Lee Vining, California

On the southwest shore of Mono Lake is the unincorporated community of Lee Vining, California. It is at an elevation of 6,781 feet and has a population of about two hundred fifty people. Its economy relies heavily on tourism, since it is the closest town to the eastern entrance of Yosemite National Park. In addition to Mono Lake, other popular nearby attractions include the ghost town of Bodie, June Lake, trout fishing destinations, and Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort.

Summer is the busiest season as State Route 120, which intersects with State Route 395 in Lee Vining, and ascends up Lee Vining Canyon to 9,941 foot Tioga Pass into Yosemite is closed about seven months of the year due to heavy snowfall. The Lee Vining Airport is near the town. The community also has a public library, an elementary and high school, and a year–round Information Center for visitors.

Lee Vining has also been known as "Poverty Flats" and "Lakeview". Leroy Vining, founded the town in 1852 as a mining camp. The famous mining towns of Bodie, California and Aurora, Nevada are near Lee Vining. The name Poverty Flats came for its unfavorable conditions for agriculture. In the 1920s, the town took the name of "Lakeview" but it was subsequently learned there was already a town of Lakeview, California. The town took the unique name of Lee Vining in 1953.

The city of Mammoth Lakes, California, a popular recreation area with a population of 7,500 people, is located thirty miles south of Lee Vining. It is home to Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, which is the closest major ski resort from Southern California. There is also a scenic route that takes you out to June Lake between Lee Vining and Mammoth Lakes.