Sequoia national Park is quite the experience, but I want to warn you. There is a very long drive…read moreto get up to see the sequoia trees. I believe it was roughly 45 minutes to get up there to begin to see these trees and the road was very long and windy and at one point I was for sure we were going the wrong way even though there's only one way I was for sure. But after that 45 minute drive up, you begin to see these remarkably tall, beautiful sequoia trees as far as they I can see and each one of them more breathtaking than ever we went during winter so I definitely encourage you to check and make sure that you don't need to bring snow chains because to travel to a lot of the areas in winter and other seasons, you might just need snow chains to make it My family had a great time we spent just a few hours walking around and enjoying the beautiful view the fresh Mountain air and getting a chance to interact with other people traveling from all over the country who had come to visit as well. This is also something you must add to your bucket list because even though we only got to see 1/10 of this park, we already have it put back on our bucket list to go again because there's so much more to see here truly breathtaking views and just a relaxing experience all the way around.

All the grandeur of Yosemite, but with half the crowds. And you get two parks for the price of one!…read more Whether you're coming from Visalia or Fresno, a trip to this double park is an easy day trip and excellent opportunity to get away from the valley fog or smog, breathe in some fresh air and escape into nature. No matter what level of engagement or activity you're looking for, these parks offer beautiful and thrilling scenic drives for the car warriors, lovely short and accessible strolls for those not looking for a hike, and serious high country hiking options for those looking for a challenge or adventure of a lifetime. There are countless hikes to high country destinations, including Mt. Whitney and the Pacific Crest Trail. The largest living tree, General Sherman, resides here. As does a canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon. There are two caverns that are accessible to the public (tickets required for both Boyden and Crystal Caverns). So much to see and do! Please note that if you get motion-sick, some of the roads have sheer drop offs, and hairpin turns. Take it slow and don't forget to use turn outs if you get a line of cars behind you...you will make a lot of friends instantly! Wildlife sightings are common. I've seen black bears, yellow bellied marmots, a fisher, squirrels, deer, cottontails, and countless birds and lizards. I know there are bobcats and mountain lions, but haven't had the honor of seeing either--YET. There's snow in the winter that causes road and facility closures in parts of the park. This area is also prone to severe wildfires (manmade and lightning)....so I prefer to visit in the spring or fall. I've visited in every season, and find that each has its own splendor. I hope you have a chance to visit these parks and that your visit brings you a few moments of wonder, and I have experienced with every visit.

I am so glad we got to experience this magical cave. It had been closed for a few years and I am so…read morehappy it's open to the public. Remember make a reservation. Our guide was amazing made everything so interesting. The cave is cool so it definitely got us out of that heat. The hike to the cave could be a little tough you are not a hiker as it contains many steps. You will get to see a waterfall on the way there.

So happy this is open again. It was closed for 4 years due to fires and road erosion. It's safe…read moreto drive now. Book in advance, they fill up early. Pack a picnic munch and store in the bear box. It's a fun to walk down, much with no railing. Then you get to the beautiful series of waterfalls. The cave tour lasts 50 min. It's really amazing. it's lit up so flashlights not needed. Some of the caves are big with so many sparkling features. Watch out for water on the ground. Wear appropriate shoes. Flip flops not recommended for the climb or the caves.

Great stop between LA and Mammoth for kids. There are nearby restaurants and gas stations as well.read more

Beautiful spot to have a picnic. Playground and creek are fun. Also has a gazebo. Plenty of shade…read more Dog park just next to it.

Excellent spot to take a break, let my dogs out and walk the beautiful grounds. Lots of grass,…read morebeautiful trees and plants, stream with two bridges. Plus on the west end of park there is a one mile trail. Just a pleasant spot.

Really nice park with plenty of amenities. Stopped by here to eat our sandwiches we picked up in…read moreBishop. Wind was calm here, unlike at Division Creek up the road. There's a Creek running through and plenty of shade, along with numerous picnic tables on both sides of the creek. They also have grills in a bunch of locations, so grilling is an option if you bringyourown charcoal. There is also a large playground, a half size basketball court, and a couple of locations for horseshoes. Parking appears adequate and there is spillover parking to the South in 2 locations. You can even walk to the museum through the back trail. Definitely worth a stop to soak up some history and just calm.

My family has been camping at Buckeye Flats Campground for over 50 years, starting with my grandma…read moreand her best friend Sylvia. The scenery is beautiful, the river is peaceful, and the campground has a charm that keeps us coming back year after year. It's a special place full of memories for our family.

Best camping place ever it's a wonderful place to take the entire family of just the wife..read more

Legendary park, lots of great memories made at this part from playing basketball on the courts to…read morefootball games in the green grass, the sanctuary seating area makes it a well environment to relax.

I love this little neighborhood park! It is nice and open to the community. It has a basketball…read morecourt, playground, an open field, a baseball backstop, and a wide cemented path that surrounds the entire area. I love to walk the path when the weather is good. This park is very family friendly and I am delighted to live near it :-)

What to do on the Fourth of July? Join the horde of other visitors at a National Park!…read more We started on our way early enough to be at the gate to Kings Canyon National Park by 8:38 AM. I highly suggest arriving as early as possible to avoid slow & stopped traffic on the road and a long wait time at the gate. We entered here and left from Sequoia National Park. As we drove out, we were struck by the sheer volume of cars waiting to enter the park. The last car waiting was about a mile away!! There is an entrance fee to pay for most people. U.S. Military personnel and individuals with the Access Lifetime Pass enter for free. We have a National Park Pass, so we were good to enter. The signs with prices are posted at the gate. TIP: Bring a major Credit Card or Mobile Payment because this is a cashless park. The road is windy, so take care while driving. I'd also like to recommend that slower vehicles use the pullouts so others can pass. We stopped in at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center & Grant Grove Village for a potty break and to check out souvenirs and information there. There's also a restaurant here if you need sustenance for your day. If you need Wi-Fi, you can connect here. Otherwise, reception is spotty at best out in the park! There are so many majestic Sequoia Trees to enjoy! This park is home to a famous tree named General Grant. We came to take in its grandeur! This is the third largest tree in the world by volume! By viewing this tree, I've now seen the world's widest-known Sequoia! Things to see while taking a leisurely stroll around General Grant Trail, which is about a 0.7-mile loop: *General Grant Tree - named after General Ulysses S. Grant & is a Living Shrine *Gamlin Cabin - built in 1872 by the Gamlin brothers, who lived there until 1878. This park was established as General Grant National Park in 1890. The cabin was turned into a store and later became the first Park Ranger's quarters. *Centennial Stump *Fallen Monarch - view the log which is the upper part of the tree is down slope from the Grant Tree. There are many trails and places to explore in this park! Enjoy the great outdoors!

The roads towards the meadows closed during winter, so the best time to visit in spring to fall…read more The rangers are very hepful. I like the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, it has lot of things to offer, restaurant, gift shop, restrooms and USPS. General Grant Tree Trail was awesome, it's an easy walk to see the Fallen Monarch and the grant tree. A must visit place for nature lover.

There is a trail along the river all the way to Muir Road at the Road's End. It's an easy to medium…read morehike. We passed by bridges, giant rocks and a beautiful meadow. The meadow itself is magnificent with grass field and hills. Half of the trail was not shaded, so be prepared to get some radiation shields (SPF, hats and sunglasses)

One Effn winding road (180) to get to Zumwalt Meadow and it's not only winding ( if you get car…read moresick , this road might be tough ) the road is on the edge of the cliff most of the time. Why is it worth the drive ? Cuz it's simply beautiful and way less crowded than Yosemite. Depends on the time of the year we have this place all to ourselves. Even though 180 is winding, the views of the mountains and the Kings River from this part of the road is spectacular. Just a few more miles further from Zumwalt , you'll find the trailhead to the Mist Falls Trail ( not to be mistaken from Mist Trail in Yosemite).

We hiked the Alabama Hills but didn't bring mountain bikes so we were looking for somewhere to bike…read morewith our folding street bikes. An evening ride was beautiful with the eastern hills lit by golden light reflected on the calm lake. Be sure to use mosquito repellent or cover yourself cause they are swarming in mid-October. Staying overnight costs $8 but day use is free.

For Father's Day, my brother-in-law and his husband reserved 3 spots for us and his husband's…read morecousin. My kids and I love tent camping and dry camping, but my wife is an RV girl (class A if you must know). This was her first tent experience so we wanted to make it memorable. Funny how things work out: careful what you wish for... I'll get to that later... The site we got was amazing. Level, flat with direct access to the lake. We had a tree next to us and a hose bib. Across the way was a fish cleaning sink that we used to wash dishes. The fire pit had a swing away grill which was nice. There were Porta-potties close by, but we brought our own portable toilet and privacy pop up shelter. The view was amazing. The sun set over the lake, and the mountains (the Eastern edge of the Sierra Nevadas) basked in hues of purple, deep red and blue. We called it the Disney mountains because it looked so amazing it must be fake. The night sky was simply awesome. My 8 year-old, who loves astronomy and science, couldn't stop looking up. Shame on me for not bringing our telescope or remembering I had binoculars in the truck. If you wanted to be amazed by the beauty of a star filled sky, just look up. The days brought high temps in the low to mid 90's, so we brought a portable generator and AC, I know, but it was my wife's first tent camping trip and we didn't want to make it her last. Early evening brought some gusts and our first night was windy. The tent held up well, but my wife and kids were cold. We didn't bring sleeping bags, only blankets, and had a large 4 room, 12 man tent, so staying warm was an issue. Luckily, I brought our Mr. Heater Buddy propane heater, so we stayed warm until the propane ran out. We explored the next day looking for a propane fill up station in nearby Lone Pine. The quaint town reminded my boys of Radiator Springs from Disney's "Cars." As is typical for small towns that rely on tourism, the propane was majorly expensive, but we had no choice. The town, though, was nice to explore. Early morning hours brought an almost glassy lake with no waves. Wait until late morning and you got the wake waves from the motor boats, wake boarders and jet skis. Wait until the late afternoon and you got wind and waves. We used a blow up canoe and oars, so the afternoon wind and waves were impossible for us to get through. The winds on our last night really picked up in the afternoon. A 60 mph gust or stronger blew through our site and ripped apart our tent, destroyed our Coleman canopy and blew our raft, life jackets, oars and other supplies at least 30 yards away. With our tent destroyed, we had to pack up everything in the wind. We threw away both our canopy and our tent. I'm spite of our surprise excitement of the wind gust and destroyed camp gear, it was an experience we'd never forget. A memorable one, for sure, that ended up landing me with a new tent for my birthday and shade canopy, something that I wished for for a long time. Careful what you wish for, eh?