Shuttles, bobbins, spools, and wheels are all necessary components of the weaving process as well as excellent methods of transport for itinerant ants. Transport yourself in a man-sized shuttle with today's Groupon: for $7, you get one round-trip fare and entry to Sequoia National Park (a $15 value) from Sequoia Shuttle, a Visalia-based company that services the park. The shuttle runs seven days a week from May 26 through September 25 and picks up visitors with scheduled reservations from 11 stops.
The Sequoia Shuttle is a baby birthed from a partnership between the National Parks Service and the City of Visalia in an effort to ease the traffic congestion near the park, which creates unnecessary pollution and causes visitors to park on top of fallen trees or inside hidden cisterns. With today's Groupon rolled into a rudimentary field glass, you'll get transport to and from the park, entry to the park itself, and unlimited shuttle service inside the park. Shuttles provide round-trip transport between the park and Visalia, allowing visitors to return after a day trip or stay for a predetermined number of days to camp within the majesty of the Giant Forest. Once inside, the shuttle transports nature's honored guests across three routes within the forest: the first route travels from the Giant Forest Museum to the Lodgepole Visitor Center; the second route leaves from the Giant Forest Museum and travels to Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow; and the third connects with the first, traveling from the Lodgepole campground to Wuksachi Lodge and back.
Sequoia National Park itself is known for its thick population of giant sequoias. Additionally, a number of natural landmarks dot its earthy grounds, including the 275-foot-tall General Sherman tree—one of the world's largest trees. Other attractions include Moro Rock, a granite dome at the park's thrumming center from which park-goers can scan the park's entire leafy expanse.
Sequoia Shuttle
The Sequoia Shuttle whisks its passengers from Visalia to Sequoia National Park, a 400,000-acre nature preserve that houses General Sherman, the largest tree in the world. During rides, an informational video prepares riders for the natural wonders ahead, ensuring that the trees’ height doesn’t intimidate insecure basketball stars. Once in the park, visitors choose from three free in-park routes, which provide easy access to campgrounds, parking lots, and landmarks such as the Crescent Meadow and the Giant Forest Museum. The Sequoia Shuttle cuts down on the exhaust fumes and noise pollution that private vehicles inject into the park atmosphere, preserving a peaceful environment where critters can roam and trees can nurse their woodpecker-induced concussions.