California’s National Parks take center stage on media road trip

This October, Visit California hosted travel writer Steve Ahillen of the Knoxville News Sentinel on a media trip exploring some of the state’s most iconic National Parks. The Oct. 14–21 journey highlighted the remarkable range of California’s natural beauty, featuring desert landscapes, giant sequoia forests and coastal island ecosystems all within a single road trip.

The trip began in Death Valley National Park, where Steve experienced sweeping desert views, rugged canyons and the unique geological formations that define the largest national park in the contiguous U.S. The Oasis at Death Valley was Steve’s homebase for exploring the region’s stark and compelling terrain.

From there the road trip continued to Visalia, the southern gateway to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. With Visit Visalia, Steve explored the surrounding foothill region and experienced highlights such as giant sequoia groves, scenic overlooks and popular hiking areas. The itinerary also included time at the Kaweah Oaks Preserve, one of the last remaining valley oak riparian forests in the Central Valley, where representatives from Sequoia Riverlands Trust shared insight into local conservation efforts.

The final leg of the trip brought Steve to Ventura, a coastal surf town community with Channel Islands National Park nestled just off their shores. Steve explored the Ventura’s waterfront, biked along the Ventura Promenade and traveled by ferry to Santa Cruz Island to experience hiking, wildlife viewing and coastal scenery in one of the most pristine natural environments in California.

Throughout the trip, Visit California partnered with gateway communities including Visalia, Fresno and Ventura. These partners play an essential role in shaping National Park travel by providing lodging, dining and cultural experiences that complement time spent outdoors.

The road trip highlighted California’s natural beauty and unrivaled landscapes from desert basins to the world’s largest trees to rugged island coastlines. Coverage from this media visit is expected soon and will inspire future travelers seeking nature-based adventures throughout the Golden State.