Ellz - Don't worry about anything - you will have a great time - even on the road in!

Do take the south entrance - The General's Highway. The road is so full of switchbacks that you will be going very slowly, and there will be other cars, campers, etc. heading up. It is an incredible drive and you really see the terrain change from dry foothills to green forests, with some great mountain views if it is clear enough.

From the Park entrance up to Giant Forest will take maybe 45 minutes. Wuksachi is about 15 minutes further up the road from there.

The hike (more of a climb really, since it is mostly stairs) to the top of Morro Rock is sort of a must-do thing but for an even better view of the Great Western Divide (maybe the best mountain view I have ever seen anywhere actually) do the Little Baldy hike instead. It is about 3 or 3.5 miles round trip. Up hill all the way there but any normal adult or kid over the age of 5 or 6 could do it.

Little Baldy is about 20 minutes or so past Wuksachi (north?).

Crescent Meadow is one of my favorite places in the park. There is a short (maybe 1 mile) hike that cirles the meadow. You can branch out and go further if you want. If you go very late in the afternoon or an hour or two before sunset, or early in the morning you may very well see bears (I have seen them there every time).

You will see the Four Guardsmen near the entrance to Giant Forest coming up the Generals Highway.

The most beautiful groupings of Giant Sequoias (I think) are at the far end of the Congress Trail. Going there in early morning would be beautiful.

If you only have one day I would skip Kings Canyon - too much driving. It is probably a 90 minute ride one way from Giant Forest area.

Sorry to go on so long but (as you can probably tell) I love this park.

Me too, John. We used to go at least once a year to Giant Forest Lodge, which was right in the middle of a stand of giant sequoias. Unfortunately environmentalists got the best of our state government several years ago and the lodge was disassembled.

Definitely take the south entrance into the park, and keep an eye on the tree trunks as you're ascending up the mountain range. It really is a kick to watch them getting slowly bigger and bigger, and you begin to wonder just how big they're going to get.

I agree that it would be too much to see Sequoia and Kings Canyon in one day, and if you are going in and out the southern entrance it wouldn't be practical at all. I was thinking you would have a full day in Sequoia and then could see Kings Canyon on your way out--you can save it for another trip. If you can, post a trip report when you return. I love to read about places I've been and kind of relive my vacation. Have a great trip!

Oh you people are wonderful. I feel so much better about the plans now. Thank you so much for all of your help. My poor husband better break in those new tennis shoes in the next week because we're going to be doing some hiking! The place is kind of magical dont you think....it has a feeling all its own in there. You almost expect to see Dargy O'Gill and the little people hiding behind the trees. As I said earlier...I have only been there once and we just passed thru a small portion, but it left a huge impression upon me. I cant wait to go back. Thank you again everyone.