Awesome Adventures – Sequoia National Park

In sixth grade, I won a contest. There was no prize. Heck, it wasn’t even worth bragging rights. But for whatever reason, it’s a memory well-tucked in the folds of my brain, crawling to the surface every time I see the word “Sequoia”. We had a lesson on using reference books – dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases – and we closed out the lesson with a little race. On what page can you find so-and-so, that kind of thing. One of the questions was a real stumper – “What tree has every vowel in its name?” We tore through those books, wasting considerable class time in the process, but in the end only one lucky kid could find that answer first. A tree name that uses every vowel: “Sequoia”. And that kid was me!

What does that have to do with Sequoia National Park? Absolutely nothing. USA Travel Guide is the Family Guy of travel blogs.

If you’re still with us, then you must be among the stout-hearted souls considering a vacation to Sequoia National Park. Good on you, fellow adventurer. In your future is a thrilling escape where the air is pure, the scenery lifts the soul and Mother Nature will give you a right good thrashing at the first sign of cockiness.

Sequoia National Park in Central California

Like its neighbors King’s Canyon National Park and Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park is old, massive and dense with adventurous jaunts. In fact, by date of establishment, Sequoia is the oldest of the three, if only by a few days over Yosemite. Although today it doesn’t have the mental shelf space of nearby Yosemite, some of the most famous and popular attractions among the three national parks reside happily in Sequoia. Let’s check them out:

• General Sherman – Sequoia National Park is most famous for its Giant Sequoia trees, notably the ultra-massive General Sherman, the largest tree in the world. A walk through the Giant Forest is a good bucket list item. Everybody should do it at least once.
• Tunnel Log – what do you do when a Giant Sequoia falls across your roadway. You slice out a passage trick people into thinking it’s an attraction. If you’re on wheels, might as well give it a drive.
• Crystal Cave – the national park has 200+ cave formations, but only one is open for tours. The paid tour takes you on a stunning half-mile excursion past some of Crystal Cave’s most remarkable sights. Unusual cave formations, a quick bout of total darkness, maybe a little frightening, but so very cool. Web site.
• Moro Rock – an impressive granite dome near the center of the park that offers a breathtaking outlook to anyone who braves the climb (up the stairs). It’s an easier hike during the summer when the road is open. Moro Rock provides a great, if cliché, photo opportunity and, like the General Sherman, is simply another of those iconic things you have to see and do.
• Everything Else – when you’re done hitting the highlights, this is still a national park. Swimming, hiking, biking, climbing, fishing, camping, running from masked serial killers – it’s got it all.

Sequoia National Park is open around the clock all year long and costs $20 per vehicle to enter (or $10 per person on foot). Summer is the most open season, with nearly all of the snow melted throughout the park, but it can be very hot, and the rivers can be shallower than they appear. As always, when doing anything outside, be aware that you are but a pitiful speck compared to the merciless whims of nature, so don’t be stupid.

Learn more about Sequoia National Park here.

Have fun at Sequoia National Park!

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