| ign="center"> | | | | 11,000 trees in five square miles. |
| Sequoia National Park is known for its tall trees, | | | | We noticed on our swing through the park that |
| but visitors will be surprised to find one of the | | | | there are numerous walks and hikes through the |
| best caves they will ever want to explore. | | | | trees - a really spectacular opportunity to get up |
| Oh the giant Sequoia trees are impressive, all | | | | close and personal with these giant treasures. In |
| right. Who would not marvel at trees that weigh | | | | addition to the Sequoias, there are Ponderosa |
| 2.7 million pounds, that are more than 2,000 years | | | | pine, sugar pine, red fir and foxtail pine, all growing |
| old and have branches seven feet in diameter? | | | | to greater than normal size because of the area's |
| More about those later, but along the way to see | | | | climate. If you like the Great Outdoors, there is |
| the trees we stopped in at the Foothills Visitor | | | | no better place to marvel at Nature's beauty. |
| Center just after we entered Sequoia National | | | | There are also numerous places to stop and |
| Park. There was a line at the counter so we | | | | enjoy the views from the park. The roads |
| figured something was worth waiting for, so we | | | | through Sequoia take you high into the Sierra |
| nudged a little closer to see just what all the fuss | | | | Nevada range and, on a clear day, the views of |
| was about. The visitors in line were signing up for | | | | nearby mountains, or even down into the San |
| the Crystal Cave, a guided tour that cost $10 for | | | | Joaquin Valley, are spectacular. The view from |
| each adult, less for kids, and that was still another | | | | Moro Rock is said to be one of the best. |
| several miles' drive into the park. OK, we told the | | | | If you want to make a weekend of it, there are |
| ticket-seller, we're game. | | | | several places in the park, and at the edge of the |
| Next came a long, windy drive -- first up into the | | | | park where you can spend the evening. There |
| park, and then down several miles into a canyon | | | | are eight lodging facilities in Sequoia and Kings |
| to a parking area. From there, we still had a | | | | Canyon parks, as well as several more in the |
| half-mile walk down a steep trail until it seemed | | | | nearby areas of Three Rivers and Lemon Cove. |
| we were almost down to the rushing river below. | | | | Several campgrounds in the park offer spaces for |
| And then there it was: the entrance to Crystal | | | | RV camping, although some are more primitive |
| Cave, mother of all Sequoia caves, or at least the | | | | and allow only tents. If you're bringing an RV, |
| one the public is most invited to explore. | | | | travel on the park roadways can be a little |
| Now this is not just any cave. The entrance is | | | | harrowing at times because roads are steep and |
| maybe just a little smaller than a railroad tunnel | | | | narrow in some spots. Leaving Sequoia Park, |
| and no one is allowed in without a park escort. | | | | there is a long downgrade and you'll want to be |
| The guide will take groups of 70 persons or | | | | sure to downshift rather than ride your brakes - |
| fewer into the cave and through the maze of | | | | the locals told us that vehicles of all sizes come |
| many adjacent caves and chambers until, quite | | | | down out of the park with brakes smoking due |
| honestly, we probably never could have found our | | | | to overuse. |
| own way out. I guess this is why, when a little | | | | But whether it's trees or caves you're after, the |
| boy had to go to the bathroom, he was escorted | | | | long, windy road to Sequoia National Park is worth |
| back to the entrance by a second tour guide. | | | | it. After all, some of these trees have been |
| Aside from the spookiness that naturally comes | | | | waiting for you since before the time of Christ. |
| from burrowing so far into the earth and its dark | | | | AT A GLANCE |
| inner chambers, the real pay-off on this tour is | | | | WHERE: Sequoia National Park is located in the |
| the natural beauty. All along the way, from "room" | | | | central Sierra Nevada mountain range. One of the |
| to room, we saw gorgeous stalactites and | | | | best ways to reach the park is by way of |
| "curtains," as well as ornate marble and all kinds of | | | | Highway 198, which heads east from Visalia. |
| crystal formations that made this look like some | | | | Highway 198 turns into the Generals Highway, the |
| sort of Hollywood movie set. Fortunately, there | | | | primary road through the park. The north |
| are paved, lighted pathways that we followed - | | | | entrance can be reached from Fresno by taking |
| our guide never far away - and the rooms had | | | | Highway 180 east. |
| just enough illumination to showcase the | | | | WHAT: Sequoia National Park is famous for some |
| formations and their brilliance. | | | | of the largest trees in the world and some of the |
| On this hot summer day, the 48-degree | | | | highest mountains in the U.S. The park also |
| temperature of the caves was refreshing. Our | | | | contains more than 100 marble solution caves, |
| 45-minute tour was fascinating every step of the | | | | including the Crystal Cave, which is shown to |
| way, and climaxed when our tour guide turned | | | | visitors in tour groups of 70 people or fewer. |
| off the lights to show us what total darkness was | | | | WHEN: Summer is the best time to avoid |
| all about: nothing but black and not a thing visible, | | | | hazardous driving, as there can be snow in the |
| even an inch in front of your face. Our guide told | | | | park up until June. The Crystal Cave tours are |
| us there have been times when the power | | | | offered from May 8 through November 14, |
| generator has failed so, at this point, we were | | | | weather permitting. You can't take your trailer or |
| just about ready to return to the entrance. While | | | | huge motorhome on the Crystal Cave road and |
| many of the rooms are huge, this tour definitely | | | | you should figure about 90 minutes to get to the |
| is not for the claustrophobic. | | | | cave site. |
| If you have some older folks in your party, keep | | | | WHY: Sequoia National Park is one of California's |
| in mind the trip back up to the parking lot is a | | | | natural treasures. |
| fairly steep hike. But what an experience - well | | | | HOW: For more information on Sequoia National |
| worth the price of admission and clearly the | | | | Park, phone (559) 565-3341. For several lodging |
| highlight of our visit to the park. | | | | options, call 866-875-8456. One lodging choice that |
| Sequoia is the second oldest park in the national | | | | has been recommended to us is the Plantation |
| park system - only Yellowstone predates it. Most | | | | Bed and Breakfast Inn in Lemon Cove. This inn |
| people come to see the Sequoia trees, which | | | | has a Gone with the Wind theme, with various |
| appear in several groves scattered throughout | | | | rooms named after characters in the film and |
| the park. The trees grow to a height in excess of | | | | decorations to match. It's located a short drive |
| 300 feet, second in height only to the Redwood | | | | from the park's southern entrance. Phone |
| trees of Northern California, but considerably | | | | 800-240-1466. |
| larger in girth. | | | | Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and |
| With a little research you learn that the Sequoia | | | | president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of |
| tree gets so large because it grows throughout | | | | focusing on California travel, and which covers |
| its life and it's virtually impervious to disease. They | | | | Northwest travel. |
| only topple because of natural disasters, which | | | | Report this article |
| explains how it's possible to have a tree like the | | | | This article is free for republishing |
| General Sherman tree - a park highlight and said | | | | Source: |
| to be the oldest living thing in the world. The | | | | Republish this article |
| General Sherman tree is 36 feet in diameter at its | | | | |
| base and you could put a 15-story building under | | | | Ask a Question About this Article |
| its first branch. | | | | >> How can i send aleksa palladino from |
| The Sequoias are only at certain elevations in the | | | | boardwalk empire an e mail |
| park - generally between 5,000 and 7,000 feet. | | | | >> How can i get my gear shift out of the |
| There are 75 groves in the park with most of | | | | park position. we have tried the override switch |
| the pictures taken in the "Giant Forest" at about | | | | still no use it is a chrysler 300 touring series |
| 6,500 feet. The world's oldest trees are found | | | | >> What is it like to live in California???? |
| here and, believe it or not, there are almost | | | | |