Death Valley National Park
Visited: January 2023 – 1 day
Death Valley National Park is a land of extremes. It’s the lowest point in North America and is considered one of the driest places in the world. It also holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded on the surface of the Earth. Only the hardiest of plants and animals can withstand this harsh environment.
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Visited: April 2023 – 1 day
The coastal redwoods are among some of the oldest and tallest trees in the world. They can live for more than 2,000 years and reach a height of over 90 metres (or 300 feet). Redwood forests only grow naturally in a narrow band along the Pacific coast from southern Oregon to central California. They depend on stable temperature and moisture, which is often provided from the wet winters and frequent fog in the summer.
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Visited: April 2023 – 1 day
The coastal redwoods are primarily found along the coast in California and are home to the tallest trees in the world. They were extensively logged to the point where today only 5 percent of the original old-growth redwoods remain. Thanks to conservation efforts, the Redwood National and State Parks were established to protect large sections of old-growth forests from private logging companies.