One of my absolute favorite sections of my trip was the time I got to spend in California. I’ve been to Los Angeles and San Diego before, so I didn’t include either on this trip – I focused more on seeing family and friends as well as areas I really hadn’t had the chance to experience before…

I’ve been mildly obsessed with Redwoods and Sequoias for quite some time now, so having the chance to see both while in California was just an incredible experience for me. The General Sherman Tree, which can be seen in the last picture above, is the world’s biggest tree (not the tallest, but biggest in terms of mass). It’s incredibly difficult to put these trees in perspective, but you can see the people at the base of the tree to give you an idea.

The word that has stuck with me concerning Yosemite National Park is majestic — and it was the first word that came to mind once going through the tunnel on the descent into Yosemite Valley. It is truly amazing to see El Capitan and Half Dome in person — and it’s just awe-inspiring to see them as they tower over the Valley. Those falls sure aren’t too shabby, either…

Visiting the Hearst Castle was a last minute decision – and I’m really glad that I was able to fit it in. As a teacher of Mass Media, we’ve looked at Hearst’s role in the History of Journalism and being able to see the fruits of his labors (think yellow journalism here, people…) was a pretty cool experience. Unfortunately, the grand pool is under construction, but everything else is just incredible.

From the Hearst Castle, I drove up Highway 1 to Monterey, then on to San Francisco. I’d been to San Francisco one time about 25 years ago and it was just as I remembered. Unfortunately, dealing with the fog was an issue, but I was still able to get some images of which I’m pretty pleased.

Quite simply, every day should begin with a walk through Muir Woods. I’ll just leave it at that…

Prior to this trip I had been to Lake Tahoe once in the heart of a winter, and I knew that I needed to get back during the summer. I had a couple truly relaxing days and had the chance to spend some time with friends who have the coolest A-Frame cabin known to man!

And then there are the Redwoods. After taking in the Avenue of the Giants, a 32 mile where you are just surrounded by the beauty of the Redwoods, I was able to do the hike down to the Tall Trees Grove, which is just truly an experience that everyone should be fortunate enough to take in. On top of this, I ended up doing most of the hike with a National Parks Volunteer, George Nickerson, who embodies all that I saw during the trip from both Volunteers and National Park Rangers — they were beyond professional and helpful in all ways. I can’t speak highly enough of Mr. Nickerson or the Rangers I had the pleasure of meeting throughout my trip.

Without a doubt, California was an absolute highlight of my trip and I’d love to be able to spend even more time there, especially in Northern California…