Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is awe-inspiring because it is home to some of the world's tallest trees. It's easy to feel small in comparison to the park's magnificent trees, which tower hundreds of feet above you. The park, which is located about 80 miles east of Fresno, California, in the southern Sierra Nevada mountain range, was established in 1890 to protect the giant trees from logging, making it America's second national park. The adjacent Kings Canyon National Park was established in 1940, and the two parks eventually became linked.

The trees are, of course, the park's main attraction. The General Sherman Tree, which has rightfully earned the title of the world's largest tree, is perhaps the most notable (it stands 275 feet tall and its base measures more than 36 feet in diameter). Beyond admiring the park's flora, there's plenty to see and do, including cave exploration, hiking, and snowshoeing. Furthermore, the park is open every day of the year, with different attractions for each season.