Back Trackin', Cali Edition - Muir Woods National Monument

If you remember my posts last year about our Grand Canyon trip, you'll know that I don't really have much camping/outdoor experience, so I really appreciated our quick jaunt through Muir Woods National Monument on our way to Napa Valley from San Francisco. What was most striking to me is how rustic the Northern California landscape becomes, and you're barely a half hour from the outskirts of San Francisco. I will say that Husband J and I were quite smitten with the rolling green hills and winding tree-lined roads. You're beautiful, NorCal.

Muir Woods National Monument is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (By the way, when you hear the word "monument", don't you think of a structure or a statue? I do.). It was established by federal legislation signed in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt and is named in honor of John Muir, a noted conservationist of that time. This area has been important to the coastal native Miwok peoples as well as became a part of the early tourism industry in California. It's still popular today, and we saw that with the small crowd we encountered early on a Saturday morning.

For me, this park is really about the trees, gorgeous tall redwood trees, something the Northeast landscape lacks. We were at Muir Woods in late November/early December, and I thought it was a nice time because there really weren't very many people there. Also going first thing in the morning helped. I say go early and in the off season because what was most memorable about our experience was the early peace and calm of the forest. Muir Woods' paths are paved making the park pretty accessible for all ages and abilities, which I think means that it's probably packed in the spring and summer months.

But do you blame people for wanting to come here? Look at this....

Looking up into the tree tops...

I will admit to you that I have never been so taken by trees before in my life. Just look at the bark. I imagine that this tree has been through a lot.

Here's a blurry pic of Husband J next to one of the tree trunks. I think that that tree is older than multiple generations of people. At least.

We finally found someone to take a picture of us. Don't I look tired? LOL!

I wanted to hide out in here, in this tree's hollowed out trunk, but we couldn't just jump over the barrier. Oh well!

I hope all of these pictures have inspired you to get outside into nature (it's 6 degrees Farenheit right now in New York, so I'll be trying to stay inside.). If you are in the Bay Area, hankering for some quiet and nature, definitely check out Muir Woods National Monument.