These are beautiful 2000 year old giant Red Woods. The area is relatively small, but the drive from San Francisco is short and well worth it. This is a quick trip. You only need to allow about 1 hour to tour the woods and hear from the guides.

You wouldn't walk here for exercise. It is a beautiful forest of giant 2000 year old Red Woods preserved by Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Beautiful, quiet a "back to nature" retreat from the big city. Two hours there refreshed us for an evening in San Francisco. A fabulous spot to stop for a snack on the way back to the city is the town of Sausalito. Homes cling to steep hills overlooking the bay. You can grab an ice cream cone and just stare at the beautiful bay and city across the way.

Muir Woods is beautiful. We drove over the Golden Gate Bridge to get there, and were so happy that we did not let the opportunity to see this national monument go by. Established as a nature preserve in 1908, Muir Woods was a gift to the US government. It was named after John Muir, a famous conservationist who increased US awareness of the importance of preserving nature. A Redwood can live for 3,000 years, and many of the towering giants have been in place in Muir woods for centuries. There are a variety of hiking trails available to use depending on how much time and effort you want to expend in the woods. The main loop is a very leisurely hike that takes about a half an hour. There are other hikes, however, that would take most of the day. Admission to the woods is only $2/adult. Buy a trail guide as well so that you can map out where you are going. Wear good shoes.