Cambria is a town full of unique shopping and galleries. Known for their funky art and antiques, Cambria stores will lure you in to wander and explore. Here is our growing guide to the best shopping in Cambria, CA. There are so many shops left to explore. I love taking time to browse the ever-changing inventory during our visits. So take some time to wander the East and West Village, and you will love what you discover!
Home Arts is my favorite shop in Cambria. I could wander through this cozy shop all day! I always find a small souvenir to take home. This shop has all types of home goods, art, and unique gifts. They have the best greeting cards as well. Home Arts has the cutest children’s gift area in the back. The store is grouped into themes – mermaids, beachy, national parks/nature, etc. Stop in, and you will not be disappointed! You will not forget a special gift for anyone when browsing this store! There is truly something for everyone. In my opinion, Home Arts is a do not miss in Cambria.
THE CAMBRIA GARDEN SHED
UNIQUE GIFTS FOR THE GARDEN LOVER
The Cambria Garden Shed is another one of the favorites that I consider the best shopping in Cambria! I love the eclectic collection that is the Cambria Garden Shed. Not only do they carry a ton of unique gifts, but browsing the shed will inspire you to create art with plants in your yard. The shed offers an extensive selection of garden accessories, pottery, outdoor art, and specialty body products.
The building itself is historic and has been around since 1890. The pathways in the back will lead you through a variety of plants and yard art to explore. In the back, you will also find a few of my other favorite stores, Grow Nursery and Simplistic Home.
GROW NURSERY
A SUCCULENT FOR EVERYONE
I never miss Grow Nursery when visiting Cambria. Tucked back behind The Cambria Garden Shed, this boutique nursery specializes in rare succulents, air plants, handmade pottery & gemstones. There are many beautiful succulents to look at, and I love bringing one (or three) home from each Cambria trip. Seeing them flourish in my backyard makes me happy, and I reminisce on this beautiful town I love.
SIMPLISTIC HOME
RUSTIC HOME FURNISHINGS AND GIFTS
Another one of my favorite stores to wander, Simplistic Home, is tucked behind The Cambria Garden Shed. Simplistic Home is filled with rustic farmhouse and vintage bohemian gifts and home furnishings. They have great greeting cards and seasonal offerings as well. I always find something fun for someone at Simplistic Home.
FROGGIES
OUR SON’S TOP PICK IN CAMBRIA
When we ask my son about the best shopping in Cambria, his first answer is always, “Froggies!” We save a trip to Froggies gift shop for the end of the trip as a special reward for hiking without complaining/dining without complaining/basically insert a verb and add “without complaining,” etc.! Ha. Froggies is a toy store in the West Village. Our son loves wandering around and looking at everything before making a pick. They carry larger toys but plenty of smaller things as a souvenir for your children. If you are traveling with your family of young kids, this makes a great sport for souvenirs. After all of the browsing he puts up with me doing in Cambria, we can take a few minutes to let him do the same in his element!
SWEET OFFERINGS
ANOTHER TOP PICK FROM OUR SON
Another one of my son’s best shopping in Cambria picks! Sweet Offerings is located in the East Village on Burton Drive and carries a variety of candies and sweets. Our son loves coming in to pick a few things during our Cambria visits. This is a great family-friendly stop. They have a classic wall of Jelly Belly candies, but they also carry a ton of nostalgic candies that will take you back in time. Sweet Offerings specializes in its homemade fudge and makes a variety of other chocolates, truffles, and treats.
Cambria is a magical seaside town on California’s Central Coast, and it is one of our favorite places to visit. My husband grew up visiting Cambria often as his Grandma would rent a house each summer. We hope to continue the tradition. Our son already loves our visits, and, at four months old, our daughter has already had her first visit. Cambria is a beautiful place to escape for a weekend getaway- or longer! Here is our guide to visiting the coastal gem of Cambria, California.
WHERE IS CAMBRIA, CALIFORNIA?
Cambria is a quiet, beautiful town full of fun shops, delicious food, and beautiful places to explore. Whether or not you stay in the east village or west village, you will find yourself surrounded by the ocean and Monterey Pines. Cambria is the perfect destination for a relaxing weekend away. California’s Central Coast has so much to offer, and I hate to write too much about it because I don’t want our favorite places full of crowds. However, the magic of Cambria is something everyone should experience.
WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN VISITING CAMBRIA?
Check out the following pages for our ultimate guide to Cambria! If you plan to head up the coast a bit, check out my post about San Simeon too. Here are our favorite family-friendly places to explore, eat, drink, shop & stay when visiting Cambria, California.
Idyllwild is a great spot for a day trip of exploration or a weekend away. We have loved heading up for a day trip from San Diego several times and we have loved staying longer to camp for the weekend. No matter how you choose to adventure in Idyllwild, you will not be disappointed. With live music almost daily, funky art, and unique food, there is always something fun to check out in Idyllwild. There is something so unique about the west side of Mount San Jacinto.
The Idyllwild Nature Center is a must-do visit for anyone, but especially with kids! The Nature Center not only has hands-on educational exhibits for the kids, but the surrounding trails offer several options for family-friendly hiking. Our favorite, the flat, less than one mile, Nature Trail walks you through the history, flora, and fauna of the region. It makes for a great walk with kids, with lots of nooks to explore. The trail has numbers along the way that corresponds to information on the trail guide you can pick up when you pay your fees. Check out the top of the cedar tree at stop #4 for a raven’s nest! It has been there for multiple years now. We love to park in the first lot off Highway 243 and walk to the museum portion of the Nature Center on this trail.
The Nature Center is located about a mile outside of town and has two small parking lots that we have always been able to park in. They are open Thursday – Sunday 9 am – 4 pm. The Nature Center collects fees that support the programs and facilities. Day use fees are $4/adult, $3/child (12 and under), and $1/leashed dog. These fees cover your parking, allow you to hike the trails, explore the museum, and use the picnic areas and facilities. After you park, you pay your fees in the Nature Center and the volunteer will give you a Nature Trail Guide and trail map and can answer any questions you may have.
NATURE CENTER HIKES
After visiting the museum, make sure to head up the Perimeter trail and take in the beautiful views of the San Jacinto Wilderness. We love picnicking up here or having a kombucha and snack. Our son has so much fun exploring the rocks and checking things out with his binoculars from this spot. If you want a longer hike, keep going on the Perimeter Trail. We haven’t completed the loop, but this post goes into great detail about the route! This is also a starting point for the Deer Springs Trail. Don’t miss the Nature Center when checking Idyllwild out with kids!
HUMBER PARK
Humber Park is in the San Bernardino National Forest and makes for a great stop. It is a beautiful spot to park and explore. There are picnic tables and facilities to enjoy in the area. Most people are using the site as a starting point for two major trailheads – Devil’s Slide and Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail. The Devil’s Slide Trail requires a permit to head into the San Jacinto Wilderness. This area also requires an adventure pass (like Mount Laguna) or National Park Annual Pass to park. My husband is working on completing the Devils’ Slide hike up to the Palm Springs Tramway so I will report back on that soon. The kids and I will be waiting in a pool on the other side of the peak!
IDYLLWILD VILLAGE CENTER
On any given weekend, the center of town is almost always filled with live music. Sadly, Dolly Parton sold her home in Idyllwild a few years ago, but you can only imagine how cool it would be to enjoy live music and see Dolly walk on stage! If nothing is happening in the main square, you can always find music in the variety of restaurants surrounding the center. So many of the restaurants and shops I recommend are in walk distance of the town center.
Art is abundant in Idyllwild so there is no shortage of galleries to explore. You can also check out the “Harmony” wood sculpture carved with a chainsaw by local sculptor David Roy. You may even see David Roy carving different wood animals in front of the sculpture as well. Our son loves watching him work!
Idyllwild is full of culinary adventures, but Ferro has become our absolute favorite. We are both suckers for amazing Italian and the food is delicious. Ferro has three sections of seating – the front patio (all we have experienced – you can see the vibe in pictures), indoors, and the back patio. The back patio looks super fun with live music and room for kids to roam. Ferro makes DELICIOUS food. It is not to be missed! Reservations are recommended. During COVID lockdowns, we took our meal to go to Humber Park for a delicious picnic. If you are traveling without kids, check out the pizza oven bar outside! Don’t skip Ferro for dinner!
Who doesn’t love ice cream at any moment? But especially after a decent hike? There are two spots in town that we love. Idyllwild Ice Cream & Jerky gives you all of your classic flavors with a short walk to several of our favorite shopping spots. This is a great spot to treat your kids for hiking well!
Closer to the campground, the Candy Cupboard is another one of our son’s favorites. The store is filled with candy which is exciting enough for kids, but their specialty is an old-fashioned chocolate-dipped ice cream bar. The bar is rolled in the topping of your choice. This is a hit with the whole family, and as you can see, our son prefers sprinkles!
The Idyllwild Brew Pub is the hot new spot for families in town! Owned by the same people as Ferro, they are bringing A-game food to the pub scene. They have a great beer selection (over 20 draft beers) and space for kids to play. They know what they are doing! The Brew Pub opens at 11 for lunch & dinner.
This restaurant is a go-to! On day trips, we love it for lunch or early dinner. The building is filled with art and doubles as an art gallery. You can almost always find live music here (on hold due to COVID). We had incredible sandwiches and my chicken sandwich came with a raspberry vinaigrette that was delicious. Cafe Aroma serves breakfast, lunch & dinner. Although we have only had lunch outside, the main dining room looks cozy and cute for a snowy day. I also love the “Idyll-Beast Yeti Crossing” sign as Idyllwild is known for its rumored Yeti sightings.
La Casita has great Mexican food. You can sit outside on a beautiful deck surrounded by pines in summer or opt for inside the dining room in winter! The menu has all of your favorites and we loved our burritos (they were super big)! La Casita has margaritas and Micheladas to quench your mid-day thirst as well. We did not have to wait too long for our lunch table. They open at 11 for lunch and dinner.
This is a great date night restaurant as it is a classic steakhouse. The restaurant opened in 1973 and continues to expand on the relationship between food and art. Although we have only visited Idyllwild in summer, I can only imagine this place would be ideal in the snow! The fireplace and dim lighting would make for an exceptional meal. Gastrognome opens at 11 for brunch & dinner.
This was a rad little spot to grab a drink and listen to live music along the creek. You could take your beverage down to explore with several little seating areas scattered along the creek. The freedom to explore making it great for kids. The restaurant was closed during our last visit to Idyllwild but has apparently reopened with a new menu and management. I will update this post once we visit again!
We have enjoyed this chocolate shop since they were in a tiny place right in town. Now they have a larger space for making their amazing chocolates. The chocolates are made with cacao and have nothing added to them. They are divine. Stop in for a treat and coffee and you will not be disappointed.
I absolutely love coming to Idyllwild Gardens during our visits. They carry so many beautiful indoor and outdoor plants. A small Idyllwild succulent is the ultimate souvenir to me when we visit. Even better, I love seeing the new parts of this nursery, as it has only expanded over the years. Every time we visit, there is a new nook to explore. They are doing a beautiful job! I also love scoring a few plants to use as campsite decor before making their home in our yard!
What child is not pumped to go from hiking to an arcade? Our son was so excited to stumble upon this arcade during our camping trip. A classic arcade that excites your kids – and lets parents nostalgia indulge?!? This is a great place to stop after a hike and when cruising through town.
This is a cute “paint your own pottery” store right in the town center. Due to COVID, they now have take-home kits available. Being in a mountain town that thrives in art and music, this makes a fun stop for kids if you are visiting for the weekend. In addition to the experience, you have a fun souvenir to take home with your kids!
This campground is great if you want to be close to town. Although you are within walking distance of the town center, you still feel like you are escaping the busyness of the town underneath the pines. We had an incredible weekend here. There are 31 sites for tents and RV’s. Sites are spread out and have close water and facilities. Our son participated in the Junior Ranger program here and had a great time. This is a great pick for camping in Idyllwild. Sites are $25/night and limited to 8 people max at any time. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance on ReserveCalifornia.com.
Just a little outside of town, Idyllwild Regional Park is another great place for camping. Although we have not camped here, we paid the day-use fees to explore with our son. He was anxious to ride his bike and the trails through the meadow and campground delivered! We used our time exploring to plan a future camping trip that I will update here once we do!
The park is run by Riverside County, the same as the Nature Center. Day use fees are $6/adult, $3/child (12 and under), and $2/leashed dog. Camping sites are $30/night for six people. Reservations can be made online through the Riverside County website. During our walk, we thought that sites 20 & 21 were especially desirable. Many of the sites are very close together and only one car will fit in the parking for the site (additional cars can park in the day-use lot).
Mount Laguna is one of my favorite places to get away to when I am craving nature. The trails are beautiful and the views are stunning. On clear days you can see out over Anza-Borrego Desert and over the Salton Sea. During fall the trees are gorgeous and in spring the wildflowers sprinkle the trails with colors and joy. We have experienced days when you can’t see 10 feet in front of you and the wind is whipping everything around you. We have also played in the snow on the side of the road. A weekend in Mount Laguna will not disappoint, no matter the season.
The Mount Laguna Recreation Area is part of the Cleveland National Forest, which requires an “Adventure Pass” for parking on the mountain in certain areas. Due to COVID, many of the areas stopped requiring Adventure Passes, so I recommend checking here for the latest info on what trailheads are requiring the pass. You can purchase your $5 daily pass online here or opt for the $30 annual pass. To purchase the annual pass, you have several options. In advance, order online here, visit a vendor (Big 5 in Carlsbad or REI in Encinitas sells them) or day-of stop in at the Visitor’s Information Center when entering the recreation area. If you have an “America the Beautiful” national park pass, that will cover your fee here too! Just hang it on your mirror when parking.
LAGUNA MOUNTAIN VISITOR’S CENTER
The Visitor’s Information Center is next door to the Laguna Mountain Lodge Store. This is a great place to quickly stop in for information. There are public restrooms in the parking lot as well. Due to COVID, the Visitor’s Center has been closed, but when open, they are a great resource for maps and other brochures. This is also where you can pick up the Wooded Hill Nature Trail Guide I mention below. The Visitor’s Center is located right off the Sunrise Highway at Los Huecos Road, between mile marker 23.5 and 23.
JUNIOR FOREST RANGER
If you follow the National Park areas of my blog, you know my love for Junior Ranger programs. Although they are not passed out on the mountain, there is still a National Forest Junior Ranger program your child can participate in! You can email to order your booklet ahead (smokeybear@fs.fed. us) to receive one in the mail or download the booklet here to print at home. The booklet is a great additional item to pack for a weekend in Mount Laguna because it keeps your child engaged with all that he/she is seeing out on the trails. I love using them as entertainment at restaurants too! Once your child completes the activities, you can mail in the card for a pin and card.
WEATHER
As with any adventure, check into the weather before heading up the mountain. Mount Laguna can see hot temperatures during summer days, but they drop quickly as the sun goes down. In addition, wind can be a major factor! When we are planning a big hike or camping weekend, I always check the wind to make sure it will be enjoyable. During winter, Mount Laguna will see snow and the Sunrise Highway will sometimes require chains or be closed. So please check weather and current driving conditions before you go!
DRIVING TO MOUNT LAGUNA
The main road through the mountain is the Sunrise National Scenic Byway. No matter the direction you come in, I love the way the road changes as you climb up the Sunrise Highway. The 24-mile scenic byway winds up and down the mountain through pines and mountain meadows with views of the Anza-Borrego Desert below. We usually try to come in one way and out the other to make a big loop.
From North County San Diego, there are two main ways to head into Mount Laguna. You can use the 8 freeway past Alpine to head up the mountain, or you can take the windier, slower way through Highway 78 & 79 past Julian. The direction we go really depends on our plans for hiking and dining. This map gives you an overview of the places I mention in this post so you can plan your route. I usually consider the following factors when picking our route.
Starting on the 8 freeway towards Alpine is faster and more direct. Our son gets carsick so this is an easier way up for him. He does better with the windier roads near Julian on the way out of town. Also, the cell service works better for the initial chunk of the drive if your child is using any device that needs consistent service to function. On colder days, I love a hot coffee in the car while we charge the freeway route to get up. After our time in Mount Laguna, I love stopping in Julian to enjoy one of our favorite places for a snack or beverage before heading home.
Driving up the Sunrise Highway from the 8 near Alpine
The alternative route is to go through Julian first. I love this if you are visiting during summer and have more daylight hours. It allows you to stay on the mountain until sunset later in the evening. Many of our favorite stops in Julian tend to start shutting down around 5pm, so it allows us to stop at the pumpkin patch before heading up the mountain with plenty of daylight for hiking left. The freeway route home is faster when you are exhausted and just want to be home. Leaving through Alpine gives you a straighter route in the dark too, versus the windy mountains roads of Highway 78 out of Julian.
Driving up the Sunrise Highway towards Mt. Laguna from Julian
GARNET PEAK via PENNY PINES
I am jumping right into my favorite hike on the mountain. Garnet Peak is absolutely stunning and will take your breath away. On a clear day, the panoramic views seem to go on forever. When you make it to the top, it is almost emotional staring out at the beauty of the Cleveland National Forest around you and the Anza-Borrego Desert below you. There is an old coffee can with a notepad where people sign a note saying they have made it to the top. You can see messages from people who just overcome trials like beating cancer, hiking to heal from grief associated with extreme loss or are celebrating with family. As you sit at the top, you can’t help but think of all the emotions that have been processed on this peak. It really is a beautiful place.
There are two ways out to the Garnet Peak Trail. You can park on Sunrise Highway and head straight up the peak (about 2.2 miles), but we prefer to park at the Penny Pines Trailhead (27.8-mile marker) and take the longer 4-mile route. This trailhead is closest to the Julian side of the mountain, so it is a great first stop if heading up from Julian (or last stop if you come in from Alpine). There will be cars parked along the road at Penny Pines. This section of trail takes you east for a bit and then north on the famous PCT before hitting the Garnet Peak Trail. The views this way are stunning and Penny Pines is a great area to explore and enjoy even if you don’t want to take the longer hike to Garnet Peak.
Penny Pines Trail on Mount Laguna
PENNY PINES TRAILHEAD
We have stopped here several times without heading all the way up to Garnet Peak. This portion of the trail is less than a mile and gives you a taste of the views you will see once you reach the peak. We have been here on beautiful clear days like you can see above, and also on windy and foggy days where you cannot see anything! Mt. Laguna in the fog is fun to see for different reasons, but clearly, the views will not be as exciting!
We knew this day would be foggy, but we decided to adventure out anyway, The fog gave us a new view of a trail we love. However, we ended up turning back from Garnet Peak early because the wind was so strong it felt like our son could blow off the trail! The fog did begin to burn off as we returned to the trailhead. Make sure to keep wind and weather in mind when planning your Mount Laguna adventure.
During spring, the trail is filled with beautiful wildflowers. In fall, you can see the changing colors of the forest surrounding you. Our son does great on this trail. Whether only heading out for the first mile, or taking the full 4-mile out-and-back trail to the peak, he loves this trail. In the beginning, some of the brush is overgrown and you may feel like you are squeezing yourself through, but stay on the trail. It will soon open up to expanse views of the Anza-Borrego Desert.
GARNET PEAK TRAIL
The full 4-miles to Garnet Peak will give you an elevation gain of about 700 feet. We always pack a small picnic to enjoy along longer hikes, and there are several areas along this trail to sit on the rocks to enjoy a snack. Once you see the “Garnet Peak Trail” sign, you have merged onto the Garnet Peak Trail and the climb begins.
If hiking with kids, it is a good idea to make sure they have proper shoes for this hike. The last portion towards the peak does get very steep and rocky. When our son was younger, we did put him in the carrier for this final portion of the trail. At the top, there are many areas to sit and enjoy the view. When our son was younger, we kept him close! On a clear day, you can see the windmills out towards Palm Springs! Definitely pack some binoculars for the views on top!
PINE HOUSE CAFE & TAVERN
This restaurant recently changed ownership, and I have not been since the change due to all of the COVID madness. However, the location is great and the mountain vibe is the same. This log cabin style restaurant has been around since 1942 and has been feeding PCT hikers for many years. The cafe is right next to Burnt Rancheria on Sunrise Highway, across from the Laguna Mountain General Store. The cafe is open Thursday – Sunday and has breakfast, lunch, dinner & take-out picnic options available. Our son loved the mac and cheese and we love a cold beer on the patio after a long hike! The menus below are current in October 2020. You can check out the current hours and menu offerings on their website. I can’t want to check this place out next time we are on the mountain!
BURNT RANCHERIA CAMPGROUND
We love this campground! It is beautiful and the camp hosts are so helpful. The campground is open from April – October. Pets are allowed on a 6ft max leash at all times. The campground is made of several loops, and sites in the Pinyon, Lilac and Yucca Loop can be reserved in advance on recreation.gov. The rest of the 108 sites become first-come, first-serve. This map can give you an idea of where the sites are in relation to facilities. All sites have a table and fire ring. The camp hosts sell firewood for $6/bundle. You can call the campground with any questions at 619/473-0120 or follow the campground facebook page for updated information.
Our son loved this campground. I had been checking cancellations and scored a one-night opening during COVID when the campground had been full every day. We were thrilled, but then the 60mph winds had us hesitant. After our windy Garnet Peak hike, we came to the campground to picnic on our site and decide what to do next. During our picnic, we looked over at our fire ring and saw this snake cruising through our site! It may be hard to see in the picture, but we quickly realized all of the snake warning signs are up for a reason!
We were in site 45, which was right next to the bathrooms. All of the sites are spread out, which was especially enjoyable during COVID. The campground borders the PCT and The Desert View Trail left right by our site which made for an easy late afternoon hike. Walking through the campground later in the evening showed us the beauty of the sun setting in the Mahogany, Redberry & Cherry loop. During non-COVID summers, you an easily walk up to the Sunrise Highway to grab dinner or a beer at the Pinehouse Cafe before setting up for smores at night.
DESERT VIEW TRAIL & PICNIC AREA
The Desert View Trail gives you panoramic views of the Anza-Borrego Desert 6,000 feet below. The trail leaves right from the Burnt Rancheria campground next to site 44. It is pretty amazing to be looking down at the desert and surrounded by pines. The one-mile loop heads up to the Desert View Picnic Area which has several picnic tables and nooks to take a break and enjoy the scenery. The PCT runs along here too, so you may share the trail with PCT hikers for a bit.
We were visiting in June, and the wildflowers along the hike were my favorite. I just love the bright colors sprinkling the landscape along a hike. We headed back to our campsite through the campground (vs the trial back to site 44) and enjoyed the views of the sun setting on the different loops in Burnt Rancheria.
If you are not camping in Burnt Rancheria, the Desert View Picnic Area has parking and you can loop staring there and back up. The views are fabulous and you can see the Salton Sea on clear days. It was an easy trail for our son too!
WOODED HILL NATURE TRAIL
This trail is an easy 1.6-mile loop that is great for families! The trail is a figure-8 shape, with a smaller .5 mile loop option. It is also a self-guided nature trail, with exhibit numbers painted on rocks to teach you about local plant life. You can pick up the trail guide at the Visitor Center. Due to COVID, we were unable to get the pamphlet, but we still loved the hike. To find the trailhead, follow the small road (between mile markers 22 and 21.5) towards the Wooded Hill Campground. After about .3 miles, you will see cars parked along the left side of the road at the trailhead.
At the trailhead, there are two trails. We headed up the left side to start and we were happy with that decision in the end. Not only do the numbers on the pamphlet begin on the left, but we found the direct climb up the hill better on the left than the switchbacks on the right side. We started to head into the forest through the dry grass. Before long, we were surrounded by beautiful autumn colors between a forest of pine and oak trees.
After about 1/4 mile and a bit of a climb uphill (the hike has an elevation gain of 234 feet), we reached the middle of the two loops. We turned left, heading up for the longer 1.6-mile loop. Our son loved all of the boulders along the trail and the pinecones all over the ground. The clouds above us were moving, which gave us great views as we climbed the trail. From spots on the trail, we were able to see the Anza-Borrego Desert, the old US Air Force station, and the Laguna Mountain Observatory.
The top had great views and lots of boulders for our son to explore. We were wishing we had a picnic packed to enjoy once we were up there. It took us about 40 minutes to get to the top – we had a lot of stops for rock climbing and even a mid-trail diaper change!
We had a snack and kombucha, enjoyed the views and started our way down on the other side of the loop! This way down had many switchbacks that made the downhill steady. It was beautiful weaving through the forest. It took us less than 30 minutes to make it back down to our car. Although this trail is not stroller-friendly, it was a great hike for families with kids of all ages! I loved the fall colors during our October visit, and I can only imagine how beautiful the wildflowers must be in Spring!
This area is also our favorite to explore for snow play. You can read more about snow play on Mount Laguna here.
SUNSET TRAIL to WATER OF THE WOODS
This is a great hike to do with kids. To access these trails, you park at the Sunset Trailhead (mile marker 19.1). There will be a lot of cars parked on the highway here as this is a popular area for hiking and mountain biking. The 8-mile Sunset Trail to Laguna Meadows Loop leaves from here as well. The Big Laguna Trail is a popular mountain biking trail that splits off of the Sunset Trail after a few minutes. To make sure you are on the Sunset Trail, stay left, heading West. The Big Laguna Trail will have bikers and bike tracks in the dirt and head to the North, on the right.
Our son loved this trail because he could walk around and explore different areas of the mountain. The trail starts by heading into a pine forest, and eventually comes out into the large Laguna Meadow. The Water of the Woods is a large pond in the middle of the giant mountain meadow. We took time to snack here, and instead of heading back on the Sunset Trail for a 3-mile loop, we hooked onto the Big Laguna Trail (the biking one) and looped back along the meadow. This meadow is home to many cows and you will pass through cattle guards on the trail. Our son loved the different scenery on this easy hike with very little elevation gain. We first hiked this trail in fall and the colors did not disappoint. I have read that the wildflowers are stunning in spring too!
A FEW QUICK STOPS WORTH NOTING
Mount Laguna is filled with scenic points all along the Sunrise Highway. We love pulling off to take in the views for a moment. During COVID closures, these scenic points gave us picnic areas to enjoy in a socially distant way. I highly recommend taking your time heading through to pull off and take in the view! Kids can have a moment to snack and use their favorite binoculars while parents can enjoy a kombucha (or your beverage of choice) and, of course, a snack too.
KWAAYMII POINT
Kwaaymi Point is on the left side of the Sunrise Highway when coming up from Julian (mile marker 30.3). The point is right at the border between the Anza-Borrego Desert and Cleveland National Forest. A short road, Kwaaymi Point, takes you out to the overlook. At 6,000 feet elevation, this point is popular with hang gliders. The area has also become a memorial to hang gliders that have lost their lives and unfortunately, many spots have been tagged with memorials as well.
There is a short 1/2 mile hike that takes you on a portion of the PCT. The views here are beautiful, but there are no guard rails and the drops are steep along the trail. Those with little kids may want to enjoy the overlook and not explore the trail. A portion of the hike is on the old Sunrise Highway from the 1920’s. Our son enjoyed rock climbing (away from the cliff) and we enjoyed the views and a short picnic. This is also a great spot for stargazing!
DESERT VIEW OVERLOOK
Coming from Julian, shortly after mile marker 24, just before the Desert View Picnic Area, turn left up Monument Peak Road towards the old Mt. Laguna USAF station. The road dead-ends at the gate, but has fantastic views at the top. This is another great spot to stargaze, or even get up early from Burnt Rancheria Campground and watch the sunrise. Coffee or wine in hand, pop up a chair and enjoy the views.
OUR FAVORITE TURNOUT
We have another favorite stop on the left side of the mountain heading towards the Sunset Trail from the summit. It is the middle of three turnouts and is just past mile marker 20. I love this spot as we picnicked here several times during COVID and if offers fresh mountain air and views.
LAGUNA MOUNTAIN LODGE STORE
The Laguna Mountain Lodge Store was built in 1930 and has all you may need for a weekend in Mount Laguna. They carry groceries, beverages and camping gear. The store also carries ice, firewood and charcoal. They carry a variety of local souvenirs and even have snow gear. Campers can grab a fresh coffee in the am and they even have a gift shop for visitors. They have you covered for last minutes necessities during a week in Mount Laguna.
SNOW PLAY
Mount Laguna is known for its beautiful winter snowfall. An adventure up the mountain for family-friendly snow play makes for a great day! Check out my post on snow play in Mount Laguna for all my tips and info. Sometimes chains are required on the Sunrise Highway and in extreme weather, the Sunrise Highway will be closed. Mount Laguna is beautiful during every season which makes it a fun place to explore with family all year.
There is so much to do with a day in Julian, California. Less than 90 minutes from San Diego, Julian is a great day trip for the whole family. I love the different offerings throughout the seasons. Julian is an old mining town that is now known for its incredibly busy apple picking season. Although we always head to Julian for fall adventures like apple picking and the pumpkin patch, I also love visiting during the other seasons. Spring offers beautiful daffodils and wildflowers, summer offers fresh berry picking and winter will bring you snow play! We have had so many adventures in Julian over the years, so instead of a one-day itinerary, this post is broken into some of our favorite things to do when we head up!
This is one of our favorite things to do in Julian throughout the seasons. The farm is owned by the sweetest family and offers a variety of seasonal activities. During summer, you can pick fresh strawberries and blueberries on the farm. During the fall, the farm is our go-to pumpkin patch. You can pick pumpkins from the displays or head into the patch to pick your own. They offer hayrides, cider pressing, barnyard animal visits, and ax throwing.
The farm always has a variety of barnyard animals for kids to enjoy as well. This summer, they had three new baby goats that our son LOVED and was able to pet. The farm is a fun place to wander and the tire swing on the tree next to the pumpkin patch is a do-not-miss for kids. When heading to Julian, check out their website for the latest info on what the farm is offering during your visit. We love to stop by the farm closer to closing to avoid mid-day peak crowds. Don’t miss the farm when spending a day in Julian, California.
JULIAN MINING COMPANY
4444 State Highway 78
On the other side of Highway 78 is Julian Mining Company, owned by the same family that owns Julian Farm & Orchard. The mining company is another great stop for families. Kids will have a blast as they “mine” for gold and/or gems by the creek where the real gold was first discovered in Julian. The panning is set up in troughs under a beautiful walnut tree. The grounds have lots of funky areas to explore as well. The Julian Mining Company is open year-round. Check their website for updated hours, but they usually close by 5 pm.
VOLCAN VALLEY APPLE FARM
1284 Julian Orchards Drive
This apple farm has been a family tradition for all of our son’s life. It is our favorite place to go apple picking in Julian each fall. It has changed ownership over the years but only gotten busier. We plan on a weekend visit to Julian somewhere around Labor Day, but I recommend following them on Facebook to get the most updated info on the season. This year (2020) the season was picked over and closed after three weekends! Bags were $15 and include admission for 1. Additional admissions are $5, with children under 5 free. They grow a variety of apples and depending on when you go, certain varieties may be unavailable if they are not ready yet. The apple farm is located just outside downtown Julian and we usually head there first thing on our day trips. Apple season tends to coincide with hot weather in Julian, so come prepared with water, sunblock, and hats! You can find our favorites here!
I always recommend packing a picnic before heading up to Julian, enjoying the apple picking, and then heading next door to Menghini Winery for your lunch with some local wine by the apple orchard. There is a winery across from the orchard that has changed over several times, It is always packed because it is right by the apples, however, head down the road to avoid the lines and enjoy the views at Menghini.
BEST FOOD & DRINKIN JULIAN
HEROES RESTAURANT
218 Main Street
Heroes Restaurant is a delicious stop for lunch. Although open until 4 or 5, Heroes is a VERY popular spot that tends to close a bit earlier in the afternoon due to crowds. Put your name on the list and enjoy downtown Julian until they text you. The restaurant is focused on honoring the men and women that serve our country – military and first responders. They offer a 10% discount to military patrons. The dining room is filled with military and first responder memorabilia, patches, and flags.
If you are looking for a delicious burger or beer in Julian, Heroes is your spot. You cannot go wrong with anything on their menu, but my personal favorite is the Jammin Burger. The apple-cranberry-almond coleslaw is delicious too. Our son loves ordering the burgers too, but unfortunately, they do not have a kids burger on the kid’s menu, so expect the full price ($14) burger on your check. The restaurant is pet and motorcycle friendly which makes the patio very popular on crowded weekends. Don’t miss your chance to watch the action on Main Street from their patio seating.
MENGHINI WINERY
1150 Julian Orchards Drive
This is one of the first places we ever discovered in Julian and we have been coming back since. The boutique winery is just down past Volcan Valley Apple Farm on Julian Orchards Drive. They have a large property of grass, beautiful trees, picnic tables, and apple trees. They encourage you to picnic and their location is perfect for it! You can taste, buy a glass or bottle to share. If you are not picnicking and want to be close for tastings, you can enjoy a glass on the back patio among lush greenery and enjoy the views of the orchard. This is a great spot for lunch after apple picking before heading into town! Hours are 11-4 or 5 pm depending on the day. You can check their website for current hours.
WYNOLA PIZZA & BISTRO
4444 State Highway 78
This is our favorite place to grab a casual lunch or dinner with family. Wynola Pizza & Bistro has a great patio, live music, and craft beer selection. Our favorite is the “Joe’s Godfather” pizza for sure. I also love the “Pizza Crust Salad.” Everything is delicious and their location is ideal, just off Highway 79, right next door to Julian Farm & Orchard. If you are anxious to beat sunset down the windy mountain roads, it is a great place to stop in and grab pizza to-go after a day in Julian, California. It is also perfect for grab-n-go when camping nearby!
JULIAN PIE COMPANY
21976 State Highway 79 or 2225 Main Street
Julian is known for their apple pie and the line outside of Julian Pie Company in downtown Julian never ceases to amaze me. My advice is to skip the Julian Pie Company in downtown Julian and opt for the bigger, less crowded Julian Pie Company in Santa Isabel. We always enjoy the classic apple pie with vanilla ice cream, but Julian Pie has other unique combinations too. You can top your slice of pie with whipped cream, caramel, or even a slice of sharp cheddar cheese! The apple cider donuts (and donut holes) are delicious, too! A slice of pie on the way out of town is a great end to a day in Julian, California.
JEREMY’S ON THE HILL
4354 State HIghway 78
We absolutely love this restaurant. If you are looking for a nicer meal, Jeremy’s is your spot. This is farm-to-table local cuisine that will not disappoint. We have had a variety of meals here – full course dinner and late afternoon appetizers. With the Julian Farm & Orchard across the street closing at 5 pm, Jeremy’s is a great spot for an early dinner on the patio with your family! Whatever season it is during your visit, Jeremy’s is sure to compliment your day in town! Jeremy’s is delicious, fresh, seasonal and dinner here is an amazing way to end a day in Julian!
BLUE DOOR WINERY
2608 B Street
Blue Door Winery is located in the center of downtown Julian. The tasting room is located in the town’s old livery stables. The winemakers are the nicest people too and the wine is great. Their signature sangria is fantastic on a hot, Julian summer day. You can grab a growler of the Sangria to go as well. I definitely recommend stopping in for a beverage during a visit to Julian! They have an urban winery on Morena Blvd. in San Diego so if you want to become wine club members you can taste and pick up at either location!
NICKEL BEER COMPANY
1485 Hollow Glen Road
This brewery is right outside of town and a fun place to stop in for a refreshing beer. They have over 16 beers on tap and have different food truck options. We especially love swinging by after a big hike. We once had an incredible sunrise hike in Anza-Borrego and stopped in for a beer on our way into Julian. More on that in a future post. They have a large, pet-friendly outdoor seating area. During the spring, you can enjoy the daffodils popping up all around the hills surrounding the brewery. If you enjoy beer, definitely stop in for a pint or two during your next day in Julian!
CALICO CIDERY
4200 State Highway 78
This is a great new spot in town! The ranch has been around for years, growing apples and pears and making cider for family and friends. The ranch has been selling fruit and recently opened for retail cider sales last year. The location is beautiful which makes it is a must-stop for us! There is a large seating area in the shade along Highway 79 in front of the cider, but the gem is the orchard behind. Tables are scattered throughout the orchard under the tree. Pick up a tasting flight of the four ciders on tap and enjoy the scenery. Calico Cidery is open on weekends and is a great place to meet up with friends and escape the crowds in downtown Julian.
JULIAN HARD CIDER
4470 Highway 78
Julian Hard Cider has been around for years and is always a fun place to pop in and taste. They have super friendly staff members and I love all of the recommendations that come with the ciders. The “Apple Pie” cider is a delicious treat to break out during dessert at your Thanksgiving celebration. The “Black and Blue” is a great tasting cider alone, and is also fabulous boiled down into a reduction over brussel sprouts. The tasting room for Julian Hard Cider is located in the Julian Station shopping area and is a great place to check out on your way in or out of town.
WHERE TO SHOP IN JULIAN
JULIAN STATION
4470 Highway 78
Julian Station is a great place to stop on your way in or out of town. The property is actually an old apple packing facility and cider house turned into a marketplace of unique vendors, boutiques, food, and drinks. I always have fun cruising through, checking out the different shops, and tasting at Julian Hard Cider. Your kids will love the coin-operated rides like the ones outside of grocery stores from when we were kids. They even have a small fenced-in toy area for the kids too! Julian Station is a great little stop to check out with a day in Julian!
ECCENTRIC APE
2000 Main Street
This store is located in downtown Julian between B & C Street. This was such a unique shop to stumble upon. They have a great tapestry selection. We use ours for a picnic/beach/park blanket and camping tablecloth but you can also hang them as art or use them as a comforter cover. I am always getting compliments on the one we purchased. The store also has a variety of incense and related supplies. Definitely, a place to check out with a day in Julian if you are into this vibe!
THE CANDY MINE
2134 Main Street
Our son loves this place. It is his favorite stop. When you first walk in, you will be in the small Miner’s Diner restaurant. However, in the back, follow the sign to the Candy Mine. Head down the stairs and you will be surrounded by buckets of candy. They carry all of the old-time candies and favorites. There is definitely something for everyone. It is a hit with my son. He brings it up every time we go to Julian. I love that he will always remember heading down the dark stairs complete with mining sound effects. It is a quick stop, but a fun one with kids! It is also on the main stretch where chances are you have parked and are cruising around if you are spending a day in Julian.
CROW & LILAC
2608 B Street
My friend and I stumbled upon this store while enjoying Sangria from Blue Door Winery next door. The store smells amazing and is full of natural body & home products. I have several linen sprays from the essential oil line that are incredible. I also have the “after sun spray” that is so rejuvenating on your skin after a shower post-beach day. Crow and Lilac is a great place to check out while you enjoy your Sangria.
JULIANTLA CHOCOLATE BOUTIQUE
2608 B Street
Next door to Crow and Lilac, this boutique has some delicious candies and chocolate treats for the entire family. In addition to chocolates and candies, they carry pastries, cakes, and apple pies. Everything is made locally and they have a large vegan selection. Juliantla Chocolate Boutique is another great place to check out while having your Sangria from Blue Door!
HIKING & CAMPING IN JULIAN
SANTA ISABEL COUNTY PRESERVE
You pass the Santa Isabel County Preserve coming into town from San Diego. The Santa Isabel West trails are an easy place to take kids out hiking, however, it can be very hot. There is a lot to explore and we enjoyed heading out among the rolling hills and oak trees. The entire loop can be up to 8 miles, or you can head out and back a few miles as we did with our son. There are many cows on the trail and very little shade. If you want an easy hike with minimal elevation, this is a great place to explore! Make sure to watch out for rattlesnakes, especially with little kids! I recommend this hike on a cooler day.
WILLIAM HEISE COUNTY PARK SELF-GUIDED NATURE TRAIL
William Heise County Park is a great place to hike and camp in Julian. The park is filled with hiking trails that can make a day out of adventuring. We had an enjoyable, .5mile hike along the self-guided nature trail loop. The loop left from the campground, not too far from our site (site 72). My son brought his scooter because we started by cruising through the campground and ended up on the hike. The hike is not scooter/stroller friendly, but it was easy enough to carry his scooter on the .5 mile loop. The hike takes you out into the county park, with information about the vegetation as you go. It is a great way to get out into nature in Julian. The county park does charge $3 for parking.
CAMPING AT WILLIAM HEISE COUNTY PARK
Camping at William Heise County Park is a great way to turn your daycation visiting Julian, Ca into a weekend getaway! The park has tent and RV hookup sites, as well as cabins and group-camping options. The cabins are insulated and include lighting, wood-framed beds (no linens), a table, and chairs. Use this link to view the park brochure and campground map. In addition to the 11-miles in hiking trails, there is a playground and ranger activities on the weekends. We had a wonderful time camping at William Heise during apple season.
Between family vacations and family an eight-hour drive away, we have covered a lot of miles on the road with our son over the years. Whether we are visiting family, traveling for the holidays, or taking our own adventure, we have become used to long periods of time in the car together. Now we are adding our baby girl to the mix, so we get to start all over with newborn road trips. I’ve had many people ask about how our son handles the long drives, so I thought I would put this list together for all of you. Here are the following essentials I always have packed for a road trip with kids!
1. CAR TRAY
Our son’s car tray is a road trip essential and he LOVES using it. It is used for eating, doing homework, playing, watching a DVD, etc. The trays with sides are awesome to keep projects from spilling. I love when they fold up for storage in the car under the passenger seat. The pockets on the side keep things organized during the drive. There are many options for car trays, but an old cafeteria tray will work too! Don’t forget a tray on your next road trip with kids.
2. HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES
Keeping your child busy is essential for road trip success. This section could go on and on, but I will pick a few of our son’s favorites. These ideas also double for grab-and-go entertainment in a restaurant, event, etc where your kids need something to keep them busy. Basic coloring books fall under this category, but here are a few of our son’s more engaging favorites.
MAGNETIC PLAY TINS & BOOKS – love these because the magnets keep the pieces together – SUPER helpful when you are in the front seat and can’t reach around easy!
MAGNETIC STORY SETS – his favorite was “Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site“ – ideal with stories they know and love so they can recreate stories with characters they love.
WIKI STICKS – as a teacher I loved these for making letters, math projects, finding sight words in big books, etc. I had kind of forgotten about them until we went to Nick’s in Laguna Beach and they gave them to our son with the kids menu. Our son was so engaged through the whole meal and now they are an easy tool for distraction! They never dry out and can stick to papers, tins, trays, etc. I love this travel kit! Easy to grab and throw in the car. Perfect for a road trip with kids.
TAKE APART ERASERS – my son loves these! They can fall apart and be messy, but he is so engaged with them. I actually take apart each animal and put it in a plastic easter egg. I usually have a set or two in 1/2 an egg crate ready to explore. You can get food, animals, sea life, etc. They are like mini-puzzles and keep him so engaged. I actually started using them on planes but they are great in the car too. Just annoying if they start falling on the ground, but if a piece falls, we tell our son to move on until the next stop!
MAGNETIC WOOLY WILLY – Ha! My son loves this thing. Easy to throw in and super engaging for kids!
TRAVEL ART SET – My son loves this set! Paper, markers, colored pencils, and more all fit inside this easy-to-grab (and slide between seats) case!
LACING ACTIVITIES – My son loved beads on a pipe cleaner, but lacing cards work too! Pipe cleaners hold the beads better to cut back on large spills of beads all over the car! Put the beads in a cup that will fit in the car seat cup holder and let little fingers create while working on their fine motor skills! Lacing is a win-win.
WATER WOW BOOKS – These are so awesome because all you need is water! So easy to clean up and so simple for the car. They have engaging topics for all interests!
STICKER STORY– This was a fun “go-to” activity in my Kindergarten class. Create a story from stickers. Kids can label, write a sentence or make a book with papers, markers & stickers. Always fun to see what they come up with! Just start with some high-interest stickers for your child!
Leading up to a trip, the $1 bins at Target and Michaels are always fun to check too. They tend to have thematic activities that correspond to seasons, hobbies, etc. so you can grab things that may match your trip!
3. GAMES
Games are great in the car on road trips with kids because they keep everyone happy, laughing, and engaged with each other. Our son’s favorite game – 2 TRUTHS & A LIE – has led to so many fun stories and conversations. Some of his other favorites are:
ROAD TRIP BINGO – My husband makes fun of me when I break this one out! I love it! Takes me back to riding cross country in the station wagon as a kid. Everyone needs this BINGO in their road trip entertainment arsenal.
MAD LIBS – Our son LOVES Mad Libs! Mad Libs are so easy and entertaining in the car. I especially love them now that our son is learning parts of speech. We used to say things like “something you do” for verbs, etc. Now he can play them with friends too!
I SPY TRAVEL – Our son loves I SPY and is the easiest game in the car. These cards are great, but you really don’t need any cards to play!
HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINE – Highlights has tons of engaging subscriptions in their magazines! My son’s favorite is the sticker matching pages in Puzzle Buzz. I love that Highlights targets specific age groups and you can adjust your subscription as your child gets older. These are also great for road trips because you can toss the magazine once your child has worked through it!
MAGNETIC GAMES – Just like the magnetic activities above, magnets are great in the car to reduce drops! our son loves matching games and the classic Tic-Tac-Toe. These are also so easy to store in the pocket behind the driver and passenger seats.
WENDY’S KIDS MEAL TOYS – Just another thing I want to note here. We have always loved the toys that come in Wendy’s kid’s meal. They are usually games or activities for the car that require thinking, exploring, etc. vs a random keychain your child will never play with again. Just something to think about when you are deciding where to stop for food!
4. MINI TOYS
This seems like a given, but it is important to bring a few of your child’s favorite little toys along. Try to think about toys that inspire creativity. For our son, it has been small superhero action figures, Disney Pixar die-cast cars, and small lego sets. If you are doing screens on your drive, try to think about small toys you may have that correlate to the movie they may be watching on the drive. My son LOVES playing cars as he watches Cars. He loves to play shark legos as he watches Discovery Channel shark shows. It can be fun to surprise your child with a few of these along the drive too!
5. PODCASTS
We have had a lot of fun listening to entertaining Podcasts with our son on the road. He loved the comedy THIS PODCAST HAS FLEAS during a road trip a few years ago. It is great when you can find one that you all enjoy listening to. Currently, he is super into WHAT IF WORLD. If your children need to calm down, BE CALM ON AHWAY ISLAND is a great pick. Pick out a new, engaging podcast to try on a road trip with kids!
Read-along books are great for road trips with kids, but they are useful to have in the car all of the time. They can tuck in the pocket in front of your child. Disney makes cheap read-along books with CDs that go with almost every movie. Through the distance learning COVID brought all of us, we were introduced to the app Epic with tons of audiobooks to listen to. We found we had several in our library which we were able to pair together for a listening center in the car! The scholastic book orders your child’s school probably sends home are a great, cheap way to grow your book & CD collection too.
7. OPTIONAL – *SCREENS*
Uggggg, OK I am saying it. Screens. Like we have not had enough. But let’s be real and honest and we know they help in times like the car. However, I will say a few things here. When we do our big National Park trips, we DO NOT bring the iPad. I can write a novel on how I think iPad changes my son, but I will spare you. I am not going to preach here, because my son has PLENTY of screen time, but it is important to think about the role the screen will play on your trip.
For our son, knowing the iPad is in the car almost makes him obsess over it the entire trip. So for us, it is not ideal. However, we will sometimes bring his Nintendo Switch or our travel DVD player. Depending on where you are going, you may not have cell service, so a pad may not work. In addition, unless you have unlimited data, the charges can start adding up if you let your kids go wild on the pad.
Our car does not have a built-in DVD player, but a friend recommended this one and we have loved it! It is great because we can bring into hotels for our son’s breathing treatment time. Each trip, we pick a few favorite Disney movies and some corresponding toys. I love watching him enjoy movies he wouldn’t give the time of day during regular day-to-day life. Especially when they are movies he LOVED as a toddler (uhmmmm Cars, yes please!).
8. SNACKS
This kind of goes along with water in the way that you don’t want whining, “I’m hungry” as soon as you get on the road. We don’t do snacks that create a huge mess during road trips with kids (if possible). Our son love string cheese, yogurt pouches, BBQ chips, crackers, and cashews. Again, please remember our son has CF and has a need for a high-fat, high-calorie diet that is probably different than what your child needs. It is great to have a variety of snacks (for you too!) as road trip snacking tends to be heavy. When you pack your snacks, think about items that will avoid crazy spills and are easy to pass behind you. If you want to try something new and not think too much about it, these boxes are a fun way to make your road trip snack game strong!
9. WATER
This seems like a silly item to include, but it is so important. I have mentioned our need for water because our son takes over 40 pills a day as part of his fight against Cystic Fibrosis, but water is important for every child! The last thing you want to hear is whiny, “I’m thirsty” when you are on a road trip with kids! We love stainless water bottles that keep the water icy cold without condensation dripping all over our son’s car seat.
In addition, water creates no sticky spills or messes. Brightly colored, large water bottles allow your child to find their bottle in the backseat without asking for unnecessary help. Water is the only beverage (outside of our son’s high-calorie milk – CF-related need) that we have going on during road trips. No chugging sugar bomb drink, spilling sticky juice all over the backseat, and no unwrapping and poking straws while twisting my back around to reach!!
10. CLEAN UP
Not the most exciting part, but a VERY necessary part of a road trip with kid travel! Our son gets carsick, so Kids Dramamine and barf bags are a must. So simple to have with you and they can make all the difference in your day. I won’t get into how many times we have been taking the car seat apart in a gas station parking lot to clean out the mess. These barf bags have saved SO many days.
Another thing that saves the day? Wipes! As mothers, we know this. Always make sure you have plenty within arms reach on your road trip!
Also, we always have our potty from back in the potty training days. This thing has saved us several times when bathrooms were closed, totally disgusting, or just unavailable. You can always pull over and set your child up on the side of the road with this thing. This was especially helpful during the beginning of COVID closures. This potty was essential for potty training and years later is still useful in time-sensitive situations. When on a road trip with kids, make sure you have a backup plan for all things potty!
The last thing I want to note about road trips with kids is to PLAN YOUR STOPS! Check out what you can do on your route. Nothing is worse than the tensions boiling and uncomfortable kids driving. There are so many quirky stops where you can let your kids run, stretch their legs, and burn off a little energy. Planning for these moments will help make the drive better for EVERYONE in the car! Don’t let a road trip with kids hold you back from your next adventure! Anything else you would add to my list?
These are the items we make sure to pack when heading out on a National Park adventure with our (now) seven-year-old son. Some are more specific for certain places and plans, but they are all something to think about when you begin to pack based on your itinerary. This is our list of the “must-haves” for adventuring with kids in National Parks.
Our son’s backpack has been awesome over the years. It is lightweight and very durable. I can even throw it in the washing machine after a trip to clean it up. It is small enough to fit in a suitcase but large enough to fit a few of our son’s favorite things on hikes. In reality, a young child is not going to carry a heavy pack hiking, but this allows him to keep a few things he wants to have access to in an easy place to grab them. It is much better than, “can I have my _________?” over and over when hiking! Our son loves how he can connect carabiners to the outside to make access to some items even easier! He even used this as his preschool backpack too! Shout out to Uncle Raymond for this rad gift.
Just another note I feel fits here – whether you carry it or your child carries it, please make sure to always have sunscreen, bug protection, and a first aid kit in you or your child’s pack. These are so important for adventuring with kids in National Parks. You don’t need a beautiful hike ruined because you don’t have a band-aid. We all know band-aids are a magic fix to so many things!
This is such an important item for us! Almost all National Parks have stopped selling plastic water bottles and now provide fresh water filling stations through the park. You will never find my son without a water bottle or water bladder in his backpack. In addition to the importance of hydration when hiking in general, our son has Cystic Fibrosis and can dehydrate easily. In addition, he takes over 40 pills a day with meals in order to digest the food he eats, so having water to swallow the 7 pills per meal is important.
Kids love these stainless bottles because the water can stay icy cold throughout a long day. I also feel better about them laying around in the sun being stainless versus plastic. Our son always tells us the water tastes better from a Hydroflask!
We purchased this sun hat before our Summer 2019 Road Trip and it has been such a great purchase. It is not too expensive and very lightweight. It can be shoved in our son’s backpack and washed in the washing machine when we get home (ha – notice a theme here for me!). The cord allows it to be hooked onto his backpack and mesh gives him ventilation in the heat. It has UV 50+ protection and I love how the neck flap protects the back of his neck from the sun. So many kids fight sunscreen, so it is great to have an extra layer of protection when exploring National Parks with kids!
This purchase started more as a souvenir in Zion National Park to make our son feel like a “real hiker,” but we quickly realized we were glad we had it. He uses it often to feel he’s “dressed the part,” but in Zion, it stabilized him in the water and rocks of the Narrows, and in Bryce National Park it helped keep him up as we descended into the canyon. We love how it is adjustable so if he is tired of using it, we can collapse it and hook it to our backpack versus someone always having to carry it. Our son’s hiking stick was from the Zion visitor center, but I linked one that is very similar – and cheaper! Ha!
These are just fun to have. I cannot tell you how many times we have used our binoculars and been happy to have them! Between looking for California Condors in Zion National Park and looking for whales from Cabrillo National Monument our son has used them all over! He watched climbers scale El Capitan and a bear cross a meadow in Yosemite. These binoculars have offered some awesome experiences. They are small, fit in his pack and allow him to explore the park even more. When a crowd is standing around watching a bear, he felt very cool whipping out his binoculars to have an up-close view!
My dad had an old Canon Power Shot and now that everyone uses their iPhone for photos, we thought why not let our son play around with it? He is old enough to take care of it in his pack, but I linked a camera that can take a little more wear and tear from younger kids. It is fun to see the trip through their lens when you get home. Sometimes we get 15 squirrel pictures, and other times we get sweet “family selfies” that we will always cherish. How many times have your kids watched you take a picture? They want to be a part of that too!
When visiting National Parks with kids, you have to check these out! I absolutely love the Junior Ranger program at National (and CA State) parks. It is free and enriches your child’s experience in the park. They learn about the geology, history, plants, and animals in the park. The park-specific booklets double as dinner entertainment and challenge your child to look, listen and explore the park in ways they may not have done without the activities.
My son has such pride when he returns to a park ranger, takes his oath, and achieves his badge. Some parks give out a beautiful wooden badge, others have a plastic badge. My son thinks the plastic with gold trim is the cream of the crop in Junior Ranger badges. We had fun making a display for his badges from cut-off jeans, three safety pins, a stick, and some burlap twine. The stick was not from a National Park! Your Junior Ranger will learn to take nothing during visits!
The Junior Ranger Passport is a lot of fun too! It is the child version of the adult National Park Passport, with the same categories only broken down into more pictures, space for stamps, and illustrations. There is space for your “date of visit” cancellation and your child’s “Junior Ranger” cancellation. This book will be cherished for years as every visit adds to the personalization of the booklet! I cannot wait to see the stamps grow over the years! This is a * must-have* if you see your family having multiple National Park trips.
I love these little books! These are an inexpensive way for kids to get excited about your trip! Our son is seven, so they are aimed at the younger reader, but the idea is for them to have a book about the park that your child can adore. These books are great to read before we go, in the car on the way and during our visit. We make a point to check out specific things from the book (usually we are already going to most of them).
The inside cover of the books turns into a mini scrapbook from our trip. We use them to stamp his National Park Passport cancellations in, Junior Ranger stamps in, and place any stickers he may get from the rangers in the park. For $6, they are a great kick-off to your trip. Anything in the visitor center will be more expensive, so why not order ahead? I am linking the different parks here for your convenience. They have a variety of parks available at times, but current availability on Amazon is Zion, Bryce, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Great Smokey Mountains, Glacier, Everglades, Hawaii Volcanoes, and Acadia.
For some reason hanging things off my son’s pack just makes him feel like a true hiker. It is so easy to attach his binoculars or camera to his pack with a carabiner. We really love these flashlight carabiners as you never know when you may run out of daylight and they are tiny enough to always have attached to something. They are also a great light to hang from the top of your tent when you are getting things ready for bed! Carabiners are also a fun thing to purchase with kids from the National Park visitor centers as a souvenir!
This is so important!!! The wrong shoes for your child can RUIN your hike. You can plan away, pack all the right things, set out with the best of intentions and if you don’t have the right shoes everything will begin to spiral quickly. If you purchase new hiking boots for a specific trip, please make sure your child is able to wear them before the trip. Nothing is worse than a child with the wrong shoes, or shoes that are giving blisters because they have not been broken in. Our son LOVES these Merrell hiking boots for kids. They have had a lot of miles put on them and still are in great shape.
In preparation for the Narrows in Zion, I wanted to get him some water-friendly hiking shoes. Although the hiking boots are actually waterproof, I knew we may not have enough time between adventures for them to fully dry after the narrows. I found water shoes similar to these at the Merrell outlet and they worked great! I cannot recommend making sure your kids are dialed in with the right shoes before any big adventures!!
Hope this list of “must-have” items for kids in National Parks gets you started in your prep for an awesome family adventure! Always remember that a comfortable & engaged child is going to be a happy child! A happy child is sure to lead to a better experience for the entire family exploring the parks! Anything else you would add to the list?
Camping in Joshua Tree is an unforgettable experience, no matter where you end up. The stargazing is phenomenal, and sitting around a campfire next to massive piles of boulders or Joshua Trees makes for an unforgettable experience. There are several National Park campgrounds to choose from, but for reasons I will talk about below, Black Rock Campground is our favorite for camping with kids. If you are looking for more info on visiting Joshua Tree with kids, make sure to read this post!
JOSHUA TREE CAMPGROUND OPTIONS
Joshua Tree has eight campgrounds – five requiring reservations during the peak season of September to May (Black Rock, Cottonwood, Indian Cove, Jumbo Rocks, Ryan).
BLACK ROCK CAMPGROUND – 99 sites, $25/night, water, flush toilets, fire grates, dump station
COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND – 62 sites, $25/night, water, flush toilets, fire grates, dump station
INDIAN COVE CAMPGROUND – 101 sites, $25/night, water at ranger station, pit toilets, fire grates
JUMBO ROCKS CAMPGROUND – 124 sites, $20/night, NO WATER, pit toilets, fire grates
RYAN CAMPGROUND – 31 sites, $20/night, NO WATER, pit toilets, fire grates
BELLE CAMPGROUND – 18 sites, $15/night, NO WATER, pit toilets, fire grates
HIDDEN VALLEY CAMPGROUND – 44 sites, $15/night, NO WATER, pit toilets, fire grates
WHITE TANK CAMPGROUND – 15 sites, $15/night, NO WATER, pit toilets, fire grates
WHY CHOOSE BLACK ROCK CAMPGROUND FOR FAMILIES?
Little “luxuries” can make a huge difference when camping with kids. Safety and convenience factors go a long way, especially with younger kids. You can read more about our favorite things to pack when camping with kids here. We love Black Rock Campground in Joshua Tree for the following reasons.
SPACIOUS SITES
We picked site #30, the campsite at the northern tip of the campground, where several trails begin. Although this campground does not offer the fun rock climbing that the more popular Jumbo Rocks and Indian Cove do, it is the only campground where you can sleep under a Joshua Tree! In addition, site 30 was secluded, a short walk from the bathrooms, and had total privacy!
Some of the middle sites are pretty close together, with nothing separating them. We were thrilled to be secluded and have plenty of space for our set-up, especially during COVID. There was plenty of room for our large tent, and there was plenty of space for another family to have joined us.
CELL SERVICE
So obviously, cell service is not something you expect or necessarily want when getting into nature. Still, the reality of our “always available world” is that sometimes it is necessary to getaway. Due to COVID, our son was distance learning and could check-in via Zoom while setting up our tent. My husband also had to manage any pressing issues at work. It was great to stay where he occasionally could check on email, as Joshua Tree has NO CELL SERVICE. I know this isn’t the point of camping, but when ducking out of town early on a Friday, it was nice to have service to manage school and work issues that came up!
FLUSH TOILETS
Black Rock Campground has real bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks. Real toilets are great for camping with kids. Although some of the more popular campgrounds like Jumbo Rocks, Indian Cove, and Hidden Valley are at the top of the “best campgrounds in Joshua Tree,” they only have pit toilets and no water available. When camping with kids, real bathrooms and sinks are very helpful!
WATER
In addition to bathrooms, Black Rock Campground has running water available throughout the campground. When I was 27 weeks pregnant, we camped here, so I appreciated an actual toilet and running water. Also, a water spout nearby makes washing dishes easier and assures you will have what you need to put your fire out at night. When camping with no water, you need to pack A LOT of water, especially in the middle of the desert. Water available in the campground alleviates this extra step.
LOCATION
Black Rock Campground is located inside the boundaries of Joshua Tree National Park. However, it is not located inside the main entrances. Just a few minutes off of the highway, the campground offers the beauty and quiet of Joshua Tree, with the convenience of 7-11 and Walmart not too far away. Since Joshua Tree is a park you are primarily driving through and stopping along the way, we found this super convenient for picking up firewood and ice each evening. The drive to the main entrance was only about 15-minutes each morning, and then we enjoyed stopping at our favorite places along the way as we looped through the park.
BLACK ROCK CAMPGROUND NATURE CENTER
Several trails leave from the Black Rock Campground, and the campground is home to the Black Rock Nature Center. Although closed during our COVID visit, the Nature Center is fun for families to explore and learn more about Joshua Tree National Park. The Black Rock Nature Center is also an excellent place for kids to work on their Junior Ranger books!
ABILILTY TO PLAN AHEAD
HOW TO MAKE RESERVATIONS
Although we were visiting when sites were first come, first served, reservations are available for Black Rock, reservations are available August-early June. You can make your reservation on Reservation.gov six months in advance. A reservation lets you know exactly what site you have and takes away the worry of “where will we end up?” Spots fill up fast, so signing on at 7 am is best EXACLTY six months before you want to go. Another option is to sign up for a service like Campnab that will monitor cancellations for you in real-time.
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED SEASON
Due to Black Rock Campground’s entrance being shortly off of the highway, you do not need to go through the main entrance to get there. This saves time when trying to score a great campsite (especially on a holiday weekend). We talked to the ranger on our drive out that said it is always best to try Black Rock or Cottonwood Campground before heading to the more popular Jumbo Rocks, Indian Cove, or Hidden Valley. You lose time driving into the middle of the park and will almost certainly be met with “Campground Full” signs on a busy weekend.
No matter what campground you choose, during first come, first served, all you do is grab a yellow envelope when you enter the campground. Then, pick an available site and begin setting up. Within an hour, make sure to fill out all of your info on the envelope, put your payment inside and clip it to your site marker. The key is finding a site with no yellow envelope clipped to the number- meaning it is vacant!
CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CAMPING IN JOSHUA TREE
Joshua Tree is a beautiful National Park but also an isolated park. When you plan your family’s camping trip, there are several things to consider. First, always remember there is no cellular service inside the park.
FIREWOOD
Joshua Tree DOES NOT SELL FIREWOOD in their campgrounds. Please make sure to purchase your bundles on your way into the park. There are plenty of stores along the highway that sell firewood. Remember always to buy the firewood you burn locally. We found Black Rock Campground the most convenient because we could grab ice and firewood on the way back each evening.
WATER
Unless your campground has water available, like Black Rock Campground, you will need to bring all of your water with you. It is essential to overestimate as you are in the desert. Due to high desert winds, you want to make sure you have enough for drinking, washing up, and putting out your fire each night. You will want to have at least 1 gallon per person, per day, just for drinking. It would be best if you planned to double that in hotter temperatures.
PETS IN JOSHUA TREE
Pets are NOT ALLOWED on the trails in Joshua Tree. The answer to that is not to leave your pet unattended in the car while you hike!! The temperatures in Joshua Tree can soar to 100° plus. We all know that the car heats up much faster than the outside feels.
Pets are allowed on paved and unpaved roads, picnic areas, and campgrounds. You can read more specific details about where dogs are permitted in Joshua Tree here. Pets must be on a leash at all times. All leashes (or camping tie-ups) must be less than 6ft long. We all know you need to clean up after your pet.
CAMPSITE RULES
Joshua Trees are very fragile, and hanging anything from them (hammocks, string lights) in your campsite is not permitted. So leave your hammocks at home. However, generators are allowed during certain hours. This is important for us as our son has Cystic Fibrosis and needs to do nebulizer treatments.
HOLIDAY WEEKEND ADVICE
Joshua Tree is only gaining in popularity. Getting a campsite is becoming harder and harder, especially when competing in the first, come, first served scenarios. Here are my tips for being successful when the competition is intense.
CALL THE RANGER STATION – (760) 367-5522
When we visited for Memorial day weekend, everything was first-come, first-served. News stations reported that the heavily sought-after Jumbo Rocks Campground was almost full by Wednesday night. We had no idea where we were going or what we would do there. So I started by calling the ranger station to ask about the status of the campgrounds.
Calling ahead was a great choice. The ranger gave me an idea of how full the different campgrounds were. It was still early, so the ranger station did not have the current count of sites that were left, but he was able to give me a general idea of what was already pretty crowded and probably full. This saved us a lot of time. The ranger advised us that during overcrowded times, you should always head straight to Cottonwood or Black Rock, whichever one is first on your route towards the park.
ARRIVE EARLY
When things are hectic, and everyone is competing for the first-come, first-served campsites, early arrival is essential. I am not talking about an early morning Friday arrival, but ideally, an early week arrival. Some people send members of their party out on Wednesday or Thursday to scoop up a site for the weekend.
If you can’t pull the kids out of school early, definitely get to Joshua Tree as early as possible. When we left our site and returned a few hours later, the campground was a zoo. Lights circled all night with people driving around looking for a site (don’t be those people)!
OUR BLACK ROCK CAMPGROUND WEEKEND ITINERARY
We left San Diego with our car packed in hopes of scoring a campsite shortly before 8 am. Unfortunately, the whole country was kind of chomping at the bit to get out, as quarantine had been going strong for about 12 weeks. We were initially heading to Mount Laguna but after a call with the camp host, we realized the trip would probably be a waste of time and immense disappointment (who wants to do all the organization/packing for camping for no campsite?!?!). So we quickly turned around and headed north to Joshua Tree. I immediately began finding a campground to target and piece together an itinerary.
DAY ONE – 85°
We were thrilled to find a great site in Black Rock Campground, and we were setting up by 11 am. Our son could even attend his class via Zoom while we unpacked the car. We finished a quick picnic lunch at our campsite, and since we were in the blazing sun and anxious to see the park, we headed in pretty quickly.
WEST ENTRANCE STATION
In non-COVID times, the first stop would have been the Joshua Tree Visitor Center for brochures, Junior Ranger books and recommendations. However, the building was closed, so we headed to the West Entrance Station, where all these materials were available in boxes once you entered.
As we headed into the park, we were all filled with anticipation as it was our first visit to Joshua Tree! It is fun to see the trees surrounding the road as you head into the park. It is impressive how so many of one type of tree can pop up in the middle of the desert. We decided to spend our day driving through the park versus coming back out to exit here again. We could go through east to the North Entrance Station in Twenty-nine Palms or head south towards Indio, to the Cottonwood Visitor Center Exit.
KEYS VIEW
We planned our exploring by heading straight out towards Keys View, the highest viewpoint in that park. It is a 20-minute detour from the main road (Park Boulevard). Panoramic views looking out at the San Andreas Fault, Mt. San Jacinto, Mt. San Gorgonio (the highest peak in southern California), and the Salton Sea. Being from California, you hear so many things about the San Andreas Fault and the earthquakes it has caused. It was fantastic to look out and see part of the 700 miles where the fault runs! Keys View has a short, paved path to the viewpoints, and the entire loop is 1/4 mile long. The park had signs that created one-way traffic on the pathway to help with social distancing. It was a great start to the trip, as we could look out and see how expansive the desert is.
Keys View in Joshua National Park
CAP ROCK
After checking out the desert view, we headed back towards Park Boulevard and stopped at Cap Rock. This was a great stop for our son to explore and rock climb. Cap Rock is a short, .4 mile self-guided loop through boulders, Joshua trees, and other plants. Although it is a loop, we took turns taking our son out to explore for a bit while one of us walked our dog around the picnic area, as dogs are not allowed on the trails. There are pit toilets and a picnic area here, and the parking lot is large, which can only be helpful on busy days.
I knew I wanted to check out the Cholla Cactus Garden, a bit of a drive south in the park, so we started heading in that direction. We drove through Jumbo Rocks Campground on the way to check the status (which was packed) and scope out sites we would want to book in a future trip. More on that in my “next time” list. Next toJumbo Rocks Campground is Skull Rock.
SKULL ROCK
The Skull Rock Trail goes through the campground, so joining it would be easy if you were camping in Jumbo Rocks. We pulled off on the right side of the road atSkull Rock and took turns taking our son in to check it out. I wish we were able to explore this area longer together. I was very cool, filled with boulders, and our son would have climbed all over for hours.
We did get to see the “skull rock,” as it is right off the road at the stop. To complete the trail, you need about an hour or two (depending on how much climbing your little may want to do) as it is a 1.7-mile loop. This was an excellent stop and a trail I would love to hike when we are back without our dog. It is so fun to see all of the kids climbing all over boulders and just LOVING every second of it!
Shortly after Skull Rock, the road ends at a “T,” with Park Boulevard heading north to the North Entrance Station in Twentynine Palms and Pinto Basin Road heading south to the Cottonwood area. I knew I wanted to see the Cholla Cactus Garden in the late afternoon, so we headed south for almost 30 minutes to get there. Sadly, we had to pass the White Tank Campground and Arch Rock on the way. More on that in my “next time” list. In hindsight, we would have stopped here on the way to the cactus garden.
CHOLLA CACTUS GARDEN
The Cholla Cactus Garden is an incredible sight. We took turns taking our son through the 1/4 loop. The cactus garden appears to go on and on, and the colors shining in the sunlight are spectacular. Unfortunately, the needles are sharp, painful, and all around on the ground. The trail and boardwalk keep everyone safe, so stay on the path. The Cholla Cactus Trail is not a spot to let your child wander.
The Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua National Park
From theCholla Cactus Garden, we headed north to the North Entrance Station park exit. Since we were camping, we wanted time to explore our campground, take care of our son’s breathing treatments and start a fire before dark. We stopped at a gas station to buy ice and firewood for the night in Yucca Valley. We were back at Black Rock Campground before 6 pm.
SUNSET IN BLACK ROCK
The wind was starting to pick up when we were out! We came back to most of our table set up on the ground. We did our best not to let the wind bring us down, and we enjoyed the evening around our campsite. With our site along the trail to the West Side Loop, we could explore the scenery around us while keeping our dog safe!
The wind started picking up even more, so we started our fire early and grilled some hot dogs quickly! It was an easy meal to make in windy conditions. Making dinner under a Joshua Tree is a memorable experience. As the sun went down, the temperature dropped, and the stars came out. Finally, we were able to see what all the hype is about Joshua Tree stargazing. Unbelievable stargazing. We were surprised to be pulling out the sweatshirts we had packed for the mountains. We capped the night with smores (our son’s camping staple) and waited out the wind while we slept.
DAY TWO – 85°
We woke up and were all feeling a little discouraged about how crazy the wind turned through the night. Weather apps said they were about 60mph, and they kept us awake! Meanwhile, I was pregnant and had to pee constantly. So it wasn’t the best night of sleep. However, when the coffee heated (it took forever because the wind was blowing out the stove) and we took in the views, we were ready to go for another day! So if you are camping, know your wind predictions and make sure you have what you need to be comfortable!
Looking out your tent window in the morning at this view – who cares how bad the wind was?
HEMINGWAY
We made a quick breakfast and headed back into the park. As soon as we entered, we could tell that being Saturday, it was far more crowded than the day before. So we decided to stop at a few places we had skipped the day before. We started with Hemingway, which was an excellent spot for rock climbing for our son. It also has an unpaved road where we could walk our dog. We even saw a desert iguana running through the vegetation. Very exciting!
We drove past Hidden Valley and Barker Dam but kept going because the parking was intense. Having our dog with us, we did not have the option to hike the trails. Instead, we headed back to Cap Rock to let our son climb while we walked the dog and enjoyed a picnic lunch. Cap Rock is a less crowded destination but makes for a great time with ample parking. I can see this being great if we were with friends and all in separate vehicles wanting a place to gather for lunch. However, if the crowds feel too much, this is also a great spot to relax.
Cap Rock in Joshua Tree
HALL OF HORRORS
Up next was the Hall of Horrors and my son loved it! My husband took him out on the .6 mile loop so I could stay with our dog. It was an easy loop with lots of rock climbing. Due to COVID, my husband felt uncomfortable with the crowds and had them wear their masks. As I write this in September 2020, it is interesting to think about this now, and masks have become standard. It was just an “idea” that may or may not help back then. They had a lot of fun climbing the rocks and checking out the scenery. Hall of Horrors is an excellent spot for kids.
Hall of Horrors
COTTONWOOD SPRING
From here, we headed south again to check out theCottonwood Spring Trail. We drove for almost an hour, passing the cactus garden we saw yesterday and several campgrounds along the way. As we turned off the main road, we saw the Cottonwood Visitor Center and stopped to see if anything was open. It was not, but a kind ranger in the parking lot checked our son’s Junior Ranger book and swore him in. It was a sweet moment, as masks were brand new and seemed temporary at the time. I cannot say enough about the Junior Ranger program at the National Parks (more on that here).
We headed out to theCottonwood Spring Trail, and each took turns taking our son out (again, our dog!). It is a less than 10-minute walk out to the palm oasis. It was easy enough to do, but it seems like the long walk out to the Lost Palm Oasis would give more incredible views. So unless you plan to leave this way to head out towards Indio or other parts of the desert, I would probably say skip anything south of the cactus garden if you are working with limited time.
We left the Cottonwood area and headed north towards theNorth Entrance Station. It was an hour plus to get back to our campsite, but it was magic when we did. The sun glowing over the Joshua Trees is nuts and obviously why there is so much hype around Joshua Tree.
BLACK ROCK HI-VIEW NATURE TRAIL
Once we got back to our campground, we took a mini stroll to find the Hi-View Nature Trail. We started strong, but our son saw a snake on the trail after a bit. After that, we realized we were going the wrong way, and we headed back to our camp. This trail had a lot of potential, but we were not ready for it. I cannot wait to check it out when we return. As the sun sets, the glow around the Joshua Trees is insane and capped the night with kombucha, smores, and INSANE stargazing.
DAY THREE – HEADING HOME
We woke up pumped on the beauty of the night before. We debated staying another night because it is hard to give up a great spot. But, instead, we decided to make an adventure on the way home. My husband had always wanted to see the Salton Sea from things he had read, so we decided to get a little creative with our day.
PIONEERTOWN
We headed out shortly before 10 am and headed up to Pioneertown. Unfortunately, due to COVID, most things were closed, but we enjoyed checking the vibe and seeing the famous Pappy & Harriets Pioneer Palace. They were serving drinks on the patio, but we were not comfortable yet, so this will hit the “next time” list. This strip looks like a movie set and is worth the 15-minute detour!
THE SALTON SEA
From Pioneertown, we did not take the direct way home. Instead, we headed south to one of California’s lowest points, the Salton Sea. If you are looking for weird, head south from Joshua Tree. The Salton Sea was once a thriving destination. However, the Salton Sea became toxic due to the lack of drainage needed for salt balance in the water. As the toxicity increased, it killed every living thing inside and destroyed the dream of the LA/palm springs lake-side destinations thriving on the salty banks. Coming into town, you can still see the remnants of the heyday. We did a drive-through as the remnants are sad, broken, and not where you are looking to hang out with no destination.
SALVATION MOUNTAIN
In my quest for adventure, I carried us on to Salvation Mountain, a piece of artwork that needs to be seen to be believed. We waited almost 30 minutes to cross the train tracks to get there, but once we pulled up, we knew we had arrived. The message “GOD IS LOVE” can be seen by all from the road not far from Slab City.
After an unforgettable two days in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks in June 2020, we were ready to start our Yosemite adventure. Due to COVID-19, Yosemite had just reopened with reservations required about a week before our visit. Having an in-park lodging reservation automatically gave us an entry reservation for the park so we did not have to compete with the masses for our entry reservation. Here is what we did with our two days in Yosemite!
We woke up in the Yosemite Southgate Hotel & Suites, about a 25-minute drive from the SOUTH ENTRANCE to Yosemite. Our room was large and had a pull-out bed for our son, a coffee maker, and a fridge. All rooms include the fridge which is important when you are planning to do breakfast in the room. We booked with Expedia to ensure flexibility due to COVID and a competitive rate. Oakhurst was a great starting point because it is close enough to get to the park quickly, but also a town with plenty of hotel and gas options. We filled up with gas before heading into the park and were in line for the entry gate in no time.
MARIPOSA GROVE/WAWONA
Since we only had two days in Yosemite, we opted to skip the first right turn towards MARIPOSA GROVE because we had just spent time in the Sequoias. However, this would make a great first stop. The BIG TREES TRAIL LOOP is an easy .3 mile 30 -45 minute walk through the towering Sequoias. Due to COVID, there was an additional 2 mile walk to the grove from the parking area.
Most of the other sites in Wawona, like the Pioneer Yosemite History Museum, Wawona Golf Course and Wawona Hotel were all closed as well. We drove through the area pretty quickly and decided this would be on the “next time” list. This stop would take a full morning between visiting Mariposa Grove and exploring Wawona. After a full morning, it would be nice to enjoy lunch (and a glass of wine!) at the Wawona Hotel Dining Room. There is a 24-hour mini Chevron station in Wawona as well in case you need to fill up before the one hour drive towards the valley.
GLACIER POINT
As we headed towards the valley, our first stop was GLACIER POINT. I highly recommend taking this detour on your way in to the park, as there is no shuttle service to this overlook. After driving into the park from the Wawona area for about 40 minutes, you will see the turn off for Glacier Point Road on the right in Chinquapin. It is about 30 additional minutes out to the overlook on Glacier Point Road, but the views are worth it!
At 3,000 feet above the Valley floor, it is a great introduction to the park. You can see most of Yosemite’s famous sites from this area, such as Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, several waterfalls and Yosemite’s High Country. It is also a great place to picnic and let kids run around a bit. There were families moving around camping chairs just relaxing and taking in the views as the kids enjoyed rock climbing and exploring.
Views of Half Dome and Vernal & Nevada Falls to the right
There are several trails around Glacier Point, including the 4.8 mile FOUR MILE TRAIL that will take you down to Yosemite Valley. We chose to stroll the paved trails along the guard rail and take in the views! It was the perfect introduction to Yosemite for our son. This is a great spot to let your kids break out their binoculars or digital camera. It was fun to “get the lay of the land” by looking down into the valley. The Merced river snakes through the valley floor and the Ahwahnee Hotel looks like a castle peeking out of the trees. It was a great place to stretch our legs from the drive into the park and spark excitement for our two days in Yosemite!
Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point – views of the valley floor, Merced river, Upper & Lower Yosemite Falls Lots of places to explore and wander at Glacier Point
WAWONA TUNNEL VIEW
Once you drive the 30 minutes back to Wawona Road/Highway 41, you are not too far from the not-to-be missed pullout – the WAWONA TUNNEL VIEW. If you have seen someone post a family in Yosemite, chances are it was from Tunnel View. It is an easy stop, just turn left immediately following the tunnel. As you drive through the dark tunnel, there is excitement approaching the bright light and insane views to follow.
There are parking lots on both sides of the road as you exit, but the grand view is from the parking lot on the left. If parking is too full, do not be discouraged. Just circle around again as people are constantly coming and going very quickly here! I grew up going to Yosemite as a kid, so my brother and I had plenty of photo opportunities at Tunnel View! Of course I had to try to recreate this 80’s photo from my childhood with my son! How did we do?
The Wawona Tunnel and Tunnel View Pullout
BRIDALVEIL FALLS
As we made our way down Wawona Road into Yosemite Valley, the sights surrounded us and did not disappoint. Yosemite truly is a magical place, and it is amazing to look up at the granite rocks knowing there are climbers looking down at our car weaving through the valley floor. Our first stop was BRIDALVEIL FALLS.
With only two days in Yosemite, I highly recommend stopping here as you head into the valley for several reasons. Wawona Road, the road heading in and out of the valley, is one way, so this is an easy pull out as you head in as it is on the right side of the road. In addition, there is no shuttle service to the trailhead. Open year round, the trail is an easy 1/4 mile walk to the base of the 620 foot waterfall. Some of the trail heading up closer to the base of the waterfall was closed for renovations, but we still had great views from the pools below.
TRAIL SAFETY
Please use caution when exploring the rocks below the waterfall as they are very slippery. Also, be very aware and careful near any water areas in the parks as conditions can be unpredictable. Each year visitors are injured (or worse) due to slipping on rocks or being swept away in changing currents, etc. I read earlier this year about a hiker that slipped on the rocks and hit his head in this same area. There were many people hopping the construction fence and scaling the rocks up closer to the waterfall. I just can’t recommend that as it may look exciting, but it is very dangerous. Plus we had great views from the end of the designated trail!
Short hike to the base of Bridalveil Falls
YOSEMITE VILLAGE
DINING OPTIONS
After our stop in Bridalveil Falls, we were more than ready for a late lunch. Once again, due to COVID, our dining options were very limited. With the fluctuating changes surrounding COVID, make sure to check here for updated information about what is open and when if you are traveling in this pandemic. We opted to stop in the village to grab sandwiches at DEGNAN’S KITCHEN, a grab and go deli in the heart of Yosemite Village. In addition to deli offerings, Degnan’s Kitchen has salads, artisan pizzas, baked goods and a variety of beverage choices. It is an easy place to stop in, stock up and continue your adventure! If times were different, I would have loved to check out THE LOFT AT DEGNAN’S for a more leisure-like lunch with a glass of wine or cold craft beer! Another item on my “next time” list!
VALLEY VISITOR CENTER
We also used this stop to check out the (closed due to COVID) VALLEY VISITOR CENTER. Park Rangers had tents set up outside to answer any questions. We were able to purchase the $3.00 Junior Ranger book for our son to complete during our two days in Yosemite. We were also able to grab stamps for our National Park Passports and figure out our parking options as there was no shuttle service available due to COVID. During regular operations, you would spend a little more time checking out all the village has to offer, but our stop was pretty short. Our next stop was within walking distance and a favorite from my childhood, the Yosemite Valley Lodge.
YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
I cannot recommend the YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE enough. It has a fantastic location along the bike path and provides the comforts of home with the National Park rustic feel. The lodge is home to a gift shop, Starbucks, a large cafeteria open for breakfast/lunch/dinner, a bar/lounge, a swimming pool and a bike rental stand. Those of you that follow my itineraries know how much we love in-park lodging at National Parks. Yosemite Valley Lodge can be very difficult to book, and I made our reservations 12 months in advance. Even then, they only had one night available. However, I continued to check and was able to secure the second night about 10 months in advance. So do not give up! Keep checking availability as I have mentioned in other posts.
Traditional Room at the Yosemite Valley Lodge in the Laurel Building
MERCED RIVER and SWINGING BRIDGE
Once we were settled in our room, we were anxious to head back out because there is so much to do and see in Yosemite! The back door of our room lead right out the the bike path so we followed the path a short distance (10 minutes maybe) straight to SWINGING BRIDGE and the MERCED RIVER. It was a beautiful bike ride for my son and we enjoyed the views across the meadows as we approached the river.
We took time to sit down by the “beach” along the river as my son splashed away in the water. The views of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome towering about the river are phenomenal. We sat in awe of our surroundings. We enjoyed a kombucha on the beach, but the lodge had informed us that you are more than welcome to grab a drink at the bar and walk it down to the beach for a fun happy hour!
Biking from Yosemite Valley Lodge to Swinging Bridge over the Merced RiverCooling off in the Merced River under Sentinel Bridge
COOK’S MEADOW
After our swim, we crossed Sentinel Bridge to continue the loop to COOKS MEADOW. My son rode the bike path along Wawona Road and the views were astonishing. It was almost 6pm (late lunch for the win), and we felt like we had the place to ourselves. With only two days in Yosemite, we wanted to make the most of our daylight hours. The boardwalk weaves through the meadow and back to the bike path all along Wawona Road. Right before we turned to cross the meadow towards Yosemite Falls we passed the oldest building in Yosemite, dating back to 1879, the YOSEMITE CHAPEL. This walk/bike ride was beautiful and I cannot recommend it enough! The loop from the lodge is about 1 mile, easy and paved or boardwalk the entire way. Crossing the meadow towards Yosemite Falls is a view everyone should enjoy!
Weaving through Cook’s Meadow on the boardwalkViews along the Cook’s Meadow Loop – Yosemite Chapel, Showy Milkweed, Sentinel Rock
YOSEMITE FALLS
Although it was getting late, we decided to check out the LOWER YOSEMITE FALLS TRAIL as I knew this is a very busy trail and would be crowded during peak hours. Our son was able to ride his bike for some of the trail and again, the views were remarkable. The trail to the falls is easy, with just a slight incline towards the end. At the base of the 2,425 foot waterfall you can feel the spray as the water flows down. We even saw climbers repelling down from the top of the lower falls. It was a great time to do the trail as it was mostly shaded and not too crowded. Again, please use caution around wet rocks and waterfalls in Yosemite. There were many people climbing all over the rocks to get closer to the base of the waterfall. This is not recommended!
Lower Yosemite Falls Trail – Can you see the climbers repelling down the waterfall?
DINING AT YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
As we began seeing last light on the valley floor, we knew it was time to head back to the lodge. The Upper & Lower Yosemite Falls trailheads are right next to the lodge, so it didn’t take much time to get back. BASE CAMP EATERY is the cafeteria at the Lodge, and offers a variety of items for dine in and to-go. I have some of my favorite childhood memories adding massive slices of cake to my tray sliding through the line. It has changed a lot since then, but the nostalgia surrounding it made it something we were going to try.
Due to COVID, we decided to take it to go back to enjoy on our room’s porch. We all chose the meatloaf and macaroni and cheese plate and it was really good! We enjoyed an easy night and my husband and I enjoyed a quiet night on the porch as our son fell asleep. In an non-COVID world, I would have loved to have a glass of wine in THE MOUNTAIN ROOM LODGE, dinner in THE MOUNTAIN ROOM and to roast marshmallows for smores on their patio – all on my “next time” list!
Last light on the valley floor – heading back to Yosemite Valley Lodge from the Lower Yosemite Falls trailDinner on our porch at the Yosemite Valley Lodge
OUR PLAN – DAY TWO
EXPLORE YOSEMITE VALLEY – 84°
Waking up in the center of the valley is truly incredible and so peaceful. I can only imagine how camping in Yosemite must feel (on the “next time” list!). Morning coffee on the patio while filling my husband in on the adventures I have planned for the day is one of my favorite things. Knowing we only had two days in Yosemite, I loved knowing we had the entire day ahead of us!
As always, I picked something I knew would get crowded to do first thing in the morning. I chose another nostalgic hike to start our day, the hike to MIRROR LAKE. Yosemite Valley offers so many beautiful hikes, but this one stands out from my childhood. We headed out for the day and as we hopped in the car I couldn’t help but smile at the view of Yosemite Falls from the Lodge parking lot. It is all just so beautiful. Yosemite really is magical. I know everyone says that. But really, there is a reason.
MIRROR LAKE
Mirror Lake is an easy, 2 mile flat hike on the east side of the valley. You can park at the horse stables near Curry Village, or during non COVID times, take the shuttle to Mirror Lake Trailhead at shuttle stop #17. As a kid, my family walked this trail in summer and winter. We used to whine and complain like it was the longest walk ever. Not at all. It is incredibly kid friendly and has many beautiful things to see. Mirror Lake is the closest you can get to half dome without actually hiking or climbing it. The tranquil waters act as a mirror for the beauty surrounding it.
PARKING AND TRAILHEAD
To start our hike, we parked at the stables which are right by the service road where the trail begins. Along the side of the service road is an actual trail, so although my childhood memories were walking along the paved service road, I insisted we follow the trail on the side. My son loved climbing along the boulders on the trail. At the first bridge crossing the creek, stay to the left along the road. To get to Mirror Lake in one-mile, follow the service road.
TRAIL TO MIRROR LAKE or MIRROR LAKE 5 MILE LOOP
I took us to the right walking along the right side of Tenaya Creek. Although it was beautiful, we realized about 2 miles in that I had taken us on the 5-mile loop of Mirror Lake. We reached a point along the creek to cut across, but the water was VERY cold to walk through and led us to a marshy wetland with limited options to cross over again. We quickly realized we were in the middle of Mirror Lake!
From the start of the trail my husband had said he was concerned we were on the wrong path, but I insisted I knew what I was doing (because I did it every year 25+ years ago?!?!?). Michael is a good sport and just gave me that “I told you so” look in the middle of the lake! Ha! But good memories. It did not take too long to cross over again and then we were there! We took some time to enjoy the views and have a small snack before walking back on the paved road! There were many people heading up as we walked back, including lots of families biking which would be really beautiful! When we got back to the car, parking was full with people circling for spots. Earlier we had no problem parking, so early was key for this trail.
Mirror Lake
HAPPY ISLES ART & NATURE CENTER
During non-COVID times, the HAPPY ISLES ART & NATURE CENTER is a short walk away and would be fun place to check out with kids too. This would be a great place to attend a Junior Ranger program or let you ranger ask questions, explore and even take his/her Junior Ranger oath! Since the nature center was closed, we headed back to Yosemite Village so our son could take his Junior Ranger oath. I absolutely love the National Park Junior Ranger programs. More on that here. But they really are so special to kids. He talked to this sweet ranger for almost 10 minutes about all of his adventures. It makes me so proud to see him so proud of what he has done and seen! The activity books are the perfect activity for quiet evenings, getting ready in the am, restaurants and specific to CF breathing treatment times.
An official Junior Ranger!
THE AHWAHNEE HOTEL
Once our Junior Ranger was officially sworn in, it was time to have lunch and celebrate! What better place to relax and celebrate than THE AHWAHNEE HOTEL? Unfortunately, due to COVID, the dining room was only open for dinner, so we planned to take advantage of the bar’s “Gourmet Grab & Go” box lunches.
The Ahwahnee Dining room is definitely a special treat and reservations are strongly recommended. Due to the changing situation with COVID, I would recommend checking out the latest offerings. As I write this, everything is take-out only, but it makes for a fun gourmet picnic! Although the Ahwahnee had dining tables set up outside, we decided to picnic on the grass. It was a special time, although it was cut short by some aggressive squirrels! We ended up enjoying the outdoor couches surrounding the dining room and treating our son to an ice cream treat from The Sweet Shop!
A beautiful picnic at the Ahwahnee
BIKE RIDING IN THE VALLEY
After lunch, we headed back to our room to regroup and decided our son should pick the afternoon. He wanted to head back to the Merced River and go on another bike ride. Although we had just done it yesterday, it was a lot of fun so we put on our suits and headed out! Bikes are a great way to navigate Yosemite Valley and if I hadn’t been 32 weeks pregnant, we all would have taken a family bike ride. If your kids are able, I highly suggest enjoying the valley on bike! There are over 12 miles of flat bike paths that take you to a majority of the highlights! The Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village have bike rental stands if you do not want to bring them with you. We had an incredible day in 2021 bike riding and you can read all of the details and our itinerary here!
SENTINEL BEACH
We headed back to the MERCED RIVER along the bike trail and headed north of SWINGING BRIDGE toward SENTINEL BEACH. Hanging out on the shore, we saw so many people come cruising down the river on rafts. The water was so calm, and families looked like they were having a great time. This is another “next time” item and it turns out you can rent rafts through your in-park lodging and enjoy the river starting in Curry Village! We had a lot of fun relaxing on the shore before heading out for an afternoon bike ride/parent walk! We cruised around a similar path as the night before, through Cook’s Meadow and even saw several deer and two brown bears! It was incredible.
The Merced River and biking through the Valley
CURRY VILLAGE
After cruising the valley it was time for dinner! I wanted to check out CURRY VILLAGE, another childhood favorite. Due to construction, Curry Village has a variety of food trucks in the parking lot to add to their dinner options. We had some delicious tacos and checked out the “under renovation” Pizza Patio. I can imagine relaxing with some delicious pizza and a craft beer under the towering views of Glacier Point would have felt pretty good! So again, adding it to the “next time” list. Deer were out and about which was a lot of fun for our son to see.
We went to bed with happy hearts and beautiful views of the moon from our patio. As we enjoyed the moonlight and quiet, we heard some major noises in the bushes and then saw glowing eyes staring at us on the porch. Due to COVID, there was a lot of news about how animals were out and about more due to park closures. After our experience, we could not agree more.
OUR PLAN – DAY THREE
YOSEMITE VALLEY TO SAN DIEGO – 84°
Waking up on the last day of vacation is so hard. Let’s be real. I am always grateful for the time we have had, but it is hard to know it is time to pack up and start our 7-hour drive home! I always have a few last-minute “let’s try this” items so we took our time in the morning and headed out right before check-out to see some last-minute sights!
EL CAPITAN
As much as our son loved the documentary “Free Solo,” I knew we had to take him to look for climbers on the granite monolith EL CAPITAN, or as my son would say, “EL CAP.” We headed west out of the valley and pulled off the side of the road at EL CAPITAN MEADOW to check out the climbers. My son used his binoculars and immediately saw two heading up and it was so exciting! As far as we could tell it was not Alex Honnold, but my son was thrilled anyways! Can you spy them in the photo?
Looking for climbers on El Capitan
VALLEY VIEW LOOKOUT
As you continue towards the park exit after El Capitan on the loop road, the beautiful VALLEY VIEW lookout is waiting for you. We were not sure what we were looking for and it came up quick. We actually had to loop around to get there again! Shortly before the exit to 140 and the turnaround towards Bridalveil Falls, there is a small pullout on the left hand side of the road with incredible views. It is a great way to say goodbye to the valley as you head out. It definitely maximizes your time to hit the one way stops on the way in and the way out versus turning around over and over on one-way roads. As we our two days in Yosemite, it was hard to say goodbye but our hearts were full from the magic.
Valley View Lookout
FINAL GOODBYE AT TUNNEL VIEW
On the way out of the valley, we pulled over at TUNNEL VIEW to say a final goodbye to our two days in Yosemite. It seemed fitting as it we entered the valley here and said our final goodbye here. There are so many amazing ways to experience Yosemite and I feel like we did not even begin to scratch the surface. We had an incredible trip, but I know there are so many more things we want to do and see. In addition, I am only writing about a summer version. Imagine what a winter wonderland in Yosemite can bring you. I have left a few pieces of my heart around CA, but Yosemite definitely has some of it. I am confident we will be back.
Saying goodbye to Yosemite at Tunnel View
I always keep a “NEXT TIME” list when we travel. It is important to share because this blog is subjective and I want my readers to know about the myriad opportunities that I am still hoping to experience. Whenever I read, hear, research something outside of my experience, I will include it here. My hope in to eventually fully experience these destinations when I visit again (and I can’t wait to do so). Next trip, I want to to see more of the park and experiences a few new things. I also want to visit some of the most popular places the were closed due to COVID.
THINGS WE WANTED TO DO THAT WERE CLOSED OR IMPACTED BY COVID
Are you planning a family adventure in the Sequoias but unsure what to do? Then you are in the right place! Here is my guide for visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks! Exploring the beauty of the high sierra of central California is something that will stick with you forever. Your children will surely remember the giant trees and incredible views. Standing beneath a towering Sequoia is a sight everyone should enjoy, and it is inspiring for kids! Here are the sights you don’t want to miss, followed by our one-night itinerary for visiting Sequoia National Park!
DON’T MISS THESE HIGHLIGHTS WHEN VISITING SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Here are our favorite things to do and see inside Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. You can read more about each destination below. Once you pick what is suitable for your family, you can create your adventure. Or jump below to one of our family’s itineraries that includes the park highlights.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are unique gems on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The backcountry offers endless opportunities for backpacking and exploration. However, when traveling with kids, chances are good that you are looking for adventure with a side of comfort and convenience. Here are some essential things to know before heading into the Sierra Nevada Mountains on your quest for family adventures.
NO CELL SERVICE
There is no cellular service in the parks, regardless of your carrier. The lodges have wifi for guests, but it is very spotty and nothing substantial enough for streaming or Zoom. This is important to remember when it comes to your directions and plans. Screenshot or print important information or lodging confirmations you may want access to during your visit.
Make sure to download the National Park app onto your phone, search Sequoia and Kings Canyon and then click “save this park for offline use.” I highly recommend downloading the park app before your visit. It has information on current conditions and a map that shows you where you are at all times without cell service.
NO GAS AVAILABLE IN THE PARK
There is no gas available inside the park. Make sure to fill your tank before heading in because there is plenty to see and do during your visit. Don’t let gas be what holds you back!
CHECK CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS
As with any wilderness area, it is important to check current road conditions before your visit. You must safely navigate park roads during your visit. Weather is a big issue for the parks, and during winter months, many main roads are closed, making it impossible to drive through the park. Although the park is open year round, sometimes, the highway closures make most of it inaccessible. We love to visit in summer and fall, but I always check the National Park Service website and monitor the conditions leading up to our trips. I also follow @SequoiaKingsCanyonNPS on Instagram because they tend to post timely information for visitors.
WINDY ROADS
When entering Sequoia National Park from the southern foothill area, you have about a 90-minute drive up a very windy road until you reach the “hub” of Sequoia National Park. If anybody in your car is susceptible to car sickness, I highly suggest Dramamine before you start the climb. Our son struggles with getting car sick on windy mountain roads, and Dramamine has saved our adventures many times. If you forget, there is a pharmacy in Three Rivers right off the road where we purchased it last minute. And in the worst case, having a few of these bags in the glove box can save the day (I speak from experience!!)!
HIGHER ALTITUDE
Many destinations and hikes in Sequoia National Park are between 5,000 – 7,500 feet in elevation. These higher altitudes are new for many and may cause shortness of breath or dehydration. Make sure to bring plenty of water and take your time. There is so much to see around you; slow down and take it all in. The park visitor centers and lodge lobbies have water bottle-filling stations. Make sure your kids are staying hydrated too!
BLACK BEARS
Bears are found throughout the park. A bear sighting is fascinating and memorable. Obviously, it is important for your safety to watch from a distance and never approach a bear. In addition, make sure to store all food and scented items in the bear lockers in the park parking lots. Hide your coolers and bags, as bears know what they are looking for! You can read more about bear safety from the park here.
IN-PARK LODGING – BOOK NOW!
In-park lodging is incredibly limited, and books up months in advance. I highly recommend holding a reservation even if you are beginning to think about a visit. You will need to pay for the first night as a deposit, but you can cancel for a full refund up to two days in advance. If everything is booked, do not be discouraged. Keep checking for cancellations- more on my strategy for booking in-park lodging below.
I also highly recommend staying outside the park the night before you enter. Coming from the south, the final hour up Generals Highway to the Wucksachi Lodge is windy and not ideal in the dark. Consider staying outside the park in Exeter, Visalia, or Three Rivers the night before when coming from hours away. You will save money and probably get a complimentary breakfast to take with you into the park. Below, you can read more about our favorite place to stay the night before our park visit- the Best Western in Exeter, CA.
LIMITED IN-PARK DINING OPTIONS AND HOURS
Nothing can bring a trip down more than being hungry in a beautiful location and unable to get food where you are. Dining is limited in the parks. The main food options are at the Wucksachi Lodge, Lodgepole Market, and Grant Grove. Check the current hours and have a tentative plan in your head. We have found the hours to be very short with gaps between lunch and dinner service.
For this reason, I HIGHLY recommend bringing a picnic into the park with you. This ensures you have a variety of snacks and sandwiches or wraps to keep everyone happy throughout the day. The Lodgepole Market has grab-and-go options as well. It is essential to use the bear lockers when parking to avoid any issues. The dining options are nothing you miss out on, and everything costs more inside the park.
PARK ENTRANCE FEE
Current park fees are $35/vehicle for seven days. If you plan to combine your visit with Yosemite National Park, I highly recommend America the Beautiful Pass for $80. You can purchase either entry at the entrance station. You will have access to all US national parks and monuments for a year for only $10 more than the two park entry fees. Use this link to check out the other discounts available that may apply to you before your visit (4th-grade pass, military discount, etc.).
WEATHER AND SEASONAL CLOSURES
Summer months are my favorite time to visit the park. Many roads and destinations are closed during winter months and snow chains are often required to visit. We visited at the start of summer, which gave us beautiful blue sky, 70°+ adventures. We also visited in late fall, when the leaves were falling, and temperatures dropped to low 40° at night. However, the winter months change accessibility to many locations. We had friends walk to General Sherman in the snow. They had lunch atWucksachi Lodgein fog so thick they could not see the trees around them. If you are visiting in colder times, check out this post from 2TravelDads for information on visits in colder weather.
WHAT TO PACK
When visiting most national parks, I always pack a few similar things for the kids. I mention a few in this guide, but for the complete list, check out my post on the “must-haves” for kids in National Parks. Our family takes a lot of road trips, so I have a lot of recommendations in that area as well. Check out my post on road trip essentials if you are nervous about having the kids in the car for so long!
PHOTOS ON iPHONE
You definitely want to bring a camera when you visit Sequoia National Park. My camera is my iPhone, so it does not have to be anything extra. However, I read about a trick for tall buildings, tried it in Sequoia, and wanted to share. Put your phone on panoramic and tilt it from the bottom up to the top of the tree. Then you don’t have to have half the tree cut off!
WHAT TO DO IN SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
There are two entrances to Sequoia National Park. You can enter from the northern Kings Canyon Big Stump Entrance Station or the southern Mountain Entrance Station. Coming from San Diego, we recommend the Ash Mountain Entrance Station and a stop at the Foothills Visitor Center to start your adventure.
ASH MOUNTAIN ENTRANCESTATION
As you pay your fee or purchase your pass to enter the park, make sure to ask for a few essential items. You want to get the park brochure, which includes a park map, and the park newsletter/trip planner, with information relevant to the season of your visit.
Of course, your next stop should be a family picture with the entrance sign! The views of the Kaweah River are beautiful here, so take a moment to hop out and stretch your legs.
There are usually people around to take a photo, but if not, I always have my $5 selfie stick from Target, and my husband hates it! Ha! It was the perfect tool to ensure we still had family pictures during our June 2020 peak COVID madness trip!
After the entry gate, you will begin a 90-minute windy drive up the Generals Highway to the Giant Forest. This area is one of the most notable highlights of visiting Sequoia. But do not rush straight up the highway, as there are many fun stops on the way up. With limited time in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, you want to see your sights in the order of your drive to avoid added driving time.
FOOTHILLS VISITOR CENTER
One of my first stops in any national park is the visitor center to pick up a few essential items. Hopefully, you grabbed your map and newsletter at the entrance station, but if not, you can pick one up here. This is an excellent opportunity to check in with a ranger about your plan in case there are any updates or closures you should be aware of. You can also purchase tickets for the Crystal Cave Tour and stamp your national park passport here. The visitor center has interpretive displays that teach you about the park, restrooms, water bottle stations, and free WiFi.
JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM
We always pick up my son’s complimentary Junior Ranger booklet here. You can read more about the national park service Junior Ranger program here. This program makes a great souvenir and keeps the kids engaged as you explore the park. You can also email the park requesting a brochure via mail or download the Junior Ranger booklet in advance. These were great options during COVID closures.
TUNNEL ROCK
Shortly after the visitor center, you will see Tunnel Rock. Although the rock is on the left side of the road, there is parking on the right of General’s Highway. The pull-off gives you great views, and Tunnel Rock is fun to explore right across the street. People were hiking up and around the rock for additional adventures, but the park asks that you stay on the trail below. Watch for poison oak as you explore! Make this quick 10-minute stop to stretch your legs, check out the views, and then head up the mountain.
HOSPITAL ROCK
Your next stop up General’s Highway is the Hospital Rock picnic area on the left side of the road. When visiting Sequoia National Park, this is a great place to plan for a facility stop. This area has a parking lot, several picnic tables, bathrooms, and abundant shade. Make sure to store your food properly in the bear lockers. Also, poison oak is growing all over, so be mindful!
Head across the street to check out Hospital Rock, a large rock with California Native American petroglyphs. It was once the hospital for the people that lived in the area. After the rock, take the short trail (built by the Civilian Conservation Corps) to a waterfall and the Kaweah River. This is a great stop to cool off and enjoy along the way. Again, watch for the poison oak! It was everywhere on our river walk.
GIANT FOREST MUSEUM
After about 90 minutes of driving, you will arrive at the Giant Forest Museum, one of many visitor centers and the “hub” of Sequoia National Park. This is a great place to park, store your food in a bear locker and explore. This parking lot fills quickly and many times is full by 9 am.
Inside the museum, several interpretive displays will engage your kids, and rangers can answer any questions you may have. Sequoia is the first national park formed to protect a living organism – the giant sequoia tree. The area in front of the museum is home to the giant Sentinel Sequoia tree, where kids can walk the tree’s height along the interactive ruler on the pavement below.
SEQUOIA SHUTTLE SERVICE
From here, you can hop on the Sequoia shuttle to explore many of the upcoming highlights. You can check current service hours and locations here. The shuttles run in summer and during some holiday periods in winter. This is an excellent option if you visit Sequoia National Park during peak crowds. Once you obtain a parking spot, you can wander the area and hop on the shuttle to get around. No more parking frustration!
GIANT FOREST TRAILS
Several hiking trails leave from the Giant Forest Museum area. Many are paved, which makes them stroller and wheelchair accessible. Our favorites are the Beetle Rock pathway and the popular one-mile Big Trees Trail through the giant sequoias. Next trip, I want to check out Sunset Rock, so I will update here once we have explored that 1.4-mile hike!
BEETLE ROCK
This paved pathway is very short and leaves from the parking area across from the Giant Forest Museum. The views are stunning and a great way to begin your adventure in Sequoia!
THE BIG TREES TRAIL
The Big Trees Trail is an excellent introduction to the sequoia groves that John Muir named in 1875. The one-mile loop leaves from the Giant Forest Museum and takes you through the tall forest of the world’s largest trees. The trees in this area make up half of the Earth’s oldest trees. The route is a mix of paved and boardwalk, making this loop stroller and wheelchair friendly.
After exploring the Giant Forest area, enjoy the 3-mile detour from the General’s Highway down Crescent Meadow Road for some other spectacular sights.
MORO ROCK
The Moro Rock trail has incredible views but is narrow, very steep, and not the best for younger kids. Our son did great, but we did pass several kids (and adults) in tears due to the narrow trails and long drops. Although only a 1/2-mile round trip, you climb over 300 feet uphill on over 400 stairs to reach the top of the bald granite dome. There are guard rails, but even then, I held my son’s hand almost the whole time. The views of the great western divide from the top are breathtaking, and chances are you will be short of breath as you climb to over 6,700 feet in elevation.
The parking lot for the Moro Rock trailhead tends to fill up quickly, so if you are interested in this hike, be there earlier in the day. During the summer, the trail is accessible by the park shuttles. The parking lot has bathrooms if you or your littles need a break. The hike took us about an hour.
When your time in the park is limited, make sure to choose the things you will love. Think about your circumstances on this trip to decide if Moro Rock is the best for your family. During our family’s hike, I was 32 weeks pregnant, hiking with my 7-year-old in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic (social distancing is impossible on this tight trail). It was hard to take it all in the way I wish I could have.
TUNNEL LOG
From Moro Rock, continue down the last mile toward Crescent Meadow. As you get closer to the meadow, you can drive through the famous Tunnel Log, a fallen sequoia-turned tunnel. Kids of all ages enjoy the experience.
CRESCENT MEADOW– DO NOT MISS WHEN VISITING SEQUOIA
Crescent Meadow is one of our favorite places in Sequoia National Park. I cannot recommend this stop enough, especially when visiting in summer. The meadow has several trails around a wetland and is so easy (and fun!) for kids. I love wildflowers, and in spring, this trail does not disappoint. The trail is easy for all abilities, surrounded by giant sequoia trees, and has plenty of places for a picnic. Bears are often seen in the meadow early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
We like to head east from the parking lot towards Tharp’s Log (about a mile out). You may share this paved portion of the High Sierra Trail with a hiker heading on a backpacking trip toward Mt. Whitney. Shortly after, the trail splits, and we head to the left, towards the south end of the meadow and this beautiful view and quote from John Muir. It is an exceptional area of the park, and I highly recommend it. Kids will enjoy exploring the sequoia trees in this less crowded area.
Lots of fun for kids along the Crescent Meadow Trail
THARP’S LOG
Follow the trail one mile out under giant Sequoia trees to Tharp’s Log. It is a fun stop for kids along the trail. Crescent Meadow Trail as it is an old Pioneer’s homemade in a hollowed-out Sequoia Tree. Hale Tharp is known as the first non-native American to enter the Giant Forest. He started a cattle ranch in the meadow and lived in the log. You can look inside from the door for a peek inside his old 19th-century home. This is an excellent stop for elementary kids learning about this era in school.
Tharp’s Log on the Crescent Meadow Trail
CHIMNEY TREE
Continue on the trail past Tharp’s Log and follow the signs to Chimney Tree. The hike takes you into a forest of bright green ferns and towering Sequoias. Chimney Tree is a burnt-out Sequoia that is still standing, just off the main trail. It is a fun stop, especially for kids, as you can step inside and look up at the sky from the tree trunk.
From Chimney Tree, head back towards Crescent Meadow and the parking lot. This is a beautiful walk through more ferns out to the meadow. One highlight of the hike comes at the end; at the fallen sequoia tree, you climb over to cross the wetland meadow. It is a beautiful view crossing the meadow back to the parking lot!
GENERAL SHERMAN TREE
You must stop to see the General Sherman Tree, over 3000 years old and taller than the Statue of Liberty. At 275 feet tall and 36 feet in diameter at the base, it is the world’s largest tree. The trail starts at a large parking area and is one-mile round trip – about a 1/2 mile downhill to the tree and then 1/2 mile back uphill. They do have benches along the trail if you need a rest. Stop to catch your breath and take in the sequoia forests and towering trees surrounding you. This trail is heavily trafficked, so be prepared for crowds. If you are up for a longer hike, take the 2.1-mile Congress Trail loop through the towering trees.
ACCESSIBILITY TO THE GENERAL SHERMAN
The trail down from the parking lot is pretty steep but paved, so some people do push strollers up & down. However, I do not recommend it because there are several spots with steps where you need a plan for lifting the stroller up and down. There is a wheelchair-accessible trail to the tree from a separate parking area off General’s Highway before the turnoff for the General Sherman Tree. However, you must have a disability placard to use the parking lot. If the park shuttles are running, they drop you at the accessible trail.
TOKOPAH FALLS TRAIL – DO NOT MISS WHEN VISITING SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
Tokopah Falls Trailhead
The Tokopah Falls Trail is beautiful and a great place to go first thing in the morning if you stayed the night at Wucksachi Lodge. This heavily trafficked trail is a little over 3 miles round trip (1.7 miles from Lodgepole Campground to Tokopah Falls) and is worth every minute of the time it takes you! I highly recommend this hike when visiting Sequoia National Park.
You can always stop in at the Lodgepole Visitor Center if you need an updated map or have any questions. You can also purchase tickets to the Crystal Cave tour here. *AS OF 2023 THIS VISITOR CENTER IS CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS. Check current hours here.
If you need snacks for your hike, pop into the Lodgepole Market before heading to the trailhead. Park in the Lodgepole Campground parking lot and head into the campground to cross the bridge over the river. The trailhead is on the right after you cross the bridge.
LODGEPOLE CAMPGROUND
Lodgepole Campground is a terrific spot for camping when visiting Sequoia. Spots were spread out along the river, there was a lot of shade, and people were enjoying themselves swimming and wading in the river. There is a market and cafe close to the campground with all you need for camping or picnicking. Reservations can be challenging, so plan or monitor for a cancellation!
TOKOPAH FALLS TRAIL – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
As you start on the trail, head up (slight uphill on the way to the falls) along the river across from Lodgepole campsites. This trail had a lot of shade in the beginning and was filled with many points to explore. We immediately started to notice bugs and were grateful we had put on mosquito-repellent bracelets. So definitely plan on some form of bug protection, so you and your littles are not eaten alive!
You can stop along the river in so many areas, which is a great way to rest from the shortness of breath you will probably feel at times due to the high altitude! Kids will enjoy climbing the granite rocks and boulders along the trail. The trail is well maintained, with several small bridges over water running into the river.
WILDLIFE ON THE TOKOPAH FALLS TRAIL
Wildlife may be out in the morning, and our experience did not disappoint! As we headed up, we saw several marmots enjoying the morning sunshine on the granite rocks.
At one point, I noticed movement on the tree ahead of us. We were shocked to see a mama bear and her three cubs enjoying the sunshine and dining on the bugs under the tree bark. Park brochures said the bears in Sequoia are not aggressive, so we were not panicked. However, that does not mean we would approach them, grab their attention, etc. We stayed back quite a bit, and soon after, mama took her cubs across the trail in front of us! It was an incredible sight, but it also reminded us never to get too comfortable in our surroundings when hiking!!
Seeing black bears in the wild was the ultimate highlight for me. This was a beautiful trail that I cannot recommend enough. Between the wildflowers, bright ferns, and wildlife, I felt like I was walking in a fairyland. As we reached the last 1/4 mile stretch to the falls, we were suddenly heading up large granite boulders.
TOKOPAH FALLS
The trail ends at the base of Tokopah Falls. During our June visit, the falls flowed, and many visitors climbed down to wade in the pools below. There are many warnings about drownings in the park, so please use caution when wading in any part of the river in Sequoia. We opted to find a quieter, calmer spot for our son to play. We enjoyed the views and had a snack on the rocks under the waterfall before heading down to a shallow spot on the river to cool off. The final stretch to the falls had very little shade, and the late morning heat was picking up!
I would definitely recommend hiking at the earlier end of the day. In addition to the cooler temperature and less crowded trail, the wildlife is enjoying the morning sun. On the way down, we noticed a few hikers stopped on the trail, and once again, we ran into a mama and two bear cubs! Our family all agreed this trail was one that would always stand out from our visit. We ended up seeing seven bears – 2 mamas and five cubs. So special.
WHAT TO DO IN KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK
The drive to Kings Canyon National Park is about 45 minutes from the Lodgepole area of Sequoia. I recommend checking out the highlights I mentioned before heading up toward Grant Grove. We love to visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon from the south and drive through on our way to Yosemite to loop the park versus going back and forth.
The Kings Canyon Visitor Center is a great last stop to turn in Junior Ranger books for a badge, stamp National Park passports, pick up any last-minute info or have any last-minute questions answered. You can also pick up wilderness permits here and at several other visitor centers.
PANORAMIC POINT – DO NOT MISS WHEN VISITING KINGS CANYON
Make sure to stop at Panoramic Point, just 10 minutes up the road from the Grant Grove Visitor Center. The drive from the village can be windy, and the road is narrow and barely has space for two-way at times, so take it slow to navigate other cars. The views are worth it! The 1/2 mile round trip loop is paved and easy for all levels.
The overlooks give you panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada, including Kings Canyon and Hume Lake and are truly breathtaking. The parking lot has facilities and picnic tables, so it is a great stop any time of day. However, sunset is a stunner, so I recommend trying to time your visit around the end of the day.
SUNSET AT PANORAMIC POINT
Although the sun does not set in front of you, the colors of the high sierra and mountains in front of you are beautiful. Wildlife is abundant, and Panoramic Point has peace to it at this time of night. It was in no way crowded, but people were set up in different areas to watch the sun go down at the end of a beautiful day. I recommend a blanket, snacks, and a glass of your beverage of choice!
GENERAL GRANT TREE
From the village, drive across the highway to the Grant Tree Trail. This .3-mile paved trail is similar to the General Sherman trail in Sequoia but with more space and fewer hills. Like the General Sherman trail, this trail includes information and exhibits about the giant sequoias along the trail. The General Grant Grove is named after the General Grant Tree, the second-largest living tree named “Our Nation’s Christmas Tree” by President Calvin Coolidge. There is also a fallen sequoia you can walk through, which our kids always enjoy.
BIG STUMP BASIN
Big Stump Basin is an excellent stop on your way out of the park on Highway 180, as it is located right before the Big Stump Entrance Station (where you will exit if heading to Yosemite). This 1.5-mile round trip loop is the site of 19th-century logging in Kings Canyon National Park and is filled with giant trees.
This trail is home to the Mark Twain Stump, a massive stump from what was once the largest sequoia in the world. You can climb the steps up the stump to see the huge rings.
REDWOOD MOUNTAIN OVERLOOK
Redwood Mountain Overlook is beautiful any time of day, but the real treat is sunset. A park ranger told us about this gem, and we loved it. We packed a little cheese and crackers and drove out to watch the sun go down over the trees of the Sequoia National Forest.
WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON
I cannot say enough about in-park lodging. Staying in the park as the sun goes down and the wildlife emerges is an experience with no rival. With your limited time in the parks, you do not want to spend extra hours driving in and out. Staying in the park whenever possible may be a bit of a splurge, but it creates a unique trip with time to relax and soak in all you are there to explore! In addition, when you wake up in the middle of the park, day visitors are coming in gates over 90 minutes away so you can target something sure to get crowded later first thing in the morning.
In-park lodging is in very high demand. If you are looking to travel soon, rooms may be booked. However, cancellations happen. Planning a road trip between Sequoia and Yosemite becomes even more challenging because your dates are not flexible. When in-park lodging is full, I check the availability every day. Sounds aggressive, but you need to be diligent when dates are firm. I keep the availability page open on my computer and refresh it every morning. I recommend not giving up if you go to book and there is no availability. The site updates daily as people cancel their reservations. I book free cancellation hotels through Expedia as a backup for the trip I am planning to we are not left stranded. This strategy has worked for me several times, including Zion Lodge and Bryce Canyon Lodge.
WUKSACHI LODGE – SEQUOIA
Wuksachi Lodge (pizza deck on the left)
Our room was in the Silliman Building
The Wuksachi Lodge has a very convenient location for your stay and is the only accommodation in the park that is open year round. When coming from southern California, this is a great pick. You can have a full day in the park and then stay the night and take on a popular location first thing before the crowds come in. If you are making a loop, you have plenty of time to check out Grant Grove on your way out of the parks.
The walk from the parking lot to your building can be long, depending on where you park. There are luggage carts available to assist you. It is essential to clear all food/garbage, coolers, trash, and toiletries from your car as you are in black bear country, and they are often seen in the lodge area.
ACCOMMODATIONS AT WUKSACHI LODGE
Strolling around the Wuksachi Lodge grounds
The lodge accommodations are clean and comfortable. We booked the standard room with two queen beds. Check-in was easy, and our room was ready at 4 pm, which is always appreciated after a long day. Our visit was during COVID, so everything was immaculate. The lobby had coffee in the morning for guests.
The main building has a beautiful bridge that crosses over to a paved path where we explored, relaxed, enjoyed a mocktail, and let our son play. This would be a great spot to take your happy hour after a long day exploring the park!
Wuksachi Lodge – Standard Room with 2 Queen Beds
We always need downtime in the evening due to our son’s Cystic Fibrosis. He needs a high-calorie snack and to complete his breathing treatments sometime before dinner. It was great to have access to television channels like Disney and Nickelodeon at the lodge for this downtime as we settled in, and he took care of treatments. I know that TV in the national parks is not the focus, but it is a welcome break when you need some time to relax before heading out again. If I hadn’t been pregnant, a glass of wine would have been wonderful during this time, as this photo is taken from a small table by the window.
DINING AT WUKSACHI LODGE
The Peaks Restaurant has to-go style breakfast items that can be enjoyed in the dining room, on the outdoor Pizza Deck patio, or in your room. The Pizza Deck serves pizzas, breadsticks, sandwiches, organic salads, and wine/craft beers to-go style. The outdoor patio is great on sunny afternoons! There is a water bottle filling station in the lobby by the Peaks Restaurant bar.
JOHN MUIR LODGE – KINGS CANYON
The John Muir Lodge is an excellent pick in Grant Grove. We have stayed in the cabins, not a lodge room. However, I want to mention it here because the cabins are very rustic, and the lodge offers cozy rooms you enter from a hallway. Both the lodge and cabins share the same amenities and lobby space. I love the rocking chairs around the porch lobby and the coffee in the mornings. There is also a microwave and water bottle filling station in the lobby.
DINING IN GRANT GROVE
The Grant Grove restaurant is the dining option for the John Muir Lodge and Grant Grove Cabins. The hours are limited, so make sure to know them because there are no other options in the area. I missed coffee the morning we packed up to take the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway to Cedar Grove. Since COVID, everything is being served to go, and you can enjoy it outdoors in the courtyard or inside the dining room. You can order at the window or from the terminals outside.
GRANT GROVE CABINS – KINGS CANYON
The Grant Grove Cabins are a fun and more rustic way to stay in the park. We stayed in a timber two double bed duplex cabin with a private attached bath. Some cabins are tent-style, and some are wood. Some of these cabins date back to 1910, which is incredible. You cannot compete with the location, as all of Grant Grove is accessible by walking. They are also about half the cost of the Wuksachi Lodge. The stargazing at night is incredible too.
BEST WESTERN – EXETER
We love the Best Western in Exeter, CA (4 1/2 hours from San Diego) because the rooms are spacious and clean and have a refrigerator and microwave. They also give you complimentary breakfast in the morning so you can get on the road quickly. It is easy to top off your gas tank in town and then drive 40 minutes to the park entrance. Visalia is about 45 minutes away and full of similar hotels that include breakfast. There are fun short stops on the drive up General’s Highway, so it is nice to start at the park entrance first thing in the morning.
OUR TRAVEL ITINERARIES
ONE-NIGHT IN SEQUOIA ITINERARY – JUNE 2020
DAY ONE – EXETER TO SEQUOIA – 75°
Woke up in Exeter, packed our cooler with the picnic we brought from San Diego the night before, grabbed breakfast, and topped off our gas tank before heading 45 north minutes to the Mountain Entrance of Sequoia
Stopped to take pictures by the entrance sign
Explored Tunnel Rock
Parked at Hospital Rock, walked down to the river
Hiked Moro Rock
Hiked around Crescent Meadow and had a picnic lunch
General Sherman Tree
Check in to Wuksachi Lodge
Explore the grounds of the lodge
Dinner at the Pizza Deck
Deer walking past our window in the morning
DAY TWO – SEQUOIA THROUGH KINGS CANYON TO OAKHURST – 82°
Woke up to deer outside our window at Wuksachi Lodge, had breakfast in our room, grabbed a coffee from the front desk, and passed more deer on the walk over
Hiked Tokopah Falls
Back to Wuksachi Lodge for cheeseburgers at the Pizza Deck (1:30pm)
Drove to Grant Grove (our son fell asleep!)
Panoramic Point
Grant Tree Trail
Ice Cream from the Grant Grove Market
Stopped in the gift shop and visitor center to turn in our son’s Junior Ranger book
Walked down into Big Stump Basin for a bit (not the whole trail)
Left Kings Canyon National Park via the Big Stump Entrance on our way to Oakhurst, to get ready for our day in Yosemite!
Saying Goodbye to the Sequoias!
OUR TWO-NIGHTS IN GRANT GROVE ITINERARY – OCTOBER 2022
DAY ONE – EXETER TO KINGS CANYON THROUGH SEQUOIA
Woke up in Exeter, grabbed breakfast, and topped off our gas tank before heading 45 north minutes to the Mountain Entrance of Sequoia
Stopped to take pictures by the entrance sign
Parked at the Giant Forest Museum
Walked to Beetle Rock
Explored the Giant Forest Museum
Hiked the Big Trees Trail
Wandered around Crescent Meadow
Lunch at the Wuksachi Lodge Pizza Deck
Drove to Grant Grove, checked in to Grant Grove Cabins
Sunset at Panoramic Point
Dinner at Grant Grove Grill
DAY TWO – GRANT GROVE TO ROADS END IN CEDAR GROVE (AND BACK)
Woke up in Grant Grove
To-go breakfast from Grant Grill
Loaded car for road trip to Cedar Grove
Stopped by the Grant Grove Visitor Center (10:15)
Took the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway to Road’s End (awesome adventure – post coming)
Back in Grant Grove at 3:30pm, checked with ranger for another incredible sunset location
Wandered Grant Grove Trail
Sunset at the Redwood Mountain Overlook
Dinner at Grant Grove Grill
Stargazing outside of our cabin
DAY THREE – GRANT GROVE TO SAN DIEGO
Woke up in our cabin, packed up, and checked out
Hiked Big Stump Basin
Home to San Diego
FROM SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK TO YOSEMITE
If you want to continue your adventure, follow along to Yosemite!
I always keep a “NEXT TIME” list when we travel. I feel like it is important to include because this blog is subjective, and I want my readers to know about the myriad opportunities I am still hoping to experience on my next visit. Whenever I read, hear, or research something outside my experience, I will include it here. I hope to eventually fully experience these destinations when I visit again (and I can’t wait to do so).
Sunset Rock Hike – 1.4 miles roundtrip
Hike the Congress Trail – 2.1 miles roundtrip
Crystal Cave Tour
Stay the night in a John Muir Lodge room
Creating family adventures and sharing them with you!
