Joshua Tree is one of the lesser known and visited properties in the National Park System. This is most likely because it is in the middle of the desert and there isn’t much close by. The closest big city is Palm Springs at 1 1/2 hours away. Despite it’s low key status, it’s a great park and the highlights can easily be visited in a day.
Highlights:
-The stars of the park are, of course, the joshua trees that dot the landscape. Despite their name, they are actually yucca plants with furry looking “trunks”. Unlike most vegetation, they thrive in dry climates and many of the desert wildlife depend on them for food an water.
-Set on top of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, Key’s View is the most picturesque spot in the park. From here you can see the entire Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. The weather wasn’t great when we visited but the scenery was worth braving the winds.
-Joshua Tree is very popular with rock climbers because a big part of the park is covered with giant rocks. Even if you don’t have the desire or ability to scale them, they are still awe inspiring to look at. We especially liked Cap Rock, which looks like it’s wearing a baseball cap and Skull Rock, so called because it strongly resembles a skull.
-Driving through the park there are a lot of wide open spaces so it’s a bit of a surprise to come upon the Cholla Cactus Garden, an area covered with multi-colored cholla cactuses. Although they look fluffy, they are, obviously, prickly so you can get close, but watch yourself!
Everyone knows I love national parks and while I adore the grandness of the Grand Canyon and vast diversity of Yellowstone, there is something quite refreshing about a simple park like Joshua Tree. It may not be flashy, but that also makes it much less crowded and the sense of peace and tranquility that comes from being alone in nature is what the parks are really all about.
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I first wanted to visit Palm Springs years ago when I read that Elvis Presley had spent his honeymoon there. I figured if it was nice enough for The King, it was surely nice enough for me. Even though it’s located in the desert, it’s anything but desolate and it’s just under a two hour drive from Los Angeles.
Highlights:
-Since Palm Springs is so flat, it tends to get very windy which makes it the perfect location for a wind farm. You can’t miss the huge one located in the San Gorgonio Pass consisting of more than 3,000 windmills. The giant white structures line the ground in neat rows all the way to the horizon and it’s quite a sight.
-A great way to see the city is to ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of Mount San Jacinto. No matter where you stand, you’ll get to see everything because the tram rotates 360 degrees as it moves. In fact, it’s the largest rotating tram in the world! At the top there are restaurants and various activities like hiking or snowshoeing depending on the season.
-Palm Springs has many excellent hiking trails and the most popular are located in the Indian Canyons. The canyons sit on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation but are open to the public daily for a small admission fee. Will and I hiked Palm Canyon, so called for it’s large palm tree oasis that winds along the ravine at the bottom. It’s so peaceful and was one of the nicest hikes I’ve ever done. We also really enjoyed Tahquitz Canyon which has a 2 mile loop trail that leads you past Tahquitz Falls, a pretty, 60 foot waterfall.
-I didn’t expect to find a world class art museum in the desert, but the Palm Springs Art Museum is just that. It has an excellent collection of American and local art and a great glass studio. It also hosts a variety of impressive special exhibitions.
-If you happen to drive in or out of Palm Springs via Highway 10, be sure you stop in Cabazon to see the famous dinosaurs at the truck stop there. The huge Apatosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex statues may be random, but they will definitely make you smile. Nearby, Hadley Fruit Orchards is a great place to stop for some of their famous trail mix or a delicious date shake.
Even though most people think of Palm Springs as a seasonal destination, it’s actually a vibrant city year round. It does get very hot in the summer but there are plenty of pools and fun indoor attractions equipped with air-conditioning. It’s a calm, laid-back city but it’s a city none the less filled with people of all ages and a wide variety of things to do.
For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.
People picture different things when they hear about Death Valley National Park. I always thought of a desert while Will imagined the patterned salt flats but everyone thinks of extreme weather. Summers in the park are brutally hot so most people visit in the winter when the temperatures are comfortably in the 70s during the day and the 50s at night.
When Will and I decided to spend Christmas in Las Vegas, I remembered that Death Valley is only about 2 1/2 hours from there and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to check it out.
Highlights:
-Death Valley is very isolated and there are few lodging options. The nicest place to stay is the Furnace Creek Inn. At $300/night, the rooms are expensive but they are well appointed and many offer spectacular views of the park. In addition, the Inn has a natural, spring fed pool which stays at a temperature of 85 degrees year round and is flanked by fireplaces to help guests dry after a swim. If you can’t splurge on the Inn, there are more affordable rooms and cabins, as well as a campground nearby. I do recommend the Inn dining room either way as the food is fantastic but reservations should be made in advance.
-It’s hard to imagine someone living in Death Valley but Scotty’s Castle is proof that it’s not only possible, but can be done in style! In the 1920s, Chicago millionaire Albert Johnson built a mansion in the northern section of Death Valley to serve as a vacation home. He chose the area for its dry climate and because his friend, and renowned con man, Walter Scott loved it so much. The unlikely pair met when Johnson got caught up in one of Scott’s schemes. Johnson loved Scott’s carefree, wild lifestyle and the two became friends. Scott liked to tell people the mansion was his, hence the name “Scotty’s Castle”. Today the property is owned by the park and there are excellent guided tours offered frequently. The house is very interesting and it gives visitors a unique picture of Death Valley’s past. Right off of the castle road is a turn for the Ubehebe Crater, a 600 foot deep chasm caused by a volcano 300 years ago. Whether or not you choose to hike in or around the crater, be sure to visit in the morning or mid-day when the sun is bright for the best views.
-The main attraction at Salt Creek is the little pupfish that live in the salty water. Pupfish are known for their ability to live in extreme conditions and this is the only place in the world to see this particular species. Unfortunately, the fish are only active in the spring so we didn’t see them, but we still enjoyed the peacefulness of the creek and walking the boardwalk that winds all around it.
-I mentioned before that I pictured the park as a desert and there are areas that are covered in sand dunes. We visited the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and it was definitely a highlight of our time in Death Valley. You can easily reach the area on foot after parking on the road although it is a hike to the taller dunes. The sand is very fine so boots are a must and it’s important to stay aware of how far and high you’ve walked as you want to make sure you have the energy to get back. Being among the dunes is really fun! It feels like a giant sandbox and the sand absorbs a lot of sound so you feel alone even with other people around. Many people visit the dunes at night in the moonlight but Will and I weren’t brave enough to return after dark with rattlesnakes around.
-In contrast to the sandy hills of Mesquite, Badwater Basin is low and covered in salt crystals. At 282ft below sea level, it’s the lowest point in North America. There is a sign in the mountains above the parking lot to mark sea level so you can see just how low you are. Walking on the salt flats is allowed except in the summer when Badwater is typically the hottest area in the park. It was in Badwater that the second highest temperature on Earth of 134F was recorded in 1913! The nearby Devil’s Golf Course is also covered in salt crystals but unlike the flat Basin it is rocky and jagged.
-In the late 1800s several borax refineries were located in Death Valley. There are ruins and an original wagon at the Harmony Borax Works where you can read about the tough life the workers and their famous 20 mule team had transporting the goods. To learn even more, you can pay a visit to the Borax Museum at the Furnace Creek Ranch which is small but very interesting and is open late.
-There are many beautiful canyons and scenic trails in the park. Zabriskie Point is the best place to watch the sun come up and its rays bounce off the slotted walls of Golden Canyon. In your car, Artist’s Drive will take you through brightly colored mountains that look painted and the one way road through 20 Mule Team Canyon is full of fun twists and turns. Although some of the roads are unpaved, all of these places can be reached without difficulty in a standard vehicle .
I love all of the U.S. National Parks but Death Valley stands out because of its diversity. In a place famous for extreme conditions you would hardly expect to see such a variety of natural and man-made sights. Death Valley is like a collection of several different parks and each one is as equally impressive and worthy of a visit as the last.
For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.
San Francisco is one of the most beautiful and fun cities in the United States. We are always happy to find an excuse to visit and there are always so many things to do. Plus, Will says he left his heart there…
Highlights:
-Riding on the trolleys in San Francisco is as much a of a necessity as it is fun. Will and I are walking people but one look at the mountains that serve as streets and we were ready to buy a 3-day public transportation card. It was a wise move and very enjoyable. Will insisted on hanging off the edge which made me a little nervous, but you should try it at least once because there’s nothing like it!
-The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of America’s best. There are always incredible special exhibits and the museum’s permanent collection is excellent. It includes several paintings by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
-Alcatraz was by far the highlight of our trip. We bought our tickets online a few days before and I highly recommend doing that as all the tours seem to sell out. An audio tour is offered at an additional cost and you MUST get it as it is great and I can’t imagine walking through without it. A boat takes you over to the island and you then must walk a somewhat lengthy incline to the prison. Inside you pick up the audio tour and it takes you through the world that was Alcatraz. Alcatraz was a “super prison” which means all the inmates there were sent by other facilities for bad behavior. In fact, many prison wardens kept a picture of Alcatraz on their desks as a reminder to inmates where they would be sent if they didn’t behave. I’m sure you’ve heard of some the criminals who spent time there….Al Capone and Robert Stroud “the birdman of Alcatraz” are a couple. (Robert Stroud actually never had birds at Alcatraz and the fact that he had them at his previous prison contributed to his being sent to Alcatraz). Walking through the prison while listening to voices of former guards and inmates is pretty eerie. People say that Alcatraz is haunted and I can see why. I was constantly getting chills in that place. I think we can watch a lot of movies about criminals and prison life, but I doubt they even come close to the reality. Being inside the real thing sure makes you appreciate life on the outside.
-Fisherman’s Wharf is a great place to walk, shop and people watch. The water is lined with shops and treats and an area a group of wild sea lions decided to make theirs long ago. They lie, sometimes in the hundreds sunning themselves and barking. Next to the sea lions is an unimpressive aquarium.
-Ghirardelli Square, is the home of the original Ghirardelli chocolate store and their famous ice cream shop where their specialty is hot fudge sundaes.
-The Powell-Hyde Trolley stops right at the top of Lombard Street “the crookedest street in the world”. Now the nickname is not actually true, but the street is pretty crooked and it’s where you’ll find some of the nicest houses in the city including the Real World house. It is also lined with stairs so you can safely walk to the bottom.
-The best view of the city is from the top of the Coit Tower. Not surprisingly, the tower is located on a huge hill. You can take a bus to the top or you can walk the famous Filbert or Greenwich Steps. Many people take one set of steps up and the other down. I’ll warn you, it’s rough on the knees, but the gardens and art deco houses are worth the effort. Another advantage to walking…you get to see the parrots of Telegraph Hill. A flock of wild conure parrots call the hill their home and if you’re not sure where to find them, just listen. Interestingly enough, a movie was made about the parrots and it’s really good. Will and I saw it right when it came out.
-Chinatown here is the biggest one out of Asia. It’s also the cleanest I’ve ever seen. I recommend stopping by a bakery and picking up a sweet cocktail bun.
-The Presidio is a former army post which is now a national park. Although the park itself is very nice, the real reason to go is to visit The Walt Disney Family Museum located on the grounds. It’s an incredible, state of the art facility dedicated to Walt Disney and it chronicles his life and the history of the Disney Company. I am not the type to look at everything in a museum, but the exhibits here are so engaging and the story is so fascinating, I didn’t want to miss any of it.
-A visit to San Francisco would be incomplete without a trip to the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a quick ride by bus or car to the park. It’s really a beautiful bridge. We walked to the halfway point…it’s longer than it looks! Looking out over the water we could see the city, Alcatraz Island, sailboats and a little seal swimming along!
Just one tip….be cautious. There are more homeless people in San Francisco than I’ve ever seen in one place before. Many seem to be strung out too, but as long as you are alert and keep an eye on your belongings you don’t have to worry too much. There are some areas that are apparently very bad that you should steer clear of. The staff of our hotel was nice enough to mark off the areas for us to stay out of on a map. I think it’s a good practice whenever you travel to ask at the front desk when you check in if there are any areas of the place you are visiting that are unsafe.
For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.
Just 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is Muir Woods National Monument. Muir Woods is a 560 acre forest home to giant redwood trees, some over 1,000 years old and 240 feet tall. The roads to the park are steep and winding but it’s worth the climb. I suggest arriving early as parking is limited and fills up fast. To avoid hassles during peak times, you may want to park in Marin City and take the Muir Woods shuttle up to the park.
Start at the Visitor’s Center for information on the park’s history and for a map. There are over 6 miles of hiking trails which vary in length and difficulty. If you are short on time, there is a loop trail offering stunning views of the trees which can be completed in just 30 minutes. Aside from the redwoods, Muir Woods is home to many different species of animals and plants. You are sure to see a variety of beautiful birds and flowers and if you are in a quieter area, you might even see a deer. It is nearly impossible to take pictures which will do the park justice, but it is a thrill to sit and stand inside the trunks of the world’s tallest trees.
For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.
Will and I drove to Calistoga, California at the top of Napa Valley from Santa Barbara. We left early and took the scenic route along the Pacific Coast Highway and through Big Sur. It was pretty, but as there was a thick fog, our view was limited.
Calistoga is famous for its mud. Because of the volcanic ash runoff from Mt. St. Helena, Calistoga’s water is rich with minerals. This water is bottled and sold and also used in the many spas located in town where the treatment of choice is a mud bath. An interesting fact about Calistoga is how it got its name. Back when it became a town, people compared it to Saratoga Springs, a similar spa town in upstate New York. People called it the Saratoga of California which ultimately became Calistoga.
Highlights:
-As I just mentioned, Calistoga is famous for mud baths so of course Will and I had to try one. We opted for a couples mud bath so we could share the experience. It starts with a 10 minute soak in a tub of mud after which you rinse off in a mineral water shower. Then you soak in a mineral jacuzzi for 10 minutes before finally being wrapped up in blankets to rest in the dark for another 20 minutes. It’s incredibly relaxing and a lot of fun to do as a couple. It was the perfect thing for Will and I after our long ride. The best thing about spa treatments in Calistoga? They are cheap! There are so many spas around that the competition is steep and the prices stay low. Will and I couldn’t resist returning the following night for a couples massage!
-Calistoga is home to one of the world’s three “Old Faithful” geysers. Geysers are given the title “Old Faithful” if they perform or blow at regular intervals. You probably already knew that one of the other geysers is in Yellowstone Park and you may or may not know the third is in New Zealand. The geyser in Calistoga erupts every 10-40 minutes. It will give off smaller spurts pretty often, but it is worth waiting around to see a full eruption. It lasts several minutes and reaches heights of 60-100 feet in the air. You can actually run under the water too because though it is hot coming out of the ground, by the time it hits you it has already cooled. Interestingly enough, the geyser actually predicts earthquakes. When the intervals between eruptions start lasting hours instead of minutes, that signifies a coming quake!
-The largest petrified trees are located in the Petrified Forest right in Calistoga. It’s a small park, but the trees are huge and it is cool to see giant trees which were snapped like matchsticks and turned to stone after a volcanic eruption 3 million years ago.
-Last but by no means least, the highlight of Napa Valley is without a doubt the wine. Santa Barbara may have vineyards but Napa is vineyards. You won’t pass a space of land not covered with grapes! There are so many wineries to visit and taste at. The problem is that you have to drive to all of them, so if you are driving you really do have to be aware of how much you are drinking. The vineyards close at 5pm and I believe this is to prevent people from drinking all day and night. Some people decide to hire a car to drive them around so they don’t have to worry. Will and I realized we didn’t have time to visit all of them, so we decided to visit different types of wineries. We started at the oldest continiously operating vineyard in the area, Beringer Brothers. Currently owned by Foster’s, Beringer is a huge operation and is very touristy. We went there to tour their wine caves and learn how wine is made. Our next stop was Domaine Carneros which is a newer winery that offers tastings in a Disneyesque chateau on a beautiful hillside. The setting was perfect for sipping on sparkling wine and snacking on a cheese plate. Finally we stopped at Larson Family Winery which was a small barn converted to a bar. The tasting here was free and the wine was top notch. Larson was the only place we actually bought wine to bring home.
After two nights in Napa, Will and I headed to Oakland for our flight home. On the way we stopped at the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, CA. I had no idea it takes up to 72 hours to make each jellybean! There are so many steps in the process and we got to see it firsthand. The tour is free and at the end you get a free bag of Jelly Bellys. If you are hungry, the cafe offers pizza, hot dogs and burgers shaped like jellybeans! We were glad we arrived at the factory early because it got crowded fast!
For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.
Those of you who saw the movie Sideways, know that Solvang is a Danish town located in Santa Barbara county. Solvang is known for it’s Danish architecture, it’s Danish food, it’s wine as there are many vineyards in the area and of course it is best known as the shooting location for the aforementioned movie, Sideways.
Highlights:
-The food in Solvang is amazing! Will and I just couldn’t stop eating. From the Danish pancakes at Paula’s Pancake House to the prix fixe “Sideways” dinner at the Los Olivos Cafe, everything was delicious! There are also many little bakeries perfect for for a snack…remember that Denmark is famous for danish so it’s perfectly acceptable to indulge in a pastry while you are in Solvang.
-Wine tastings in Solvang are fun and affordable. There are many little wine shops in the shopping area that offer tastings of 5 or more wines for a mere $5 and if you stop into Olive House, you can pair each wine with a different gourmet stuffed olive for a couple of dollars more as wine country is also olive country. There are some vineyards in the area that also offer tastings and a good one is Kalyra which is featured in Sideways and seems to be a hot spot for a younger crowd. I think the nearby town of Los Olivos is a fine place to taste as there are many places close enough together to walk to so you don’t have to worry about driving after.
-The cute little shops in Solvang are a great place to buy something unique for a friend or for yourself. Will and I especially liked the Jule Hus which features Danish Christmas ornaments and decorations and Pebble People, a clock store that has a fine collection of German cuckoo clocks.
-Nojoqui Falls is a perfect place to visit if you want to get away from the town and feel close to nature. It is beautiful and just a ten minute hike from the Nojoqui Falls Park parking area. Will and I went in the morning and only saw a couple of other people.
-A trip to Solvang would not be complete without stopping at OstrichLand. There are many farms and ranches in Solvang and it is fun seeing the horses and cows, but seeing a farm of ostriches is a sight unlike any other. Not only can you get up close enough to them to feed them, but they seem to like posing for pictures too. There were even a couple of baby ostriches there when we went. A gift shop offers ostrich eggs both empty and full and ostrich feathers and meat. Wondering what you could make with an ostrich egg? Well, anything you would make with a chicken egg, just keep in mind that one ostrich egg equals 24 chicken eggs!
For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.
This trip was planned a year in advance and my family, mom Mary, dad Chris, sister Meaghan and brother Chris, joined us. Even though we had plenty of time to research the park, nothing could have prepared us for the shock of how beautiful it is in person.
Highlights:
-There are many tours offered at Yosemite, but the Grand Tour will give you the best taste of the whole park. It’s a full day tour and a great way to start your trip and figure out what you want to see more of. The tour will take you to Glacier Point where you have the best view of the park, Mariposa Grove for an open air tram ride through some big trees and the historic Wawona Hotel where you should spring for the delicious lunch in the restaurant.
-There are several great hikes varying in difficulty at Yosemite. We decided to do the strenuous hike to the middle of Yosemite Falls. Strenuous is putting it mildly. With the high altitude and rock covered switchbacks you can easily slip or turn an ankle. Will actually did hurt his foot. No matter which hike you choose, start early so you have plenty of time to rest, bring lots of water and snacks and make sure you communicate with your group. My mother and brother decided to go all the way to the top, which is awesome, but it was a little worrisome for the rest of us when they were missing for four hours because they never told us!
-If you are a mountain climber, you probably already know Yosemite is a haven for climbing. The most popular climb is to the top of El Capitan. Just make sure you have the time as it takes 5 or 6 days to complete. Otherwise, it’s fun to climber watch. With a pair of binoculars you can usually find a climber or two on the face of the mountain…especially if they are wearing bright colors.
-The Ahwahnee Hotel is a taste of how the upper crust lives and a must see. At over $500/night for a room, it’s out of most people’s price range, but even if you can’t sleep there, you must eat there. The food is amazing…if heaven had a restaurant, this would be it. The ceilings are vaulted, the windows are huge and a live piano player takes requests. It’s pricey, but you’re on vacation and you only have to eat there one night. After, you can walk around the grounds, have a drink in the bar or visit one of the gift shops.
-The full moon is an event each month at Yosemite. When it breaks over the mountains, it lights up Yosemite Valley giving it a beautiful glow. Night time tram tours are offered. At the moment the moonlight hits the base of Yosemite Falls, a beautiful arc, called a moonbow is formed. Sometimes it is colorful like a rainbow and sometimes it is just white. Either way, it’s really a unique phenomenon to experience. The moonbow can be seen the night of the full moon and a couple of days prior but the exact time gets later each night. The Yosemite employees are the best people to ask about the time to head out.
-There are many beautiful animals living in Yosemite. Some critters you might see include birds, bears, coyotes, raccoons and deer. Yosemite Lodge has great floor to ceiling windows perfect for wildlife watching.
Tips:
-Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead. Yosemite is very popular. Hotels really must be booked a year in advance, dinner reservations can be made a month in advance and tours can be booked seven days ahead.
-Watch those bugs! We had to do a mosquito sweep of our room every night and Will wiped down our headboard with OFF.
-Don’t feed the animals. Not only will you get fined if caught doing this, it’s also dangerous. Many of the animals have fleas and some carry bubonic plague. No one wants plague! Stay away from those squirrels!
-Follow the rules! Don’t be hanging off ledges. People die every year stepping off trails. You can get great pictures without putting your life in danger.
-Enjoy nature. Make sure you have some quiet time to just sit and take in your surroundings. National Parks have the power to remind you what is important in life.
For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.
This trip was a LONG time coming. A few years ago my Dad casually mentioned to me that he would love to do a Sequoia/Yosemite trip. It was somewhat close to the summer and he thought it would be a good trip for the season. I knew from my experience at the Grand Canyon that National Parks are very popular during the summer months and lodge accommodations have to be booked at least a year in advance. At that time only camping was available which horrified everyone except my Dad. I told him that if he would wait, I would plan the trip for the following year and make sure we got to stay in the parks, in the lodges and got to eat at the historic restaurants too. He agreed and after year of planning, we were off! It was a family trip so in addition to me and Will in the pictures, you will see my dad, Chris, my mom, Mary, my sister, Meaghan and my brother Chris.
Highlights:
-The coolest thing about coming here is that you get to see two parks in one. Sequoia and King’s Canyon are connected, but so different and only visiting one is really cheating yourself. While Sequoia is full of forest and giant trees, King’s Canyon is rocks, canyons and waterfalls. The contrast is beautiful.
-The trees in Sequoia! Duh! Big isn’t the word…I mean you may think you’ve seen a big tree, but nothing compares to these. It’s hard to describe the size, but it would take 20 people holding hands to circle some of these giants. The must sees are the General Sherman Tree, the largest living thing in the world by volume, the Tunnel Log, which you can drive through, Grant’s Grove and the Big Trees Trail in the Giant Forest.
-Crystal Cave is a nice, cool trip out of the forest. It’s about 30 degrees cooler inside and you are treated to some beautiful marble formations that look more like sculptures in a museum than rock. A cave is a living organism and evidence of this is everywhere in the form of acidic rivers and pools shaping crystal-like structures. You can take pictures, but don’t touch as the oils on our skin can disturb the sensitive balance required to maintain the cave’s beauty. One last thing, you can only visit the cave on a tour and tickets must be purchased at the visitor’s center which is a 45 minute drive from the cave’s entrance, so plan accordingly.
-The top of Moro Rock is the place to go for the best view of Sequoia. There are nearly 400 steep steps on the granite dome that will take you to the summit. It’s not the easiest of climbs, but the breathtaking sight is worth the effort.
-The most beautiful sections of King’s Canyon can only be reached on foot. The hikes range in difficulty and duration with some taking several days to complete. A couple of easy ones that we did are the short walks to Roaring River Falls and Grizzly Falls and the loop around Zumwalt Meadow which takes you through rocks and over bridges. Just watch out for snakes in the Meadow…my Dad almost stepped on one!
Tips:
-Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead. I really can’t stress this enough. America loves their National Parks and so do Europeans who have ample vacation time. You can avoid so many headaches if you do your homework and make reservations early. Some roads and attractions are closed during the winter. Decide ahead of time what you want to see so you won’t miss anything.
-Most of the dining options in Sequoia/King’s Canyon are only open during the summer. The exception is the Wuksachi Lodge dining room which is wonderful but expensive. I suggest eating there at least one night…be sure to make a reservation. There is a market open year round where you can buy food to prepare in your rooms, which are equipped with a fridge. Another nice place to eat is Stony Creek Lodge which has a casual pizza counter and is located right outside Sequoia. The pizza is absolutely delicious!
-Get a convertible. It’s not just to look cool. If you really want to enjoy some of the most scenic drives in America, you are going to see a lot more without a roof. Just be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen during the hot hours so you don’t get burned.
-Bring bug spray. It is a forest and there are mosquitoes. Nothing ruins a trip like West Nile virus!
-Be bear aware. Don’t leave anything aromatic in your car. The bears will bust in at just the sight of a grocery bag….I’ve seen the pictures to prove it.
-Be camera ready. Make sure you have enough film, batteries and memory to take a ton of pictures as I promise you will want to.
-Get inspired. People cared enough to save these parks for future generations…that means us. We don’t have a right to deny those that come after us the same courtesy. Everyone deserves a chance to experience the beauty and serenity of our National Parks. Follow the rules, appreciate nature and think of the little ways you can make a difference.
For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.
