"Sequoia National Park" Sequoia National Park by Tom_Fields

The giant Sequoias are not the oldest living things on earth; that distinction goes to the Bristlecone Pines. Nor are they the tallest trees; their close relatives, the coastal redwoods, are a little taller. But they are the largest in terms of total size and weight. No other tree inspires such awe and reverence.

Like the coastal redwoods, they are highly resistant to disease and pests. Their root structure is shallow. So once they attain a certain size, they tend to become unstable. Eventually, they become prone to fall over when a strong wind blows. That's the undoing of the oldest and biggest trees. When you visit the redwood or Sequoia forests, you're bound to see the ones that have fallen over.

The park is often crowded, but due to its layout the crowds are more spread out than in Yosemite Canyon. Once you hike up one of the trails, the crowd tends to thin out.

King's Canyon

Just north of Sequoia National Park lies spectacular King's Canyon. If you visit the Sequoias, for over one day, take a day to see this. It's actually deeper than the more famous Grand Canyon, and similar to Yosemite. But it lacks the huge crowds--at least for now.

The bigger they come, the harder they fall

Due to their shallow root structure, the giant Sequoias are vulnerable, once they attain a certain height and weight. A really strong wind can send them toppling over. This is how they usually die.

• Pros:Incredible beauty
• Cons:Thick crowds
• In a nutshell:A must-see