Author Archives: Kelsey Piras

Kelsey Piras is a writer and editor based in Southern California. Her Northern California roots and time among the redwoods are endless sources of inspiration and awe.

Hendy Woods State Park is a state park of California, USA, located in the Anderson Valley of Mendocino County, known for its old-growth coast redwoods.

12 ways to make the most of summer in the redwoods

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Summer is nearly here, with its long, golden days beckoning us outdoors for warm-weather adventures. Don’t let fall sneak up on you without making the most of this sunshiny season! Here are 12 ways to make the most of summertime in the redwoods.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Photo by Jon Parmentier

7 Ways to Celebrate Redwoods

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If you missed Earth Day and Arbor Day festivities, you can still mark the occasions belatedly with these seven ways to celebrate our beloved redwoods.

Government Shutdown? Get Outside Anyway!

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Has the government shutdown stymied your grand plans to visit a national park? While our beloved national parks and monuments are closed indefinitely, lots of other beautiful state parks and reserves are still open! Take this opportunity to explore a …

Nature Photography: Pretty Pictures or So Much More?

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Photography can be a powerful tool for change. It can inspire and inform us and broaden our horizons. A photo can tell a story or impart an emotion in ways words simply cannot. Ansel Adams elevated the art form of …

Redwoods Photos: View & Vote!

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“The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always. No one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe. It’s not …

Enjoy the Ride

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I recently drove to Yosemite for a backpacking trip among the giant sequoias near Mariposa. The four days we spent in the park were incredible, of course – so beautiful and restorative. But I expected that. What  surprised me was …

Summer Reading in the Redwoods

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I’m preparing for a backpacking trip in Yosemite next weekend. It will be my first visit to the park, and it includes homework! I’m going with a friend who suggested that we both read John Muir’s My First Summer in …

This lovely picnic spot in Butano State Park beckons.

It’s Picnic Season! Ready for a Delicious Day in the Redwoods?

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There are a lot of health benefits to a day in the redwoods – exercise and stress reduction are just a couple. Nice weather is good motivation to get active in nature and kick-start the healthy habits that went into …