Issue link: http://globelitetravelmarketing.uberflip.com/i/444404
2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A 41 largest by volume—head south to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and marvel at the weighty General Sherman. While still in the mountains, take a trip to Lake Tahoe, North America's largest alpine lake. Along the lake's west shore, D.L. Bliss, Emerald Bay and Sugar Pine Point state parks offer camping, hiking and white sand beaches. Farther north at Lassen Vol- canic National Park, watch California take shape in the roaring fumaroles, thumping mud pots and boiling pools. Giants in the Mist While the Sierras are home to the heftiest redwoods, the state's fog-shrouded coastal range from Oregon to Big Sur boasts the loftiest—several are taller than the Statue of Liberty. These rare trees, once logged to near extinction, are now protected within California's redwood parks. At Humboldt Redwoods State Park, home to the largest continuous old growth redwood forest on earth, drive the 31-mile Avenue of the Giants and make stops along the way to stroll among the titans. Founders Grove with its majestic 346-foot specimen is always a favorite. Visit in spring to see the pink redwood lilies and purple calypso orchids in bloom. Farther north and closer to the coast, the Redwood National and State Parks is a col- lection of four parks with miles of unspoiled coast and hiking trails. The tallest recorded Coast Redwood hides here, its location kept secret to protect it. How- ever, you can visit the remote Tall Trees Grove if you have a day to spare and want to nab one of the 50 daily permits. But all the parks provide easy access to magnifi- cent groves as well as picnic sites, campgrounds and trails for hikers, cyclists and horses. FLOATING ON THE MERCED RIVER, Yosemite National Park, leV; hiker in a giant sequoia forest in Redwood National and State Parks, below; Roosevelt elk bulls lock antlers during the September breeding season, also in Redwood National and State Parks, boXom.