World Famous Grandfather Tree
Piercy, California
The biggest trees along the Redwood Highway are tagged with grandiose names befitting their important tourism stature. Immortal Tree, Eternal Tree... and perhaps the wisest tree of all: the World Famous Grandfather Tree.
Everything we know about the World Famous Grandfather Tree we've learned from its signs: the tree is 1,800 years old, with a diameter of 24 feet, and 265 feet high (or maybe 245 feet, if you believe the entrance sign. Which we don't.).
The tree is the main enticement to stop and peruse a gift shop filled with souvenirs, t-shirts, redwood clocks and bowls, and lots of live burls. Minor redwood photo ops are scattered around outside, including a bark teepee, carved Indian heads and cartoon bears eating ice cream, and stump chairs for Pa, Ma and Baby.