California Road Trips 2008 - (Page 12) california road trips 2008 HIGH SIERRA S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E Natural splendor Start in the Central Valley and drive to skyscraping peaks, then dip your paddle in snowmelt rivers, gaze at soaring trees, and float across azure lakes in this mountain wonderland. Merced. Visit the California Welcome Center SM, then stroll pretty paths following Bear and Black Rascal creeks. Take a dip in Lake Yosemite, near the new University of California campus. INFO: 209/724-8104 Mono Hot Springs (81 mi/ 130 km; 2 hrs 37 min). Lace up your hiking boots to explore the High Sierra’s easy Mono Meadow Trail, east of Fresno on State 168 Raft the Merced or learn to climb (not advised for large RVs in Yosemite or trailers). Afterward, relax in natural hot springs. INFO: 559/877-7173 Mariposa (37 mi/59 km; 54 min). Pile your picnic basket high with sandwiches and cookies from River Rock Inn and Deli Garden Café. Spread your alfresco feast at Butterfly Creek Winery, one of the largest in this booming wine area. INFO: 866/425-3366 Grant Grove (87 mi/ 140 km; 1 hr 57 min). Lean way back to take in the massive General Grant Tree and other giant sequoias here, especially on the ultra-peaceful, 1 1⁄2-mile North Grove Loop Trail. INFO: 559/565-3341 Yosemite Village (44 mi/ 70 km; 1 hr 8 min). Get a grip at rock-climbing classes on Yosemite’s iconic granite faces. Relax in the refined elegance of the Ahwahnee’s soaring, 24-foot-ceilinged Great Lounge. INFO: 209/372-0200 Kings Canyon National Scenic Byway (10 mi/ 16 km; 35 min). Feel like you’re touching the sky on this high, razor’s edge of a road 120 49 Fish Camp (35 mi/56 km; 53 min). Get the big picture with views of dramatic mountain scenery on the Yosemite Sugar Pine Railroad, then get up close and personal with giant sequoias in Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove. INFO: 866/425-3366 N 140 Oakhurst (13 mi/22 km; 17 min). Trace the Madera Wine Trail, linking nearly a dozen wineries and winetasting rooms dappling these Sierra foothills. The rolling terrain also creates challenging greens at pretty Sierra Meadows Golf Course. INFO: 559/683-7766 41 0 20 mi Mariposa Fish Camp Malum Ridge Rd. Merced 140 Mono Hot Springs Oakhurst Bass Lake Auberry KINGS Kaiser Rd. Pass Rd. CANYON 41 NP 168 GIANT 99 SEQUOIA Kings Canyon Scenic Byway NM 168 Grant Grove 180Generals Hwy. Fresno 180 Giant Forest 198 Village 41 5 Three Rivers SEQUOIA 198 NP Visalia Merced Merced River River Yosemite Village YOSEMITE NP (Highway 180), with views and hikes into the deepest canyon in the U.S.: a staggering 8,000-footdeep chasm. No RVs or trailers! INFO: 559/565-3341 Giant Forest Village (32 mi/51 km; 1 hr 13 min). Institute. INFO: 209/379-9511 the Sierra. INFO: 916/985-4474 Area. INFO: 559/822-2332 www.visitcalifornia.com Welcome Center SM Three Rivers (22 mi/36 km; 49 min). Sit any closer to the Kaweah River and you’d be in it. That’s how it feels from the thrilling outdoor patio at the Gateway Restaurant. INFO: 559/561-4133 Family Outdoors Arts Golf Wine & Dine 2 Ride the rapids of the Merced River as it tumbles down from 3 Cast a line or rent a boat at Millerton Lake State Recreation 12 Greg Epperson/Getty, Jenny Pfeiffer 3 3 more ways to… enjoy the outdoors 1 Take a top-notch natural history course with Yosemite Get sprayed by waterfalls, discover alpine lakes, and climb granite domes—all from trails in this southern part of Sequoia National Park. Stop at the excellent museum for maps. INFO: 559/565-4480 http://www.visitcalifornia.com
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