Wednesday, January 2, 2008

just maybe

my roomate from california has been trying to convince me for a long time that i want to go at least visit california. i used to adamatly refuse to go to the state. but, upon further research, i might end up visiting the state, if i ever had a summer to go visit it. and, because i'm a fan of the national park service, i decided that is what i would mostly go visit. there have been a few places inspired by others that have actually made me want to go visit the state, inspite of myself. so, i've layed out a plan. kinda. more like, a list of places i want to go if i ever make it to california. it would have to all be done in one trip, which is why it would take a whole summer. but it would be a trip well worth the time and money it would take. i would be visiting some wonderful national treaures, and helping to preserve the area so that others can go and visit them. some of these will take just a day, or a half a day, but others of these will take many days, so that i can try and see as much of it as possible, go on hikes, and such. because the list is so long, and the ammount of time needed is so variable, i'll have to plan for one whole summer, or at least most of a summer. meaning it wont be able to be done until i'm all graduated, an have saved lots and lots so that i can make the trip, and pay any and all entrance fees/overnight fees. as well as providing food stuffs for myself. anyhow, all that being said, if i were to ever take a trip, here's the order of things, and what things i want to see while there.

Redwood Forest
Lava Beds
Lassen Volcanic National Park
John Muir National Historic Site
Black Diamond Mines Park
Round Valley
Yosemite National Park
Devils Postpile National Monument
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Pinnacles National Monument
Death Valley National Park
Manzanar National Historic Site
Mojave National Preserve
Santa Monica Mountians National Recreation Area
Hidden Valley
Rachael's House
Joshua Tree National Park

5 comments:

Bonnie Jean said...

Ooh, the Redwood forest is definitely at the very top of my list of things to see (again) in California (I was too little to remember much about the last time we went as a family). Joshua Tree as well. Sounds like a good trip... actually so many good things there, are you sure you could do it all in 1 summer? (The idea of putting Death Valley near the end is good... that wants a fall trip when temperatures are actually below 100 degrees)

by the by- I haven't looked at the entrance fees for where you're planning on going, but if you're going to that many national parks, an annual pass ( http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm ) might be a useful way to go for paying for those. :)

Anyhow- I hope you manage to make the trip sometime after you are graduated... (unlike me who's planned out post-graduation trip fell through for various reasons :)(not the least because I got married and became poor).

Melinda said...

i dont know if i could do it all in one summer, but i would surely like to try it. your right though, about the anual pass being cheaper. entrance/overnight fees are way lots, so an anual pass would be a good investment. we'll see if the trip ever gets made, or if it's just an idle wish that will never happen.

Sean said...

I'm not sure I would put Round Valley and Black Diamond on the same caliber of a list as Yosemite or the Redwoods. But it is a good list. I've hiked Pinnacles and I doubt I will ever do that again if it has remained as bad as I remember it.

Melinda said...

what is wrong with Pinnacles that made it bad?

Anonymous said...

If you don't ever have the chance to take a whole summer off, you should still vist a couple of those places at a time, especially my house.