Magical Sequoias on a Green Tortoise Adventure

I stepped off a Green Tortoise bus into a grove of Redwood trees and I felt like I'd been transported back in time into a mystical forest. A walk, a hike, or a moment sitting near these ancient giants makes it easy to envision a time millions of years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the Redwood's ancestral lineage were plentiful. Take a walk through ferns, past tree stumps and goliath redwoods and you'll see why these trees are America's secret ancient treasures. They have endured thousands of years of firestorms, harsh weather, extreme climate changes and in more recent history destruction from man's logging and pollution.

You only need to stand next to a Redwood tree stretching high into the sky to be awe-inspired by its sheer enormity. The coastal redwoods, capable of living over a thousand years, are the tallest living trees recorded on earth, reaching heights of over 367 feet (112 meters.) Once plentiful throughout North America, they are now restricted to the coastal ranges of California and Oregon. Thriving in the the cool, damp mists of the local climate, they "drink" the moist air of the Pacific coast though their leaves and support an entire ecosystem in the canopy of the treetops, raised up to the light and warmth, high above the forest floor.

The related Giant Sequoias are not quite as tall, but have extremely massive trunks and are the oldest and largest living things on earth. (On our Green Tortoise Adventure trip to Yosemite National Park, it took over 20 passengers to completely encircle a tree while holding hands!) At 102 ft (31m) in circumference and 36.5 ft (11m) in diameter, many of these trees are over 3,000 years old. They are the symbol of power, longevity and enduring life, yet these trees have nearly vanished from the earth. A trip to see these magical giants is a must do.

Visit the Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park on a Green Tortoise Adventure. The Pacific Trek trip and the Western Trail are just two of their California Trips that visit the Redwoods.

For more information, visit them online at http://www.greentortoise.com/adventure.travel.html, or call their office at USA 415 956 7500 and cross this one of of your bucket list!