Sequoia National Park is a Beautiful Place Untouched by Time

There is place where time seems as if it has been standing still; the air is easy to breath , the trees are giant size, beautiful flowers bloom all around you and when you smell the air you don't smell pollution of any kind the place is Sequoia National Park located in southern Sierra Nevada at 47050 Generals Highway California 93271-9700 .

Sequoia was established a national park in 1890, it was the second to be named a US National Park. There are over 404,000 acres of park and wildlife. Many parts of the park still looks as if it has been untouched and resembles what the Sierra Nevada looked like before the Europeans had settled there.

Sequoia is most famous for it's Giant Sequoia trees, one of them is one of the largest trees on earth is called the General Sherman tree. The trees grow in what is called the Giant Forest, five of the biggest trees in the world grow there. They sure are a sight to see.

There are over 240 caves in the park. One of the caves is California's longest cave at over 20 miles long it is the Liburn cave, just recently discovered it is however off limits to anyone who is not a biologist, or geologist or something of the like. The cave that is open to visitors is the second largest cave in California at over three miles is Crystal Cave. It is a constant 48 degrees inside and must be taken with a tour guide.

There are many things to do with your family at the park. With over five hundred camp sites at the various campgrounds throughout the park, you can fish, hike and backpack. Some of the attractions include the Tunnel Log, which is a log cars can drive through. There is the crescent meadows where you can take a picture of the sequoia rimmed meadows it is absolutely a breathtaking sight. In the summertime there are Ranger led walks and talks for the entire family to enjoy and there is also a Junior Ranger program kids of any age can participate and those of certain ages can be awarded badges ; 5-8 is the Jay award, 9-12 work for the Raven award and 13-103 (yes that says one hundred and three) can work to earn their senior badges. It's something for the whole entire family to enjoy themselves and learn about the area and at the same time.

There are black bears that have been seen and known to roam around so as always be careful and never leave your food out at night or trashed around your campsite. The park is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. If planning on camping you will want to reserve a spot early on, July and August will be crowded. If you don't like tents there are some places that offer cabins along with their campgrounds but the prices will be more of course.

Some important safety tips to remember if you are going to visit are; being careful of the rivers they might look calm and serene but underneath the surface is strong currents that can sweep you away very quickly and one can possibly drown. Be careful while walking around the rivers it is quite easy to fall in many people have drowned that way. Remember to drive slowly on mountain roads and leave the city road rage behind there are also many times you might come into contact with wildlife on the road just calmly let them pass. Things can fall from high above, so be on the look out. Ticks fleas and mosquitoes and poison oak are also very common, bring the bug spray. Drink your water and stay hydrated while hiking. Dress warm when you need to and cool when needed. If you see dark clouds in the sky take cover in a building if you can otherwise a vehicle lightening strikes can and do kill if one is struck. Don't drink straight from the lakes and streams they can sometimes cause illness. Lastly besides the black bear there are other dangerous animals that you can come across although unlikely so be careful and never wander off alone.

If you decide to visit the Sequoia National Park you will not be disappointed. Breathtaking views, beautiful trees that seem to never stop growing, and the clean smelling air are all very welcoming. It is one of the last places on earth to go and feel as though you are intruding in on nature so enjoy that moment while it lasts. Leave the stress behind and just enjoy yourself even if it's for just a short time.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoia_National_Park

http://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm