Attractions and other places we visit.
We visited Sequoia National Park in California, including the Foothills Visitor Center, the Tunnel Rock, the Giant Forest Museum, Moro Rock, and Tunnel Log.
An interactive map of our route:
Sequoia National Park historic sign:
Kaweah River:
Visitor center:
Tunnel Rock:
A very twisty route:
Interesting rocks:
Big trees:
Giant Forest Museum:
Auto Log:
Moro Rock:
Trees and hills:
Driving through Tunnel Log:
Our truck under Tunnel Log:
Tall trees:
We visited Sequoia National Park in California, including the Lodgepole Visitor Center and Grill, and the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world by volume. And saw a couple of bears in a tree.
An interactive map of our route:
Relief map in the visitor center:
General Sherman Tree trail, a half mile (each way) path from the parking lot to the tree, through the Giant Forest sequoia grove:
Footprint of Sherman Tree:
Path and steps:
General Sherman tree, the largest tree in the world by volume:
Other big trees:
Tree cross section:
On the way back up the path, we saw a couple of black bears in a tree (not very close, fortunately):
We visited Kings Canyon National Park in California, including the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, General Grant Tree, and a scenic drive through the canyon.
An interactive map of our route:
Relief map of the canyon:
Visitor center:
Gift store:
Sequoias:
The General Grant tree, the third largest tree in the world by volume:
Gamlin Cabin:
Kings Canyon National Park is split in two parts, separated by Sequoia National Forest, which has some rather nice scenery:
Back into Kings Canyon National Park:
And on the return trip, back into Sequoia National Forest:
A small waterfall (at this time of year):
We took another drive into Yosemite National Park, to head along Tioga Road to the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, with a brief stops by Tenaya Lake and Olmsted Point on the way back, which featured the other side of Half Dome.
Pywiack Dome:
Lembert Dome:
Tuolumne Meadow and a rainbow:
Pothole Dome:
Tenaya Lake:
The other side of Half Dome:
We took a drive into Yosemite National Park to visit the Wawona Visitor Center and Yosemite History Center, then on to Glacier Point, with a nice view of Half Dome.
On the way, a stop at the Tunnel View point:
Wawona Hotel:
Pioneer History Center, with stagecoaches:
A covered bridge:
Glacier Point:
Washburn Point:
Sunset over Yosemite valley:
After arriving at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes, we took a drive into Yosemite National Park to visit the Yosemite Valley Welcome Center, and take some photos of some interesting rocks.
Yosemite Valley, with Half Dome visible:
Tunnel:
Waterfall (barely flowing at the end of summer):
El Capitan:
Waterfall:
Historic church:
Welcome Center:
Yosemite Valley map:
We had dinner at the grill, with a couple of ravens watching us (and looking like sitting on my shoulder for a moment):
Heading out of Yosemite Valley:
We headed back into the valley a few days later, and explored some more stuff:
Ansel Adams Gallery:
Exploration Center and Theater (the movie was worth a watch):
Indian Village:
We attended a baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres, playing at the Giant’s ballpark, Oracle Park in San Francisco, California. What we thought would be our last game of the year (but actually only our last game of the regular season), and the 8th ballpark we’ve visited in our stretch goal of visiting all of the ballparks (six new ones this year, plus re-visiting the Mariners’ park a couple of times).
The Giants lost after 10 innings. The Padres had a large number of fans in attendance, and it was difficult to distinguish the chants for each team. The weather was very changeable and I got a little sunburnt on my neck. Ramos hit a home run into McCovey Cove, so that was fun—the first right-handed hitter to do so. Tatis Jr. came out to pinch-hit in the 8th and sent the first pitch over the wall. It’s a nice park with lovely panoramic views of the Bay, but not much entertainment between innings.
Bay Bridge:
Oracle Park:
Team store:
Three times world champions:
Concessions:
Burritos:
View from outfield:
Big Coke bottle:
Big glove:
Cable car:
Ferry next to the ballpark:
View from outfield:
World Series rings:
View from our seats:
Orlando Cepeda memorial:
Mascot:
First pitches:
Out at first:
An advertising boat circled for half the game:
Exploring Oracle Park:
Boats and kayaks next to the ballpark, waiting for a splash home run:
Our traditional ballpark dessert:
Submarine pitcher:
Runs score:
That was a new splash hit home run:
Final scores:
Padres win, sorry Giants:
We visited Lassen Volcanic National Park again. The main visitor center was closed, but the museum was open, so we went there first:
And unlike last time, the road through the park was open, so we enjoyed the sights:
The Sulphur Works area was like a tiny Yellowstone. I know many people don’t like the sulphur smell, but we enjoy it, probably thanks to that association (and with Rotorua in New Zealand):
It was nice to be able to see more of the park this time.
Some miscellaneous photos around Ashland, Oregon.
Ashland Springs Hotel:
Oregon Shakespeare Festival gift store:
We enjoy the hills around Ashland:
Varsity theater:
Creekside restaurants:
Lithia Park pond:
