited that I'm not here with the crowd and the hassle."

Yosemite National Parks said it will increase security for the president's visit.

In addition to visiting Yosemite, President Obama and his family will take a trip to Carlsbad Caverns in Southeastern New Mexico.