Arboretum

These pictures were taken at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden in Arcadia. The Arboretum is 127 acres. That makes for a very long stroll in the garden. There are many different kinds of gardens and sections. It was really hot when I went. When I was walking in the Australian section, I really felt like I was hiking in the Australian Outback, because it was so hot.

All in all, it's pretty fun to explore all the different gardens, buildings, greenhouses, and sections. Just make sure to bring a hat and some sunscreen.

More pictures to come....

You know I love pictures.

Crystal Cave

We had to hike to the Crystal Cave from the parking lot. It takes awhile to even drive to the parking lot, because the road is extremely windy and hilly.

Inside the cave was pretty cool, both literally and figuratively. You can feel the cold air coming out of the cave when you're standing at the entrance. You can experience perfect dark when the tour guide shuts off her flashlight. It's so dark, that I actually "see" imaginary lines of light. It's totally like a maze in there. There are living creatures but they're very small. Some of them are blind or don't have eyes at all. Many of them don't even have any pigmentation. There are underground waterways. I wonder where they would take me if I slid down them like a water ride.

Sarah and I both had a fun time at Sequoia. I want to go camping here again as soon as possible. I still have a ton of other places I want to visit or revisit again too.

Beetle Rock

At Beetle Rock in the Giant Forest. More terrific views and hiking here.

Giant Forest

At the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park.

Hume Lake

Hume Lake

Heading Towards Kings Canyon

The road to Kings Canyon was pretty nice also.

Grizzly Falls

Grizzly Falls was a picturesque waterfall. You can get soaking wet just standing nearby posing for a picture.

Roughin' It

This is our tent that we slept in when we went camping. It's pitch black at night when you wake up in the middle of the night when nature calls.

I almost burned down the entire forest when I put too many logs in the fire pit in the beginning. Those flames were reaching a nearby tree and there were tons of dried pine needles all over the forest floor. I'm surprised there aren't more fires than there already are. The picture here shows a much smaller fire after the chaotic start.

Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon is a very scenic national park. There are huge canyon walls and wild rivers and waterfalls. Too bad you can't go whitewater rafting here. You will be bashed into the rocks.

Fallen Monarch

A fallen king.

General Grant

The General Grant tree is the second largest tree in the world. It's the largest tree in the Grant Grove.

Sequoia

At the Sequoia National Park.

The Largest Tree in the World

General Sherman is the largest living thing in the world. It resides in the Giant Forest. Sequoia trees are pretty awesome to behold. They're not as big as the trees in the Ewok Village on the planet Endor from the movie Return of the Jedi. Actually, I believe that this is where the movie was filmed.

Bambi Lives

There are a bunch of Bambi's family members running around the giant forest.