For the past four days, we have been in Sequoia National Park in California. To say this experience has been absolutely wonderful, would be belittling this beautiful part of our country. This blog will be written in three stages, because there is no cellular service, or Wi-Fi, or TV, or pretty much any means for me to communicate other than to write down every evening the amazing adventures that my small family plus a couple in-laws explore throughout the day.
Day1:
After a flaw this flight from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles, a pick up in a Turo.com rent a vehicle, stop at Jerry's deli because well if you're by Jerry's deli we need to have Jerry's deli, we are well on our way north east to Sequoia National Park. The drive was not all that spectacular, to be perfectly honest. However, within a few short hours we were at the gates of the park. We happen to be stay at a very small humble cottage right inside the park. So upon entering the park, we found our little cottage on Pats our stuff and realize what an absolute wonderful find we had found. Overlooking the mountains with the sound of the Kaweah River in the background, we settled in to this two bedroom cottage that we rented from VRBO.com and had everything we could possibly need. We then drove the in-laws through the park to get to where they were saying which was the Wuksachi Lodge. To put it lightly, this one hour ride was absolutely spectacular. For the first several minutes we got an amazing view of the river, raging on rocks, the most crystal-clear water I have ever seen in my entire life. Then once we got past 4 to 6000 feet we were able to see the giant sequoia trees. And when they first appeared, we were unbelievably awestruck. We drove by a few, but then we had to stop. We pulled the car over got out and were amazed at the beauty and in Normandy of these trees. There are absolutely no words to express how amazing they were. We hugged him we stood by them touch them we photographed them we did everything you could possibly imagine with those trees, keep your mind out of the gutter. At this point it was 6 o'clock in the evening and on East Coast time that's really nice o'clock so we were starving. We decided to drive on we stopped one more time to get a glimpse at that tree tunnel and then we went off to the lodge. My in-laws checked in, and their room is exquisite. We then went over to the Peaks Restaurant which is the restaurant that is in the Wuksachi Lodge. I don't think any of us was terribly disappointed with our meals. The only disappointment of the day would be the fact that we did not make a reservation for dinner, dining room, completely renovated absolutely beautiful, was very small and there was no room for us to dine. There was a bar area with some bar tables that we were able to sit at and get the full menu there. The service was a little slow, and one of the meals was forgotten, but when he got there it was delicious. Note to your self: make a reservation at the national parks when you want to eat dinner.
After dinner we went to the gift shop bought some provisions for the cabin, and headed back down the Windee us road we have ever driven. And when I say the wind is really that we have ever driven, I truly mean that because my husband has driven some seriously Windee roads and he said that this was the wind he is most extreme road he is ever driven. And mind you he is driven on switchbacks in Italy so that does say something. It took us about an hour to get down to our cabin in which we unloaded what we still had in the car, little girl fell fast asleep, we all showered up, and then we sat. We looked at our photos and then decided to go outside to see the most spectacular sky. It had Milky Way written all over it. I was dumbfounded with the absolute beauty that we saw. It was the most spectacular ending to one of the most amazing days of adventure with loved ones.
Day2:
Started off the day wide awake before the sun came up so I got to see the sun rise and the sliver of the moon in he bluest sky ever. After getting ready and everyone getting up, we ventured up to the Lodge, stopping at the Giant Forest to walk on a downed Sequoia and to admire the beauty, majesty and awe of the trees. We walked along the trees, stood underneath them and thought about the wisdom that they evoke.
We then got to he Lodge and had a delicious breakfast at The Peak's Restaurant.
We drove up to King's Canyon and got to explore the amazing trees in Grant's Grove. They were majestic. We walked through a burnt out one, saw General Grant tree which weighs 2.5 million pounds and learned a lot about the tees, how they grow(by seeds that wait for fires to make them drop) and met a great couple from California.
Off next to the new Grant Grove Restaurant that was just finished for a fabulous lunch.
Headed through the park to Grizzly Falls. The drive was amazing through the canyon. The switchbacks were divine and he view was second to none. We traveled alongside the King River which was all white rapids. No one would dare raft that. We found he falls and we're not disappointed at all. They were beautiful and we were able to walk down into the pool and play in the water. Little Girl and Big Man disappeared for some time in which they traveled across the highway to the river. It was raging, but they climbed down to he Waters's edge and got to feel the frigidness of the water. They convinced me to head down with them and so I climbed, without falling to the edge. FREEZING!!!!
Another enjoyable drive back to the lodge, dinner and a sunset drive down to our cabin. We got ourselves settled and cleaned up and then set outside to see the Milky Way. It was Little Girl's first time seeing it. Exciting for us all.
Day 3:
Woke up bright and early and were off to the lodge for breakfast. After eats and some shut eye for Big Man, we actually left Little Girl with her grandparents and went exploring on our own. What we found was incredible and worth the hour or so long drive to get to. We went to Buck Rock Lookout. This one of only 3 left in the world Style fire tower was perched 8700 feet in the air. The drive was on a dirt road through forest that was partially hit by a fire several years ago. Once we go there, parked , we had a very short walk to the base of the rock. Armed with our phones and a bottle of water we started to climb the 172 or so steep steps up. It wasn't hard but the steps were steep and it was at over 8500 feet so there was a small challenge.
We took a break or two on our way up, but once we got up there. We were awestruck k. Beauty all around. Also, turns out a ranger loved there for five months on fire watch. She had a bed, stove, sink... you name it. We spoke with her for a while and then climbed down.
Once we got back to the lodge, we hung out and then went to Lodgepole to check it out. They had a market and deli and laundry and shower facilities. Pretty cool. We got Prosecco, little baby bottles, which we were too tired to drink before bed. We then tried to hike down to this little creek that had he. Pat amazingly beautiful natural pool but we could not find a way to get there. Too steep. Instead, we went back to the ledge, ate an amazing dinner, and passed out!!!
Day4:
Up, eat and out of here!! San Clemente, here we come!!!
Day1:
After a flaw this flight from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles, a pick up in a Turo.com rent a vehicle, stop at Jerry's deli because well if you're by Jerry's deli we need to have Jerry's deli, we are well on our way north east to Sequoia National Park. The drive was not all that spectacular, to be perfectly honest. However, within a few short hours we were at the gates of the park. We happen to be stay at a very small humble cottage right inside the park. So upon entering the park, we found our little cottage on Pats our stuff and realize what an absolute wonderful find we had found. Overlooking the mountains with the sound of the Kaweah River in the background, we settled in to this two bedroom cottage that we rented from VRBO.com and had everything we could possibly need. We then drove the in-laws through the park to get to where they were saying which was the Wuksachi Lodge. To put it lightly, this one hour ride was absolutely spectacular. For the first several minutes we got an amazing view of the river, raging on rocks, the most crystal-clear water I have ever seen in my entire life. Then once we got past 4 to 6000 feet we were able to see the giant sequoia trees. And when they first appeared, we were unbelievably awestruck. We drove by a few, but then we had to stop. We pulled the car over got out and were amazed at the beauty and in Normandy of these trees. There are absolutely no words to express how amazing they were. We hugged him we stood by them touch them we photographed them we did everything you could possibly imagine with those trees, keep your mind out of the gutter. At this point it was 6 o'clock in the evening and on East Coast time that's really nice o'clock so we were starving. We decided to drive on we stopped one more time to get a glimpse at that tree tunnel and then we went off to the lodge. My in-laws checked in, and their room is exquisite. We then went over to the Peaks Restaurant which is the restaurant that is in the Wuksachi Lodge. I don't think any of us was terribly disappointed with our meals. The only disappointment of the day would be the fact that we did not make a reservation for dinner, dining room, completely renovated absolutely beautiful, was very small and there was no room for us to dine. There was a bar area with some bar tables that we were able to sit at and get the full menu there. The service was a little slow, and one of the meals was forgotten, but when he got there it was delicious. Note to your self: make a reservation at the national parks when you want to eat dinner.
After dinner we went to the gift shop bought some provisions for the cabin, and headed back down the Windee us road we have ever driven. And when I say the wind is really that we have ever driven, I truly mean that because my husband has driven some seriously Windee roads and he said that this was the wind he is most extreme road he is ever driven. And mind you he is driven on switchbacks in Italy so that does say something. It took us about an hour to get down to our cabin in which we unloaded what we still had in the car, little girl fell fast asleep, we all showered up, and then we sat. We looked at our photos and then decided to go outside to see the most spectacular sky. It had Milky Way written all over it. I was dumbfounded with the absolute beauty that we saw. It was the most spectacular ending to one of the most amazing days of adventure with loved ones.
Day2:
Started off the day wide awake before the sun came up so I got to see the sun rise and the sliver of the moon in he bluest sky ever. After getting ready and everyone getting up, we ventured up to the Lodge, stopping at the Giant Forest to walk on a downed Sequoia and to admire the beauty, majesty and awe of the trees. We walked along the trees, stood underneath them and thought about the wisdom that they evoke.
We then got to he Lodge and had a delicious breakfast at The Peak's Restaurant.
We drove up to King's Canyon and got to explore the amazing trees in Grant's Grove. They were majestic. We walked through a burnt out one, saw General Grant tree which weighs 2.5 million pounds and learned a lot about the tees, how they grow(by seeds that wait for fires to make them drop) and met a great couple from California.
Off next to the new Grant Grove Restaurant that was just finished for a fabulous lunch.
Headed through the park to Grizzly Falls. The drive was amazing through the canyon. The switchbacks were divine and he view was second to none. We traveled alongside the King River which was all white rapids. No one would dare raft that. We found he falls and we're not disappointed at all. They were beautiful and we were able to walk down into the pool and play in the water. Little Girl and Big Man disappeared for some time in which they traveled across the highway to the river. It was raging, but they climbed down to he Waters's edge and got to feel the frigidness of the water. They convinced me to head down with them and so I climbed, without falling to the edge. FREEZING!!!!
Another enjoyable drive back to the lodge, dinner and a sunset drive down to our cabin. We got ourselves settled and cleaned up and then set outside to see the Milky Way. It was Little Girl's first time seeing it. Exciting for us all.
Day 3:
Woke up bright and early and were off to the lodge for breakfast. After eats and some shut eye for Big Man, we actually left Little Girl with her grandparents and went exploring on our own. What we found was incredible and worth the hour or so long drive to get to. We went to Buck Rock Lookout. This one of only 3 left in the world Style fire tower was perched 8700 feet in the air. The drive was on a dirt road through forest that was partially hit by a fire several years ago. Once we go there, parked , we had a very short walk to the base of the rock. Armed with our phones and a bottle of water we started to climb the 172 or so steep steps up. It wasn't hard but the steps were steep and it was at over 8500 feet so there was a small challenge.
We took a break or two on our way up, but once we got up there. We were awestruck k. Beauty all around. Also, turns out a ranger loved there for five months on fire watch. She had a bed, stove, sink... you name it. We spoke with her for a while and then climbed down.
Once we got back to the lodge, we hung out and then went to Lodgepole to check it out. They had a market and deli and laundry and shower facilities. Pretty cool. We got Prosecco, little baby bottles, which we were too tired to drink before bed. We then tried to hike down to this little creek that had he. Pat amazingly beautiful natural pool but we could not find a way to get there. Too steep. Instead, we went back to the ledge, ate an amazing dinner, and passed out!!!
Day4:
Up, eat and out of here!! San Clemente, here we come!!!