Sequoia National Park
On one of our road trips through California, we stopped at Sequoia National Park to see the General Sherman Tree.
Once we discovered the beauty of our national parks, we would seek them out and add these sites to our family travels. They often became the reason we would travel to a particular area, shaping our trips around the opportunity to experience places like this.
You hear about this tree before you see it, the largest tree in the world by volume, but nothing quite prepares you for standing at its base. The sheer size is difficult to comprehend. The trunk seems to rise endlessly, its bark thick and deeply grooved, carrying with it over 2,000 years of history.
This tree was already ancient long before our country was formed, and it continues to stand, growing slowly, season after season. This is not just a natural wonder, but a living connection to the past.
Sequoia National Park was established as a national park in 1890 by Benjamin Harrison, one of the earliest efforts to preserve this remarkable landscape.
Standing in this space, it is hard not to feel small. Moments like this are a reason to travel, to stand in places that put everything into perspective.
Read More From Nancy
Cabrillo National Monument
At the southern end of the Point Loma Peninsula, Cabrillo National Monument overlooks the Pacific Ocean, San Diego Bay, and the city beyond. The views alone make this a beautiful place to visit, but the location also preserves several important chapters in the history of San Diego and the West Coast. On September 28, 1542, […]
The Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park
Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park was another place I visited during our time teaching in California. This one I did on my own, getting there early when it first opened. Located in Richmond, California, along the San Francisco Bay, the park captures the extraordinary war mobilization that transformed this shipbuilding town almost overnight during […]
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
I looked forward to visiting Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site expecting to find a trading post filled with Native crafts, handmade rugs, jewelry and traditional wares. I pictured something frozen in time. This was not simply a museum display created for tourists. It was still an active trading post serving the local Navajo community and is recognized as […]
