This past weekend, we celebrated Independence Day by taking our daughter to Sequoia National Park (and a portion of Kings Canyon National Park.) We spent a few days exploring this amazingly beautiful national treasure. The parks are humongous, so we really only scratched the surface in terms of exploration. But…we will certainly be back soon to continue exploring (it’s only 3 hours from where we live.)
The best part of the trip? Well…it was the fact that I had the opportunity to spend quality time with my family.
Please enjoy the photos, and some of my fun little facts that I learned while visiting the park. 🙂
P.S. More photos and facts later this week. Thanks for being a part of my blog!
Two Parks in One. Situated in California – Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are contiguous national parks that have been jointly administered by the United States since 1943. (Sequoia was established in 1890, whereas Kings Canyon was established in 1940.)
Pure Wilderness. Approximately 97 percent of these magnificent parks is untamed wilderness.
A Grand Mountain. Mount Whitney – located on the eastern border of the parks – stands at 14,494 feet (4,418 meters). It is the highest peak in the United States (outside of Alaska).
Trees in the Sky. General Sherman – a sequoia tree – reaches 275 feet (84 meters) into the sky! It has an estimated volume of more than 52,000 cubic feet.
Hot. In July 2007, Sequoia National Park recorded a record high temperature of 118°F / 48°C. Wow!
Categories: Ideas, Inspiration, Photography
A tree 275 meters high is unbelievable. I looked it up and found that’s equivalent to a 25 story building! I’m seriously impressed.
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Beautiful work here, Kevin. I would love to shoot there, and add sequoias to my ongoing project on trees and forests.
I really like the shot of that weathered root base. Outstanding.
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Hi Allan. Thank you for the great feedback and encouraging words. Looking forward to seeing what you have in store for your next post. 😎
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Fantastic photos. Feels like a journey.
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Thank you, Kirk. Very nice of you to say. 🙂
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We went there for Memorial Day weekend, and it is one of the most beautiful places I have seen. The drive up the pass for someone afraid of heights was not fun. No siree!
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Stunning images, what a great place to spend time with the ones you love. Thanks for the follow.
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It certainly is a wonderful place. Thanks for the kind words! Kath, your art is terrific. Great meeting you! Hope you and your family have a great day. 😎
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Just beautiful…
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Thank you, Iris. 🙂
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Breathtaking photos and a great new look for your wonderful site! 🙂
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Hi! Thanks so much. Have a terrific day. 😀
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Good day to you too 😀
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Thanks for your follow of my blog and, in so doing, introducing me to yours. Love your photos and look forward to seeing more!
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Hi Mary – great to meet you! 🙂
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I am blown away at these photos, Kevin. The spider cave looks really cool. Did you go inside?
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Hi Sue! Thanks! Yep, we went inside. It’s called the Crystal Cave. The gate was a steel spiderweb. 😎 Very cool place! Literally and figuratively. It is a constant 50 degrees. It was in the 100s outside, and soon as you enter…bam…50 degrees.
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I have to ask, but don’t want to…were there spiders? Brr…
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Spiders the size of chickens were everywhere! haha. Nope, no spiders spotted by me. Cool rock formations though. 🙂
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Great photos! Great composition. We found a plantation of Sequioa deep in a forest not so long ago on our trip. Some 80 plus years old, srill youngsters, but impressive and reaching beyond the existing tree canopy there.
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Thank you! That’s cool – where is the forest? Very intriguing.
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Over in Australia. We’ve been through areas where attempts to commercially grow foreign timber originated in the early 20th century.
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Thank you for liking “Otherworldly” and “Red Geraniums.” Great photos and interesting facts! 🙂 They are beautiful parks. I did not know it could get so hot there, and I am glad to see that the drought has not turned all the wild plants brown. 🙂
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Thanks Arlene! Yeah, it gets hot in the foothills but it cools off a little as you get into the higher elevations. When we were there, it was about 100 degrees at the base and in the 80s by the Sequoia trees. 😎
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You are welcome. 🙂 I am glad to know that it was a bit cooler higher up. I like hot weather, but you have to be careful staying outside too long when it is 100+ degrees.
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Reblogged this on Ancien Hippie.
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Thanks!!
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Went there every summer when I was growing up. Astounding beauty!
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Thanks for sharing your trip and pictures with us. Now that I know your blog, I await what your next photography shots will be, always so skillfully done and so beautiful.
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Thanks Gay! So kind of you to say. 😃
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woah, beautiful work 😀
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Thank you! 😎
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no worries 🙂
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Breathtaking pictures! I am reminded of a book I read a few years ago about the different ecosystems at the top altitudes of these trees.
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Thanks! Sounds interesting. I watched s program once on the ecosystem of the jungle canopy. 😎
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Hi Kevin…these photos took my breath away…..how gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your special day out! Many Blessings to you and your wonderful family….Hugs, Barbara xxxx
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Always nice to read your positive comments!! Thanks Barbara!!
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Wow Wow Wow, this park is amazing beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences from there. Great to have a family trip out in the nature, so healthy for the kids 😀
We are close to those temperatures as you write about, but now in Spain. It is so hot, too hot.
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Thanks for the comment, Irene! Yeah, you are right – outdoor trips with the family are such nice experiences. How is Spain coping with the heat? Is air conditioning common in Spain?
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Here is more than hot and some places here even more hot. Here is very dry now and lightning have started several fires until now. Yes many have air conditions, but caused the crise some don’t use them. They are expensive in electricity.
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Yeah, the heat here in California is also dry. Wildfires are always a concern. Stay cool mi amiga! 😎
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Gracias Kevin. Enjoy all the things as you can do with your family 😉
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Beautiful photos…..they look like paintings. I recently wrote an article about my secret wish to be an archeologist and got sidetracked with the Sequoias. I live in New York but really want to travel there. This post just reaffirms that idea to visit the National Parks. Thank you.
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Hi Barb! That is a pretty cool secret wish. I remember one my professors in college was an archeologist, and she would tell us stories of her adventures. (I am assuming the stories were true haha.) Yeah, definitely visit the National Parks – America’s best idea. Thanks for the kind words!!
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If you are semi-interested and want to take a look, this is my post on the subject. I will not AT ALL be offended if you do not. http://saneteachers.com/2015/06/05/archaeology-history-and-impatience/
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I’ll read it right now 😁
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I have heard so much about this place & its trees. I wanted to go there when I last visited the US. Unfortunately couldn’t fit it in, but managed Yosemite, which is equally beautiful I must say. Stayed in a cabin in the woods. Managed to see a few sequoias there & was mesmerised by its sheer size. Makes us feel so small in comparison 🙂
My son was not too happy with the trail walking, till I decided to charge him up. Asked him to look out for bears 😀 (we don’t find them much in India). The rest of the trip was easy.
Glad that you had a great trip & thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures. Brightened up my day!
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Haha. My daughter also got tired of the walking! We actually saw a bear; it was pretty cool. Yosemite is next on our list. Thanks for the kind words!! Have a terrific day. 😁
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Wow you did! I’m so jealous now 🙂 :p
Great day to you too.
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My favorite place. My family’s favorite place.
We spread my mother’s ashes secretly in her favorite meadow.
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Thanks for sharing such a personal story. That park is surely a special place.
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Stunning! Great reminder that the US is a beautiful country. 🙂
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Yeah, it really is beautiful. The National Park system has been called “America’s Best Idea.” I think I agree. 🙂 Thanks, Camille! Always nice to hear from you.
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Beautiful Kevin.. you leave me spell bound with your photography and creativity to narrate the facts. I really loved the park and so happy to know you spent a lovely time with your family as well. Will look forward to the 2nd installment. Keep it up my friend 🙂 keep smiling
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Thanks, Himali! You are seriously so nice. I may have to hire you as my personal publicist. haha Thanks again for you wonderful kindness.
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Hahaha !! Kevin, anytime I visit Califonia, I shall sure visit you and your lovely family 🙂 Bdw, your daughter is such a sweetheart 😇
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Great photos Kevin … I actually grew up in California (Mission Viejo) so seeing these pics made me a little homesick! Glad you had such a wonderful time there and I’m sure your daughter would love visiting such an untouched place again.
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Thanks, Deborah! We did have a great time, that’s for sure. Even though my daughter protested all of the walking and decided to lay down on the hiking trail. haha Next year – I am aiming to camp. Just have to convince my wife. lol
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Beautiful photos!!! As usual these are stunning😀
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Thanks, Mo! 🙂
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Beautiful and monstrously big! I’m adding this destination to my list.
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Nice! It’s a must visit. For sure.
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Nice photos! Nature is truly so invigorating for the soul 🙂
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Thanks, Rina! It sure is…
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Wow! This place is amazing! I want to go there, only not when it’s 118˚! Ha, ha! 😀
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Haha. That’s smart!! 118 is unbearable. Funny – at the base of the park, it was around 100 degrees, but once we made it to the areas where the Sequoias are, it was in the 80s.
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Wow! The trees’ shade made a huge difference.
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wow! So beautiful
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Hi Catren!! Thank you 🙂
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Great shots as usual.
Shine On
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Thank you! Always nice to read your encouraging and positive words!
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You have captured the park beautifully, Kevin. My family used to camp in Sequoia every year when I was a kid and I have such fond memories of General Sherman, Crystal Cave, campfire shows, and s’mores! Someday, I’ll take a trip out there again and relive those summer days.
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Hi Jessica! Thank you! Yeah, next year we are planning on camping there. Those sound like some wonderful memories. What a great experience for you. Definitely makes you appreciate nature and its beauty!
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I highly recommend camping there and I’m sure your daughter will have wonderful memories to cherish.
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I agree, Jessica! She is two years old, and I would love for her to grow up with a fondness for – and appreciation of – the natural world.
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