Parks

Yosemite National Park is one of California’s most popular parks and during the summer, the valley is crowded with hikers, campers, climbers and other travelers who come to soak in the stunning beauty of the landscape. If you are looking for a great national park nearby that gets less visitors but has plenty of natural beauty in it’s own right (including the world’s largest tree), head to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon, located around 3 hours driving distance from Yosemite and a little less than four hours from Los Angeles.

Once at Sequoia National Park, head to the Giant Forest, home of General Sherman, the world’s largest tree at over 274 feet tall (83.8 meters). After some awe-inspiring moments at the tree (including some attempts to capture it in photo), follow the paved, two mile congress trail, an easy stroll where you can catch a glimpse of other popular sequoias including the General Lee and McKinley Trees.

To get an idea of what you can expect during your visit, read one family’s account of visit this part of the park - Bates’ big trip visited at the start of their around the world adventure with their kids:

“Bright and early the next morning we took a 2 mile circuit of the Giant Forest, just a few miles from the lodge. The sign at the top proclaims General Sherman to be the largest tree on earth but having seen what we had the previous day we were prepared to find little different here. Such an incredible sight it was though, that as soon as I saw it I had to stifle a laugh. It was magnificently ridiculous. The pictures we took don’t nearly do it justice, standing at the bottom, staring up at it branches, was almost a religious experience. 40ft wide, 275ft tall and 2,200 years old it made yesterday’s ‘sapling’ pale into insignificance. And it was just the beginning, over the next two miles there must have been fifty such beasts some standing alone some in tight groups, all beyond the powers of my small vocabulary to describe. Just go there, I promise you will thank me if you do. For me, the highlight of our trip so far.” (more…)

Also visit nps.gov for more information on trails, history of the park and more.

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Summer is nearly upon us, RealTravelers, have you prepared yourselves? For many of us, summer is the one part of the year we have the time (vacation time, specifically) to set out on those big adventures; the trips we’ve been scrimping and saving for all winter long, like the ants from that famous story involving the lethargic grasshopper, except seasonally and perhaps thematically, the opposite. Yes RealTravelers, the sunny summer travel season is just around the corner and we know that some of you are still knitting your brows together, fretting over where to go in these coming months, what to see, how to see it…

May we make a suggestion? May we make a suggestion involving four wheels (or six to eight, depending on your budget)? We may? Then why not make this the summer you see the great American landscape from the road—the Route 66’s, the I-94’s, the pit-stop greasy spoons, campgrounds, and canyons both grand and not so grand—all from the majestic comfort of an RV?

Now, the thought of maneuvering such a large vehicle can be intimidating, but that’s what makes summer the perfect time to get behind the wheel. You’ll be able to avoid many winter hazards, such as snow or ice, and as an added bonus, you’ll be able to sleep much more comfortably (read: warmly) in campgrounds around the country.

Last summer, RealTraveler, brc, traveled across half the country, making his way with his parents from park to park in their rented RV, lovingly dubbed “Shep”, after its license plate that began with “5HEP”. Setting off from San Francisco, the group traveled from the Bay Area, to Yosemite Park, made some time to stop over in Las Vegas, and even got to see the Grand Canyon. Check out an excerpt from his impressions of, as he puts it, the world’s grandest “ditch”, from the view of a helicopter ride he and his family took over the Grand Canyon:

“We took off over the forest and flew towards the canyon - my parents were facing backwards towards me. I could see the edge coming but my Mum couldn’t - the look on her face was priceless as the ground beneath us dissappeared and we shot over the edge of the canyon - one minute youre 40 metres above the ground - the next minute your 1,040 m above the ground. She nearly twisted the arm rest off the seat.”

“The flight was beautiful - perhaps marred only by the amount of haze in the sky - a factor of being summer - there was thunderstorms around but thankfully they all stayed a healthy distance away. We crossed the canyon, circled around the north rim and re-crossed back again. A truly memorable experience.” (more…)

The mystique of the recreational vehicle feels distinctly American, somehow; there’s a frontiersman-like quality to these neo covered wagons. So, it seems not only appropriate to make your way across this country in one, but almost necessary. The RV is a rolling piece of Americana, and one that can be secured relatively cheaply. Many dealers offer discounted rates for RV rentals in nearly every part of the country. A large Class C-30 type RV can comfortably house up to seven people, and start around $450 to rent plus a small fee per mile. Throw in a couple of bucks for sandwiches, gas, and campgrounds and you’ve got an inexpensive experience you’ll remember for a lifetime.

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