During our week-long stay at Bass Lake, we took a day trip to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. It only takes about two hours to get to the entrance of Kings Canyon, where you will pay a $10 fee that gives you access to both parks for 7 days. These two parks can provide an escape from the crowds and traffic that are typical on summer weekends in Yosemite. Most of these parks are made up of high-alpine wilderness, with beautiful caverns lying beneath the surface. The Generals Highway will take you to the sequoia groves, which are absolutely magnificent to view!
A side trip to Crystal Cave (tickets must be purchased at the Foothills Visitor Center) is a must. You should also consider a quick stop at the Giant Forest Museum, located just inside Sequoia Park's entrance. If you are in the mood for an outstanding burger at lunchtime, try the restaurant at Wuksachi Village. The village is also a great place to stay, should you decide to make it a two-day trip.
By all means, keep your eyes out for bears while in these parks! After driving through the Tunnel Tree, we rounded a corner and saw a cub walking down the road directly in front of us. As we carefully took pictures from our car, we noticed the mother keeping a close eye on us about 30 yards away, so we quickly moved on!
You can also enjoy cooler temperatures in these two parks as well. We actually had to pull out the fleece jackets, which was a nice break from the 85-degree temps at Bass Lake. We were able to hike a couple of trails, which were much less travelled than most trails in Yosemite. Although nothing can beat the view of Yosemite Valley, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon are definitely worth checking out.