Mileage Credit Cards - Are They a Good Deal?

"Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows, which are kinda the same thing."

Unknown

For years I resisted getting a credit card from the airlines because they have an annual fee.  I hate paying a fee to a credit card company, almost as much as I would hate paying interest, which I don’t pay because I pay my credit cards off as soon as I use them.  But I have, in the past year, changed my mind and acquired an airline credit card that gives me miles when I use it. 

Why, you may ask, would I do that?  I was enticed in with the promise of 25,000 miles plus another 5000 miles if I added another name to my account.  That is enough for a free ticket or an upgrade to first class.  And, there was no fee for the first year.  So I went for it.  And now I have decided to keep it, even though the fee will be coming due next month.  Why am I doing that?  Because I have found that there are some advantages to me having the card, and I have decided those advantages are worth the $95 a year fee.

United's Visa Card

So what are those advantages?  Each card is different, so you need to look at what the card is offering you.  For me, it is free checked baggage for your first bag each, priority boarding and passes to the United Club at the airport.  The pass is just two passes per year, which got us into the United Club in October when we were returning from our St. Lawrence River cruise.  The cruise line got us to the airport in Boston at around 11AM and our flight did not leave until 3PM.  Having passes to the Club room was so much more comfortable for those hours of sitting and waiting.  We had drinks and snacks and WiFi connection, television and comfortable chairs.  That alone was worth the credit card fee.

First Class seats make into a bed

Since we took several trips this year and we flew on United Airlines each time, the amount we saved on baggage fees paid for the fee.  The airlines charge $25 per bag and my husband and I each checked one bag.  We made 2 round-trips on United, and since we would have paid the fee each direction, we would have paid a total of $100 in baggage fees.  The annual fee is $95, so just with that benefit we came out ahead.  We also got the other benefits I talked about above, and we earned miles on all of our purchases.  We earned double miles when purchasing our United tickets using the card.  I was able to upgrade to a first class seat on our trip to Scotland because of the bonus miles I received when I signed up, and that was well worth getting the card.

So, is a mileage card right for you?  I know that some people love having these cards, and use them for everything.  But when looking for a card, make sure you compare the benefits and fees.  There is a huge difference between standard cards which have annual fees of $40 - $95, and premium cards which can charge up to $450 a year.  The premium cards do provide more benefits, but you need to decide whether those benefits are worth that price to you.  Myself, I cannot see paying that much for a credit card.

Also, different cards have different benefits.  If you travel overseas regularly, the British Airways Visa Signature card might be a good deal for you, as this card has no foreign-transactions fees.  Those fees can add up if you use your card for purchases overseas.

Travel and Leisure magazine recently had an article about the mileage cards and they suggested that if you are going to get a card, that you shouldn’t settle for the advertised offer.  Ask them for more bonus miles when you sign up.  25,000 miles is standard, but they suggest asking for 50,000.  I don’t know if it will work, but it would certainly be worth trying.

 

So, only you can say if having a mileage credit card is right for you.  It depends on how much traveling you do, and if paying the annual fee (which all of the mileage cards have), is worth it to you.  But whatever you decide, use it wisely and don't go into debt.

Why Do We Travel, And How Do We Decide Where We Want To Go?

"To get away from one's working environment is, in a sense, to get away from one's self; and this is often the chief advantage of travel and change."
Charles Horton Cooley

I travel because I am curious. I have a desire to see new things, experience new tastes, and meet new people. But I also travel for the chance to broaden my mind. We learn more about ourselves, when we learn more about the world and its people.

A mother and daughter in Bejing, China



I also think that the more of the world you see, the more you understand the differences in people, and you become more accepting. There is so much bigotry in the world, but traveling helps to open your mind to people who are different, and to ideas that are different. You realize that really we are still very much alike.

But of course, there are many reasons to travel.  Business takes people to other places all the time.  Some people have to travel, even if they don't enjoy it.  And I do know people who would never go anywhere, they are happy staying at home.  That is fine for them.  I love my home, but would be bored to death if I just stayed here all the time.  Even when we are home, we are on the go, quite often to the beach.

Halong Bay, Viet Nam

For me, deciding where to go next is not a problem, it is anywhere I haven't been yet.  My husband pretty much leaves it up to me, he'll go anywhere, but he wants me to make the plans, which is fine.  It is what I did for a living for many years, and I enjoy it.  He occassionally will say something about wanting to go somewhere.  For instance, he spent a year in Viet Nam during the war.  Now a lot of people would not want to go back to Viet Nam, it has bad memories for some.  But like George says, "everyone's war was different".  He was on land, with a medical team, providing medical care to the local people in the city of Hue.  He would love to go back and show me the beautiful countryside that he saw while there.  And now, Viet Nam is a tourist destination.  I got excited about it when I watched a special on TV that showed Halong Bay.  So now that is on our list, and it is something that we will definitly do in the next couple of years.

I'm forever watching the Travel Channel, and shows such as Samantha Brown and Rick Steves.  I get ideas for places I want to go from seeing things on the shows.  And I get travel magazines and buy travel books whenever I can. 

Venice, Italy

I seldom plan a trip back to an area that I have already been, although some areas do overlap, so I may end up back in a city I have been to before, just because it is there in the same area and it makes sense to use it as a base to fly into or out of.  The exception to my not returning to the same place will come in 5 years.  For our 25th wedding anniversary George surprised me with a trip to Italy, a place I had always wanted to go.  We have decided that for our 50th anniversary we will return to Italy.  We may cover some new territory in Italy, but we most definitly will return to both Rome and Venice.  We have some wonderful memories of that first trip, and we plan to create some new ones on the new trip. 

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Africa

I would also like to be able to say that I have visited every continenet, but I haven't.  We have of course visited Europe and Asia, and North America.  We have covered those 3 pretty extensively.  I can say I have been on the continent of Africa, because I have been to Morocco, but that hardly counts.  Next year we will be able to really claim that continent, as we plan to visit Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, South Africa and Zimbabwe, all in one trip.  I have not yet visited South America, although I have things on my list that would take me there, I just haven't made it yet.  I have been to Belize in Central America, but very briefly.   I also have not been to Australia and New Zealand, both places my husband has been.  He went to those places when he was in the Navy, and again, he says he'd really like to return and show me those places.  They are on the list.  I may never make it to the continent of Antartica, but my husband has also been there.  He did a year in the navy, stationed at McMurdo Sound on Antartica.  It was a long year of separation for us, when our daughter was quite young.  There are cruises that do make a stop in Antartica, so who knows, maybe someday we will do that.

In the meantime, I do have enough things on my list to keep me occupied for a few years, and I already have some new things to add to the list as I cross things off.

So, why do you travel and where do you want to go?

 

Happy Thanksgiving to My Readers in the USA

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is distinctively American.  So for readers in other countries, I know this is a holiday that you do not celibrate.  We have much to be thankful for in this country and today is a day to express our thanks.  We tend to celibrate by cooking a huge turkey with all of the side dishes and pies for dessert, and eating WAY too much.  Not the healthiest of holidays, and then it is quickly followed by all the sweets of Christmas.  But for all my readers who reside in the USA, I would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope that you do have many things that you are thankful for this year.  Enjoy your dinner.

Have List, Will Travel - One Year Anniversary

It's hard for me to believe that it has been one year since I started writing this blog.  My first posting was one year ago today.  I wasn't sure if I would keep this up, or if I'd even have enough ideas of what to write about.  I certainly wasn't sure I'd still be doing this a year later, but here I am.  I hope that those who have stopped to read what I've written have enjoyed it, and have maybe even learned from it.  That was my goal.  I'm going to keep on writing, until I run out of anything to say, and then I may repost some of my older articles, updateing them as needed.  Anyway, just had to mention that it has been one year since I started.  And thank you, Kim (my daughter) for suggesting that I do this, it has been more fun then I thought it would be.

Badlands & Wind Cave National Parks & Other Sights in the Black Hills Area

“They made us many promises, more than I can remember – They never kept but one; they promised to take our land, and they took it!”

Red Cloud, Lakota, 1891

 

“Fancy yourself on the hottest day in summer in the hottest spot of such a place without water – without an animal and scarce an insect astir – without a single flower to speak pleasant things to you and you will have some idea of the utter loneliness of the Bad Lands.” 

 Paleontologist Thaddeus Culbertson
 

 

Inside Badlands NP

The Badlands National Park is in South Dakota near the Black Hills.  People come to visit the Badlands for many reasons - to see the unusual rock formations, to camp or hike, to study fossil remains, or just to explore another national park.  The Badlands are a place of extremes.  In the summer you may well curse the heat.  The day we were there in mid-July, the temperature was 109 degrees.  We were not doing any hiking in that weather.  In the summer you will quite often experience violent lightning storms.  Winter can be quiet chilly and there can be winds that roar out of the north. 



Bison in the Badlands NP

The park consists of 3 units totaling more than 240,000 acres.  The North Unit is the best known and most easily explored area.  It has the Badlands Loop Road with scenic overlooks and trailheads, and Cedar Pass – where there is a lodge and a visitor center.  This is the area that we explored on our day in the park.  We also ventured onto a gravel road which led out to a prairie dog town, where we did see some prairie dogs.  We were glad we took this detour, even though we were on the gravel road for about 10 miles each direction.  While on it, we saw a heard of antelope and 2 buffalo.  That was all the wildlife we saw while in the park.

Inside Badlands NP

Because if was so hot when we were there, we mostly viewed the park from the comfort of our air-conditioned car, with stops at view points to take pictures.  We had our dogs along with us on this trip, and it was just too hot to take them out of the car, so it did limit us.  I have to admit though, at my age, I am not up to hiking up paths in 100 plus weather.

This park does have a very different type of scenery.  It is very desolate.  George said he could imagine a cowboy riding his horse through this area and wondering how to get out of there.  It is not an area I would want to spend too much time in, even though it does have a beauty of its own.  If you stick to the main area, which is the North Unit, you can easily see the park in one afternoon.  The other areas of the park are less accessible.  Most people who go to the park only see the North Unit.

Inside Badlands NP

There is lodging available in the park at the Cedar Pass Lodge which has both historic and new cabins available. Just outside the park is the Badlands Inn. Camping is also available year-round. They do not take reservations for the camping, it is first come, first served. There are no showers available in the campground. They do have RV hookup for electrical only, no water or sewer.



Entrance to Wind Cave National Park

 

Boxwork - inside the cave

Wind Cave National Park is also in the Black Hills area of South Dakota.  Hidden beneath the rolling prairie of the southern Black Hills is one of the world's longest caves.  Swaying prairie grasses, forested hillsides, and array of wildlife (such as bison, elk and prairie dogs) welcome visitors to the 7th oldest national park in the USA.  Beneath one of the few remaining intact prairies is one of the world's longest caves.  Wind Cave is named for barometric winds at its entrance.  The complex labyrinth of passages contains a unique formation know as boxwork.

  

The Visitor Center to the park is open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Days and contains three exhibit rooms featuring cave exploration, cave formations, early cave history, the Civilian Conservation Corps, park wildlife, and resource management. An 18-minute movie; Wind Cave: One Park, Two Worlds; is shown throughout the day.

Formation inside the cave

Cave tours are offered daily throughout the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. The cave temperature is 53 degrees at all times of the year. A jacket or sweater and good walking shoes are recommended.  All cave tours leave from the visitor center.    The visitor center and the cave are accessible to people with disabilities.

Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds; one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Exploring any of the 30 miles of hiking trails, one of the three nature trails, or just hiking cross-country gives visitors the opportunity to experience the amazing prairie and forest worlds of the park.

Living within the park are many different types of animals. Driving the park roads or hiking the trails provides the opportunity to see bison, prairie dogs, pronghorn or many of the different birds living here.

Elk Mountain Campground is located among rolling hills, prairie and ponderosa pine forest. While camping visitors have a unique opportunity to view the plants and animals of the southern Black Hills. The campground is open all year.

The Black Hills

Besides the Badlands & Wind Caves National Park there are quite a few other things to see in this area.   While we were there we also stopped at the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood and The Devils Tower.  All of these are in the Black Hills area of South Dakota, an area the Indians consider sacred. 
 

The Crazy Horse Monument is still a work in progress.  They are still blasting away and carving.  The monument will not be finished anytime in my lifetime.  So far all they have done is the head, which took 50 years to complete, and it is larger than all 4 heads at Mt. Rushmore.   When completed it will have Crazy Horse sitting on his horse pointing towards the Black Hills.  It will be taller than the Washington Monument in DC.  While you can see this from the highway, I highly recommend that you go into the exhibit and see what the statue will look like when completed and to see the movie which shows how it is being built and its history.  I found it fascinating, and enjoyed this more than Mt. Rushmore, which is more well known. 

How the statue will look when completed

The original sculptor is Koreczak Ziolkowski.  He sculpted the smaller statue which is on display at the center, and he worked on the sculpture on the mountain, until is death.  The project is now run by his wife, and 7 of his 10 children are still working on it.  Mr. Ziolkowski wrote this about Crazy Horse in 1949:

 

Crazy Horse was born on Rapid Creek in the Black Hills of South Dakota in about 1842.  While at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, under a flag of truce, he was stabbed in the back by an American soldier and died September 6, 1877 – age 35(?)

Crazy Horse defended his people and their way of life in the only manner he knew.

BUT- Only after he saw the Treaty of 1868 broken.  This treaty, signed by the President of the United States, said in effect:  "As long as rivers run and grass grows and trees bear leaves, Paha Sapa – the Black Hills of Dakota – will forever be the sacred land of the Sioux Indians.”

Only after he saw his leader, Conquering Bear, exterminated by treachery.

Only after he saw the failure of the government agents to bring required treaty guarantees, such as meat, clothing, tents and necessities for existence which they were to receive for having given up  their lands and gone to live on the reservations.

Only after he saw his people’s lives and their way of life ravaged and destroyed,

Crazy Horse has never been known to have signed a treaty or touched the pen

Crazy Horse, as far as the scale model is concerned, is to be carved not so much as a lineal likeness, but more as a memorial to the spirit of Crazy Horse – to his people. With his left hand thrown out pointing in answer to the derisive question asked by a white man, “Where are your lands now?” he replied “My lands are where my dead lie buried.”

Inside the gift shop - up close of  the head of Crazy Horse

 

Indian dance show at
Visitor Center

I’m so glad we stopped to see this memorial.  I learned a lot about Crazy Horse, and I was impressed with what has been accomplished.  They take NO federal money, they do not want the government involved.  It is all paid for with donations and the money they make from the tourists.  They could work faster if they took money from the government, but they want to keep it out of their control.  It will take another 10 years just to finish the hand that is pointing, so it is hard to say when the whole statue will be completed.  I know I will never see it.  Probably there will be grandchildren and even great- grandchildren of the sculpture working on this until it is completed.  It seems to be a family project – and talk about job security.  The cost of admission is $10 per person.  There is a center where they have lots of Indian artifacts, tourist information, and a movie that explains the project and its history.  The original sculpture , which is 1/34^th size is on display at the center.  Pets are welcome, even in the movie, as long as you hold them. There is a night-time laser light show during the summer months.  There was a show with indian dancers the day we stopped.



Mt. Rushmore

Not far from the Crazy Horse Monument is Mt. Rushmore, which we visited the same day.  Pets are not allowed inside the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, which limited our visit there.  They have a grassy area near the parking lot where they are allowed, or they can stay in the car.  I never leave my dogs unattended in the car.  So, George stayed with the dogs while I walked the short distance up through and area with all the states flags and onto the viewing plaza.  I took some pictures and looked around, then went and stayed with the dogs while George walked up.  The mountain is impressive.  Something we have all seen in pictures, and certainly something you should stop and see if you are in the area.  There is a path to go up to the base of the mountain, but we couldn’t do that.  The majority of people who stop here go no farther than we did.  There is no admission fee, per se, but they charge $11 for parking, which you have to do. 
 

Entrance to town of Deadwood

We also stopped at the historic town of Deadwood, where Wild Bill Hitchcock was shot.  They do a re-enactment of that and the trial for the person who shot him in the town, there is a charge to see it.  The town has some interesting old buildings, but it has been taken over by casinos and tacky gift shops.  We did go over and walk around and look at some of the shops.  We had dinner at a Chinese restaurant and it was quite good.  It was fun to see.

Devil's Tower

As we were leaving the area we visited Devil’s Tower, which is only a short distance away, although it is actually in Wyoming.  It is certainly close enough that if you were visiting this area, you should go over and see it.  It is a national monument, so your NP pass will get you into it also.  The Devils Tower is over 5000 feet tall, and is quite spectacular.  You can see it from a distance as you approach.  There is a visitor’s center near the entrance which is worth going into it.  There is also a path that is 2.8 miles – it is a loop that goes up to the base and then all the way around.  Dogs are allowed on the path if they are on a leash.  The day we were there the temperature was 100 degrees, and we didn’t feel the dogs or us were up to the walk.  I did go up the path a short distance to get some closer pictures.

Every year climbers come to climb the tower.  The Indians consider this tower to be sacred, and the climbers are offensive to them, as they feel they are defacing the rock with their picks. 
 

Baxter watching the prairie dogs
at Devil's Tower

There was also an area that had prairie dogs, so we had to stop and let our dog Baxter watch the prairie degs.  He watched from the car, we didn’t let him out, but he was fascinated and was following their every move.  It was fun to watch his excitement. 

We also did a drive through the Black Hills and there is some beautiful scenery throughout this area.  Besides the things I have mentioned there are so many other things you can do while in the area.  There are hot springs, a Bear Country to drive through, Wall Drug which is a famous tourist trap, and just some wonderful mountains, trees, streams and generally beautiful scenery.  You could easily spend a week or two exploring this area.iH

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado

 "Our national parks system is a national museum. Its purpose is to preserve forever ... certain areas of extraordinary scenic magnificence in a condition of primitive nature. Its recreational value is also very great, but recreation is not distinctive of the system. The function which alone distinguishes the national parks ... is the museum function made possibly only by the parks' complete conservation." - Robert Sterling Yard, 1923

Entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park

We took a road trip in July of this year.  Our ultimate goal was to get to our cabin in Washington, but we decided to detour through Colorado with a stop at the Rocky Mountain National Park.  From there our plan was to go on to the Badlands National Park, and the other things in that area.  I admit it was a roundabout way to get to Washington State, but our goal is to see more of this country, and this took us into new territory.

View from porch of the
 Inn at Grand Lake

We entered the Rocky Mountain National Park from the southwest entrance, near Grand Lake.  Before going into the park, we stopped at the  Inn at Grand Lake Lodge, just to look around.  The lodge has some beautiful views of the lake below, and I loved the lodge, with wood swings on the porch, flower boxes full of flowers, and a huge metal fireplace in the lobby.  I found out that they have pet-friendly cabins available at very reasonable prices, and the lodge is just outside the park and near the town of Grand Lake.  It would certainly be a nice place to stay while exploring the area.

Inside the park

We then entered the park, using our National Parks Senior Pass, which we purchased several years ago.  It cost us $10 and is a lifetime pass, which gets us into all the National Parks in the USA.  You have to be over 62 and a US citizen to get this pass.  If we hadn’t had that pass, the charge is $20 per vehicle and is good for 7 days.  There are other types of passes available and to see the list please read my intro posting on National Parks.
 http://havelistwilltravel.blogspot.com/2012/10/americas-national-parks.html

Our first stop was at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, where I stopped to ask a ranger about things to see and do in the park.  He gave me some good advice, and we took off.  We had our 2 dogs with us, and they are allowed in the park, but they can not go onto any of the hiking trails, so we knew we were going to be seeing most of the park from the car and the lookout points, which was fine. 

Driving at a high elevation, snow on
hillside and above treeline

This park has some spectacular views, and most the sights can be seen from the car and the lookout points.  It is a park that can be done in one day, unless you are hikers and plan to hike the trails, then you will need longer.  Remember that most of the park is at a very high elevation, and not everyone can handle this.  Every year a large number of visitors report problems, which include headaches, dizziness and even loss of consciousness.  So hiking will be harder at these elevations.  The Alpine Visitor Center is at an elevation of 11,796 feet, and at one point the main road is at 12,183 feet. 

Taken at the Alpine Visitor Center - elevation 11,796 feet

Also, weather conditions vary throughout the park. While at the Alpine Visitor Center we encountered severe weather conditions.  We had started out with sunny skies and warm weather, typical for July, but by the time we reached the Alpine Center, the skies had darkened and rain came pouring down, then icy hail.  As we got farther down the mountains to lower elevations, the weather improved.  So be prepared for anything.  There was still snow on the ground in places at the higher elevations.

For the next 2 years there will be construction on the Bear Lake Road, so expect delays.  While we were there we were told that the only way to go on that road was by shuttle bus, and of course, the dogs are not allowed on the bus.  We did miss seeing that part of the park, but I felt we got some wonderful views on the road we took.  The shuttle bus is free, and a good way to get around the park for those without dogs.



One of the Moose we saw

We saw quite a bit of wildlife in the park.  Our first sighting was a mother and baby moose, which was by a river in a field.  We saw quite a few elk, including one that came down the hillside and was just across the road from our car.  He stood there, looking quite noble.  We also saw a group of mule deer, and of course chipmunks and birds.  There are bears in the park, but are not often spotted.  However, if you are camping make sure you take precaution with food storage, because the bears will go after food that is left out.

Elk in the park

While in the Rocky Mountain National Park you feel like you are at “the top of the world.”  The highest major highway in North America is here, at an elevation of 12,183 feet above sea level.  Nearly one third of the park is above treeline, the limit above which conditions are too harsh for trees to grow.  There are 72 named peaks above 12,000 feet of elevation.  It became a national park in 1915. 



Machin's Cabins inside the park and The Inn at Grand Lake at the northern entrance to the park

Besides The Inn at Grand Lake which I mentioned at the beginning of the article, there are other lodging options.  The Rocky Mountain Park Inn is near the entrance to the park and also near the downtown Estes Park.  The Wildwood Inn, the River Song, and Aspen Winds on Fall River are also very near the park and near the town of Estes Park.  Machin’s Cottages in the Pines are actually inside the park at the end of a road where a hiking rail begins.  The Gateway Inn is located in the town of Grand Lake and is on the same side of the park as the Inn at Grand Lake.  There are many other hotel options in or near the town of Estes Park.

 

Camping is also an option.  There are five drive-in campgrounds and one drive-in group camping area in the park. Three campgrounds, Moraine Park, Glacier Basin, and Aspenglen, take reservations, as does the group-camping area. Other park campgrounds are first-come, first-served, and fill on most summer days. There are no electric, water or sewer hookups at any campsites.

The town of Estes Park

Just outside of the park is the town of Estes Park, which is a beautiful little town with Falls River running through it.  There is a riverside park area and some really nice shops and restaurants.  Estes Park is definitely worth stopping and having a look around.

 My next posting will be about our next stop, which was the Badlands National Park, and the other attractions near that area.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon - 2 of California's National Parks

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world"

"Keep close to nature's heart...and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods.  Wash your spirit clean."

John Muir

Trees in Sequoia National Park

In the heart of the Sierra Nevada, just south of Yosemite, are Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, home to both the largest giant sequoia trees in the world and a deep gorge of a canyon that rivals Yosemite Valley for awe-inspiring beauty. Sequoia & Kings Canyon are separate parks snuggled next to each other and managed jointly. Combined, they outsize Yosemite. Peaks stretch across 1,350 square miles and include 14,505-foot Mount Whitney, the tallest point in the lower 48 states. These parks are also home to the Kaweah Range, a string of stark and magnificently beautiful mountains nestled among the Sierra. Three powerful rivers, the Kings, Kern, and Kaweah, tumble through the parks. Despite their large size, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks attract less than half the number of Yosemite's annual visitors, making them a great alternative for those looking to avoid huge crowds.

Muirs Rock on the south fork of the Kings River
John Muir used to give lectures from the rock.

I have lived in California for 30 years, and somehow I didn’t get to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks until 2 years ago.  I don’t know why we didn’t go there, we had been to Yosemite, which is very close by.  We have travelled all over California, seeing the sights of this great state.  But somehow we overlooked these 2 parks.  When we finally did go, it was because our friends came over from Scotland to see us, and we took them on a road trip.  They had said that they would like to see Yosemite, so we immediately booked that, but then I started looking at other things we could do in the same area, and I saw these 2 parks.  I thought, well – they are national parks, they must be interesting.  I booked 3 nights there, before our visit to Yosemite.   I am so glad I did.  I think that Sequoia/Kings Canyon parks were probably the highlight of our trip.  Our Scottish friends had never seen trees like the Sequoia’s and the whole area was just stunningly beautiful. 

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks lie side by side in the southern Sierra Nevada's.  This landscape testifies to nature's size, beauty and diversity.  Huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world's largest trees.

Taken from inside a fallen tree

The parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, weather permitting. Their highest visitation is in July and August. Campsites and lodging may be difficult to obtain on summer weekends and holidays, as well as off-season holidays.  Because of the extreme elevation range in the parks, weather conditions vary greatly from area to area and day to day.  The park changes with the seasons.

SPRING (April to June) the sequoia groves are often still snowy. Rivers and creeks become especially swift, cold, and dangerous. Spring brings warm weather and abundant wildflowers to the foothills.

One of the easier hiking trails is the Zumwalt Meadow Trail
It is a 1.5 mile loop with spectacular scenery

SUMMER (July to mid-September) the snow has usually melted from High Sierra passes. Most facilities are open and many free ranger programs are offered. The foothills are hot and dry, which makes the dangerous rivers tempting - be careful!  Sequoia groves offer comfortable shade.

FALL (mid-September to November) the sequoia groves get chilly at night; light snows that melt quickly may begin in late October. Facilities begin to reduce hours or close, and fewer ranger programs take place. Crystal Cave closes in late October. The foothills cool down and rains may start by November. 

WINTER (November to April)the sequoia groves are snowy, peaceful, and cold, and rangers offer free outdoor activities. Foothills are cool, green, and decked with wildflowers starting as early as January. Solitude is abundant.

Sequoia Tree

  
The parks have 14 campgrounds of which the majority are first-come, first-served. Lodgepole, Dorst and certain group campgrounds are open to reservations. Campgrounds often fill up on Saturday nights in July and August. Sunday afternoons through Friday afternoons offer the best chance of finding a campsite, with the exception of Lodgepole which usually has limited sites even midweek. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring with grill and a metal bear box for food storage. There are no hookups in the parks. Dump stations are located at Potwisha and Lodgepole.

Lodging inside the park is limited. There are 4 facilities. One in Sequoia and 3 in the Kings Canyon area.  They are:

The Wuksachi Lodge is located in the Giant Forest area of Sequoia National Park. The modern lodge offers 102 guest rooms, a full-service restaurant, cocktail lounge and a retail and ski shop. The lodge is located 4 miles from Giant Forest Museum. Elevation 7,050 feet.  The lodge is open all year.

The John Muir Lodge is located in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. The lodge offers 36 hotel rooms and a restaurant. The lodge is ½ mile from a sequoia grove, visitor center, market, restaurant, gift shop and post office. Elevation 6,500 feet . Open all year.

The Grant Grove Cabins are located in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. The cabins are ½ mile from a sequoia grove, visitor center, market, restaurant, gift shop and post office. Guests can choose from six types of cabins some of which are available year-round. Elevation 6,500 feet.

Cedar Grove Lodge is located within Cedar Grove Village, deep in the canyon of the Kings Canyon itself. The lodge offers 18 hotel rooms, a counter-service restaurant, market and gift shop. The lodge is also within walking distance of a visitor center, restaurant, gift shop and market. Elevation 4,600 feet.  It is at trailsend and near Muirs Rock on the Kings River.  Open: mid-May to October.  This is where we stayed with our friends when we visited the park.

River on the Zumwalt Meadow Trail

If you have visited some of the more popular national parks, such as Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, you will be surprised by how few people there are in these parks.  The crowds are thinner, there are few scheduled events, and the prime attraction -- and the real reason for the existence of these parks -- is the beauty and majesty of the mountains and the trees, some of the largest living things on earth.
There is plenty of terrain to explore at your leisure

The best way to see the park is by foot, on the many hiking trails.  There is a road, the Generals Highway, which connects Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park with Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. The highway runs 25 miles between two giant sequoias named for famous American generals -- the General Grant Tree and the General Sherman Tree. Allow at least an hour to drive between the two on this slow, winding route, longer when there is construction. From several miles inside the CA 198 Ash Mountain Entrance to Giant Forest, the Generals Highway is narrow and winding and not recommended for vehicles over 22 feet long, which should enter the parks from CA 180.

Inside Crystal Cave

The trees really are the main attraction at these parks, although there are spectacular mountains, rivers, creeks and some fantastic caves.  A definite stop should be a visit to Crystal Cave.  It is a guided tour, and quite pretty inside, with its stalagtites and stalamites.  And of course you have to visit the General Grant and General Sherman trees, they are quite magnificent.  There are plenty of places to eat throughout the park, as well as several general stores.  A visit to one of the visitors centers will give you lots of information about the parks.

These two parks could easily be combined with a visit to Yosemite.  They are only a short drive apart.  You will certainly have more quiet and less crowds in Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks, and I think they are just as spectacular.

Don't Forget to Vote!!!!

"The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.." President Lyndon B. Johnson

Just a quick reminder to my readers, tomorrow is election day.  There are many countries who do not hold free elections.  The people of those countries do not have a say on how things are run.  Sometimes we feel our government doesn't listen to us either, but the way they listen is by our casting a ballot.  So, whatever your political views, make sure you vote.  It is a right, and a privelege that we take for granted.  Remember, if you don't vote, then you have no right to complain if your elected official is someone you didn't want, and they are doing things you don't like.  So vote, and if the people you voted for are not elected, then you can complain all you want, that is part of our freedom too.  There are many places in the world where you can't complain about your government either.

Yosemite National Park

"This one noble park is big enough and rich enough for a whole life of study and aesthetic enjoyment. It is good for everybody, no matter how benumbed with care.… None can escape its charms. Its natural beauty cleans and warms like a fire, and you will be willing to stay forever in one place like a tree." 

John Muir about Yosemite

In my last posting I gave some basic information about our national parks.  Today I am going to talk about Yosemite, which is one of the most well- known of our national parks.  Yosemite is in northern California.  Close to Yosemite are 2 other national parks, Sequoia and King’s Canyon (these 2 parks are actually together).  I have been to all 3 parks, and I can tell you that they are well worth visiting.  Today's posting is only about Yosemite, but my next posting will be about Sequoia and King's Canyon.  They could easily be combined for a one week vacation, which we did in 2010, staying several nights in each area. 

Yosemite National Park, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more. 

View into Yosemite from the lookout

The first time we went to Yosemite I didn’t really know what to expect.  I knew it would be a park, with lots of trees, mountains and waterfalls.  But I didn’t expect the grandeur of it.  The park is huge, and when we first entered, at the south entrance, we were in an area with large Sequoia trees.  But then we went through a tunnel and when we came out the other side we pulled over to the lookout and the view was magnificent.  We looked down into the Yosemite Valley, and across at the mountains.  It was one of the most beautiful views I had ever seen.

There is lots to do in Yosemite, and it depends on what time of the year you go, as to what you should see and do.  Springtime will give you the best waterfalls, because the snow is melting and the falls are at their fullest during May.  By August some of the falls are practically dry.  But in the spring you have to realize that some of the roads in the higher areas will still be closed because of snow.  The first time we went was in early July.  The roads in the higher part of the park (Tioga Pass) had only been open a few weeks when we arrived, and there was still quite a bit of snow alongside the road, even though the temperatures were quite warm.  The snow was melting rapidly, and was probably completely gone soon after we were there.  The roads at the higher elevation open at different times each year, depending on the amount of snowfall, and weather conditions.

Yosemite Falls in August 2010

Summertime is the busiest time in the park.  School is out, so lots of people have vacation time.  All areas of the park will be accessible by car in the summer months.  If you are planning to stay overnight in the park, make sure you make your reservations far in advance, because they sell out every summer.  There is quite a bit of lodging and camping available in the park, but this is high season.  There is also lodging outside of the park, but you will spend a lot of time driving into the park each day, the distance from those places will take up a lot of the time you could have spent in the park.  Also, you will experience large crowds throughout the park during the summer months.

Fall is a nice time to go, but again, depending on how early the snow starts, you may not be able to get into the higher elevations of the park, especially the Tioga Road.  Yosemite Valley and Wawona remain accessible by car all year, however tire chains may be required, depending on conditions.  Rivers and waterfall levels tend to be very low during the fall months.  Most of the waterfalls will have little or no flow after September. 

The park is open all year, but there is limited access during the winter months.  Tioga Road is usually closed by November.  Also, the road to Glacier Point will be closed sometime in November.  However, from mid-December through early April, the Glacier Point/Badger Pass Road is plowed to the Badger Pass Ski Area, where both downhill and cross-country skiing are popular.  Chains are often required on park roads.

Bracebridge Dinner Celebration

A celebration I would love to do sometime, is the Bracebridge Dinner at the Ahwahnee Lodge.  Celebrated annually since 1927, the Bracebridge Dinner transforms The Ahwahnee into a 17th century English manor for a feast of food, song and mirth. The inspiration for this yuletide ceremony was Washington Irving's Sketch Book that described Squire Bracebridge and English Christmas traditions of that period.

The Bracebridge Dinner is an elegant and artistic four-hour pageant of classic carols, Renaissance rituals and entertainment of the Middle Ages. More than 100 players create the roles of the Squire and his family, their servants, the Lord of Misrule, minstrels and other performers. The Ahwahnee Dining Room serves as the Great Hall and stage for the festivities and is decked with magnificent wreaths, an elaborate squire's table, large banners and traditional Yuletide decorations. The centerpiece of this revered event is a seven-course banquet of rich and wondrous dishes prepared by The Ahwahnee’s world-class culinary staff.

Going to this dinner is not cheap.  The one-night packages which include the dinner and lodging for 2012 start at $995.00 for lodging at the Wawona Hotel.  Lodging at the Yosemite Lodge is slightly higher, and the most expensive packages include lodging at the Ahwahnee.  Dates for 2012 start on December 13^th and continue through Christmas Day.  The package includes:

Dinner for two at the Bracebridge Celebration.

Professional portrait sitting for your party to commemorate the evening.
Shuttle services for the  dinner is provided for guests at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls and Wawona Hotel. Complimentary after hours shuttle service is also available.

Dinner-only tickets are available for $425 including tax and gratuity. You can call the reservations desk to make a dinner-only reservation - (801) 559-4884. These tickets are not available online.



Helicopter rescuing a climber

There are lots of things to do in the park, you can go swimming, rafting or fishing in the spring, summer and fall, and cross-country or downhill skiing in the winter.  Also, there is a ice skating area in Curry Village from mid-November through mid-March.  You can drive the park roads, stopping to enjoy the scenery or wild-life, hike the trails, stop at the waterfalls, and just enjoy being in the outdoors.  There is also a bus tour available, with guides that will tell you all about the park.  When we were there in August of 2010 we even watched a helicopter rescue a mountain climber off the face of El Capitan Mountain.  It was quite exciting.

As for places to stay, I would recommend staying in the park if you can get reservations.  It is a long drive from the entrance gates to the Yosemite Valley area, so you would be spending a great deal of time and gas money doing that.  However, if it is high season and you want to go, it may be your only option.  Here are the places to stay that are inside the park:

Ahwahnee Hotel

The Ahwahnee Hotel is the top property in the park.  It takes a special kind of lodging property to garner the "Premier Lodge" classification from National Park Reservations. The Ahwahnee Hotel with it's striking granite facade, magnificent log-beamed ceilings, massive stone hearths, richly colored Native American artwork and finely appointed rooms is a shining example of what is consider to be a premier lodge in the Yosemite area.  There are telephones and television in the rooms.

Wawona Hotel

The Wawona Hotel is the largest existing Victorian hotel complex within the boundaries of a national park, and one of the few remaining in the United States with this high level of integrity.  It is listed in the National Register as nationally and regionally significant.  A stay here is a historic one as well as being a wonderful place to vacation.  When staying at the Wawona Hotel you will enjoy European style rooms, daily maid service, furnishings in Victorian period pieces and antiques.  No televisions and no telephones (in keeping with the spirit of our national parks).   There are no bathrooms in the rooms,  but there are shared bathrooms convenient located throughout the hotel.  When we visited the park in 2010 we stayed at the Wawona and loved it.  It was charming, and the restaurant served excellent meals.  I would highly recommend it.  The hotel is not located in the valley, so you will do a little bit more driving when staying here.

Yosemite Lodge at the Falls is in the valley and the closest hotel to Yosemite Falls.  The falls are and easy stroll from the lodge.  The rooms are similar to most motel rooms anywhere.  It is modern yet rustic.   It was re-modeled in 1998.  Today the main complex emphasizes glass and wood detailing to blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings of the beautiful Yosemite Valley, including the Falls.  There are 245 hotel rooms.  Private baths, daily maid service, telephones and televisons in the rooms.  The first time we visited Yosemite we stayed at this hotel.  It doesn't have the charm the other hotels have, but the location is wonderful, and it is a basic hotel.
 

Half Dome and Yosemite Valley

Curry Village is also sometimes referred to as Camp Curry.  It is the largest lodging facility in Yosemite Valley. Curry Village offers many lodging options including, a motel, cabins with private restrooms/showers, and tent cabins without plumbing. Curry Village is one of the most popular lodging options in Yosemite National Park.  Because of its popularity Curry Village sells out quickly so it is suggested that you make your reservations 10-12 months in advance to ensure availability of your lodging needs.  Like most Yosemite National Park properties, Curry Village rooms do not have televisions or air conditioning. Curry Village is conveniently located in the south central part of Yosemite National Park.

Bear

One of the things the park warns visitors about  are the bears.  I have been there several times and have yet to see an actual bear, but I have been told that they are there and that they can be a problem.  They warn you not to leave ANY food items in your car, because bears have been known to rip cars to pieces trying to get at the food.  They even have a car on display showing what a bear did to a car.  So consider yourself warned.  If staying at Curry Village in the tent cabins or camping, make sure you use the food lockers provided and keep all food locked up, and not in your car.

There are also numerous campgrounds within the park, and there are some more cabin areas in some of the higher elevations that I have not mentioned.   For more information you should visit the parks website at:  http://www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/yosemite-national-park