{NOTE/March 2, 2023: Due to recent storms, many California parks, or roads leading to them, may be temporarily closed. Check the status and do some research before heading out to any parks in the coming weeks, and visit when it's safe to do so.}

Spend the night in a modern yet rustic lodge with vaulted wood-beam ceilings, grand stone fireplaces, panoramic windows overlooking a snow-filled forest, and jagged mountain peaks all around. Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia National Park blends modern comforts with natural touches, making it a perfect—and perfectly situated—base camp for exploring the park.

Rent snowshoes and cross-country skis on site: Trails literally leave right from your door. You can also visit the nearby General Sherman tree: At 275 feet tall and with a diameter of 36.5 feet, it’s the biggest living thing on Earth. Summer is when tourists buzz around this behemoth beauty, which keeps company with the other largest trees in the world; to have these natural skyscrapers almost all to yourself, strap on snowshoes and marvel at the Giant Forest. Wind down the day with a hearty meal in the friendly full-service dining room kept warm with a stone fireplace.