National Parks = America's Treasures (Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Lassen Volcanic)

Fresno was never on the top of my must-visit destinations list. California’s fifth-largest city isn’t a place where you experience exciting city life, but it is the gateway to some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Now, don’t get me wrong, the sunsets from our sixth floor hotel room at the downtown Radisson are beautiful, and dinner has been really good AND cheap. However, what makes Fresno a place to visit is its proximity to some of the USA’s most beloved National Parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia.

We drove north on the Yosemite Freeway, leaving Fresno, on the longest day of the year, June 21. As the freeway transformed into a two-lane road, you passed through rolling golden hills. These hills seemed to be why California is named the Golden State. It’s a 90-mile drive from Fresno to the Yosemite Valley, and it is beautiful. You climb over 5000 feet, and after over an hour, you make it to the park entrance. Today, I opted to buy the America the Beautiful Annual Pass. At only $80, I now have access to any National Park or Monument, so it was a good savings, since Yosemite alone is $35!

Driving another 38 miles, it is still about another hour until you end up in Yosemite Valley. The mountains, valleys, and majestic redwood trees are impressive, but you realize the true grandeur of this park after traveling through a tunnel. Mountains, rocks, and waterfalls are spread out before you in an incredible panorama.

We continued into the valley, and since we only had the day to explore, we did the following sites:

Bridalveil Fall: an easy pull-off on the main one-way valley road. We walked the half mile to the bottom of the falls. The views leading to the falls were actually better than the falls itself (this could have been because the sun was at the top of the falls at this time). You could crawl over rocks to get closer to the base of the falls, but it was super crowded, so we just walked back to the car and enjoyed the farther away, but more beautiful views.
Yosemite Fall: there is both an upper and lower fall, and it is stunning. The views leading up to it are remarkable. At the base of the fall, you would never know that there was an upper fall. It is well worth the short walk from the Yosemite Valley Lodge to the falls.
Meadow near Sentinel Bridge: this meadow is what I envisioned when I thought of Yosemite. The black and white images of Ansel Adams were at the forefront of my mind, and strangely, there were very few people using this wooden path through the meadow. The only sounds were the rustling of the grass in the meadow - it was peaceful and inspiring. I’ve been few places on earth that matched this experience. It was that feeling where you want to take every possible picture, but you also wanted to just sit and soak it all in.

After a quick Starbucks in the Yosemite Valley Lodge, we decided to head back toward Fresno. While we wanted to see the Visitor Center, parking was impossible to find! We drove back out of the park, and we decided to stop at Mariposa Grove to see this large grove of Sequoias. Unfortunately, you can only take a shuttle to the grove, and since we knew we’d be heading to Sequoia National Park the next day, we opted to look in the gift shop, and start the two-hour drive back to Fresno.

Panoramic view on Hume Lake Road between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks

The next day, we headed east out of Fresno on CA 180 toward Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. This is a gorgeous drive - climbing from golden hills into mountains covered with evergreens. It is immediately obvious that Kings Canyon / Sequoia have far fewer visitors than Yosemite, and the entrance fee is $25 for both parks (I have the annual pass, so this fee didn’t apply, but keep that in mind). With only a day to see these two vast parks, here are the highlights in my opinion:

Visitor’s Center at Grant Grove Village: this is a nice intro to the parks with restrooms, information, and gift shop.
General Grant Tree: this is the world’s second largest tree at over 267 feet tall and about 1650 years old. The Grove of trees around it is equally spectacular, and I learned that young Redwood Sequoias look like traditional evergreens, but as they mature, they drop their lower branches, grow thicker red bark, and concentrate the evergreen leaves at the very top of the tree. The short path to see General Grant is completely worth it!
Hume Lake Road: this cut off that leads south toward Sequoia National Park is technically in Sequoia National Forest. The road is narrow, but it gives some of the most spectacular vistas imaginable! Plus, the mountain lake is picturesque.
General Sherman Tree in the Giant Forest: this is the world’s largest tree by volume. It is unimaginably big, but it is surrounded by equally impressive trees. The well-maintained paved pathway leading to General Sherman is steep, and you don’t notice on the way down, but it is a bit taxing coming back up, thanks to the elevation. Regardless, this is a must-visit site, and a true world treasure.

The day was warm and dry, and the walks and drives were taxing. We decided to make our way back to Fresno on CA 198. This winding mountain road provides some jaw-dropping vistas. There was road construction at the time, so check information to make sure that the road is open, but it is a remarkable journey. The Foothills Visitor Center at the park’s entrance provides plenty of helpful information. Additionally, the drive back to Visalia and Fresno is beautiful as you drive through golden hills and along Lake Kaweah before seeing acres of citrus groves.

All in all the visit to Fresno and three of America’s natural treasures is something I will always remember. If you’re planning to go for vacation, make sure that you visit on a weekday (it’s far less crowded). Also, take in the remarkable nature that America has to offer, realize that our time on this earth is a precious gift, and advocate for the preservation of this beautiful land so that the future can enjoy it as well.

After a couple days in Sacramento, followed by a night in South Lake Tahoe, and two nights in Reno, we drove northwest to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Before we talk national parks, I’ll give you some quick tips on those other spots:

California Bear that greeting you at the entrance of the California Museum in Sacramento

California Museum: this not for profit museum ($9) is adjacent to many state buildings in downtown Sacramento. Diverse exhibits tell the story of the nation’s 31st state, but I was most moved by the temporary exhibit to America’s Newest Citizens, telling stories about immigration, and its importance in the fabric of the United States.
Lakeside Beach: this small beach in South Lake Tahoe was the perfect spot to stick your feet into the cold lake water, exfoliate your feet on the pebbles, and take some great Instagram-worthy pics of the lake. After 5pm, it was only $5 to get in.
Sup: pronounced “soup,” this downtown Reno restaurant is the perfect lunch spot. I had a delicious chicken club sandwich with a side salad, as well as a cup of Ajiaco soup, a Colombian chicken and potato soup.
Grand Sierra Resort and Casino: sometimes I like staying at a huge resort. This particular resort was quite nice, and thanks to my Chase Sapphire Reserve Rewards, it was free! The buffet was pretty good, the pool area was nice (especially the over 21 section), and there were Molton Brown products in the bathrooms - perfection!

We continued driving northwest toward Lassen, passing through Susanville. This entire area was stunning! After about an hour, we made it to the park entrance, and our plan was to simply drive CA 89 through the heart of the park. Following are my recommended highlights:

Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center: a great park intro with an organized gift shop and some interactive maps. Everyone was also quite friendly.
Sulphur Works: this gurgling pool of brown mud was so fascinating. The sulphur smell is quite strong, but these mud pits are the result of heat from the earth’s core mixing with groundwater (and much more science than I’m describing!). Regardless, it’s directly off the road and a very easy spot to see.
Lassen Peak: there was an easy parking area at the base of this impressive peak. There was also a great deal of snow still on the ground, so it made for a really interesting experience.

View of Lassen Peak and our third road trip companion, Synergy the Jetta

The entire drive through the park is stunning. Just go slow and enjoy the ride. If you’re afraid of heights, there are moments that it can feel a bit harrowing, but it is one of the loveliest mountain drives I’ve ever driven!

California is probably the most beautiful American State - it has everything. Experiencing some of its nature really gave me a new perspective on the Golden State, and I'm so grateful that environmentalists of the past have preserved and protected these spectacular sites. It's our duty to continue protecting them for the future.