Redwood's Wonders
If exploring nature is your idea of a good vacation, then a trip to the Redwood National Park in northern California is a great choice for a holiday destination. This park is home to the world's tallest tree which is known as "Tall Tree", and is a beautiful natural exhibition of redwood trees. These trees can only be seen in California and China so your visit to Redwood National Park isn't just a chance to be in the great outdoors, but it's an opportunity to see these rare tall trees up close and personal. It's even possible to camp out in the park, but facilities are extremely limited so you might want to look further into what's available before deciding you're going pitch a tent for the night!
There isn't an entrance fee to this national park, nor is there an entrance station from the highway, so make sure that you call into the Redwood Information Center in nearby Orick, or the headquarters in Crescent City before entering the park. The information center also shows a short introduction to the park so you know what you're looking at when you get there, and you can obtain a permit there to enter the gated Tall Trees Grove area inside the park - only a limited number of car permits are allowed each day so if you want to take the opportunity to admire the tallest trees in the world, a short detour to the Information Center before you enter the park is a must! Be warned however, this trip takes about 4 hours to complete and some of it is on a slow-speed dirt road so make sure your vehicle's up to the challenge before setting off into the grove! Hiking the Redwood National Park is possible but again, you'll need a permit to be in the Tall Tree Grove area, and there are times of the year when hikers aren't allowed in this area because of the footbridges across the creek being inaccessible. Another way to enjoy this beautiful part of upstate California is on horseback with riding trails being offered locally. The Redwood National Park is one of America's natural gems and is extremely protected. It's also well worth the effort of experiencing these magnificent trees up close if you are lucky enough to be able to do so. |