One of my favorite places in California is Sequoia National Park’s Grant Grove area. In spite of it being 255 miles from Redondo Beach, we sometimes visited as often as once a month.  I worked out the logistics to allow pre-teen Nick and I to spend a full weekend in Sequoia without missing school or work.

Friday night, Nick would go to sleep as usual.

I would pack the car with the camping gear and food: tent, sleeping bags, clothes, cooking equipment, a cooler with  breakfast staples.

At midnight, I would gently carry Nick to the car, trying not to wake him.  About four hours later, we’d arrive at Grant Grove.

We had our favorite tent campground and knew the secluded areas where there was always a vacant campsite.  While Nick slept, I pitched the tent, unpacked the car, and carried the still-sleeping Nick to his sleeping bag.  I’d sleep until about 8:30, get up, cook breakfast, pay for our campsite and we’d be ready for a full Saturday enjoying the Park. Lunch and dinner were usually at the restaurant up the road from the campground.  Days would include Ranger-led talks and usually a community campfire in the evening that featured the ever popular sing-along “Little Bunny Foo Foo”. Kids had assigned activities that would earn them awards and recognition.

Sunday we’d have another full day of hiking and sightseeing, then at about 5PM we’d head down the mountain arriving home in time for a reasonable bedtime.  And about a month later, we’d do it all again.