Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPS - Day 1

California

We began our visit to Sequoia National Park with a scenic drive along the Generals Highway. Rather than undertaking long hikes, we made several short stops to see and photograph some of the park’s iconic landmarks. We started with two short stops: first at the Ash Mountain Entrance for a photo of the sign, then at the Foothills Visitor Center for brochures and a quick restroom break.

Mooney Grove Park, A Glimpse into the Past

On the days we weren’t exploring the national parks, we loved walking from our Airbnb to the oldest county park in the state, Mooney Grove Park. The park preserves the region’s original natural beauty with stunning oak trees that are only cut down when they are sick or dead.

I couldn’t help but imagine how much more beautiful this area must have been when only Native Americans roamed here. Sadly, their way of life ended because of the westward expansion. The expressive “End of the Trail” statue perfectly depicts that sentiment: it shows a Native American man with his exhausted horse, signifying his way of life coming to an end.

A Walk Along Visalia's St. Johns River

Since it would rain (or possibly snow in the mountains), we stayed in the area and drove to the St. Johns Riverwalk Trailhead in Visalia, CA. We followed the well-maintained paved trail and enjoyed a leisurely walk with beautiful views of the St. Johns River, the golden foothills, and some beautiful native valley oaks.

From Visalia's Valley Hospitality to Thousand Oaks

We said goodbye to our beautiful Airbnb in Visalia, CA, at the rural edge of town. For the last week, we loved the convenience of this family house and felt the hospitality of the Valley. This was the perfect place to come home after visiting the area’s national parks.

After a short morning walk, packing the car, and thanking this top-notch Airbnb, we drove to our next destination in Thousand Oaks, CA.