The Muir Woods National Monument is not only a place to observe the majesty of the towering coastal redwoods, but it is also a hushed respite from the noisy rush of San Francisco.

You have to be going to the Muir Woods NM to find the place – it’s not just right off the highway unless you're cutting across to the beach. Park in the main lot off Muir Woods Road and walk over to the entry station where you'll need to pay the $4 per person entry fee prior to entering the park(believe me- the $4 is more than worth it).

After entering the park and striking off down the boardwalk trail, it occurred to me how quiet and peaceful the woods were. It was as if in the presence of such colossal creations, everyone wanted to speak in reverent tones, daring not disrupt the quiet. The trees tower over 250 feet above your head, formed in 'family circles', springing from the root systems of what had been solitary redwoods that died. As we hiked, we noticed the enormous ferns growing at the base of the trees, thriving in the moist and often fog-laden valley. An 8 point buck browsed through the foliage for tender shoots not 15 feet off the trail, no one daring to make a sound and cause him to run. As I mentioned earlier, the trail is made up of boardwalks and bridges to prevent the human visitor traffic from trampling the foliage and packing the earth around the trees. One of the deadfall trees that the path has been cut through fell due to over-compaction of the soil around its root system by the multitudes and their foot traffic.

Redwood Creek trickles through the valley of redwoods and is the spawning ground for coho salmon and steelhead trout from mid-December to March. You can see young fish in the pools throughout the spring and summer months and watch some swim from pool to pool along the rivulets in the stream. At about the halfway point along the trail, there is a brochure kiosk where you can purchase (only $1) an additional map which is also a wonderful guide to the trails and information about the plant and wildlife in the park. When you reach Cathedral Grove, you'll want to sit awhile and enjoy the stillness. Don't rush off down the path, pause, take time to drink in the surroundings, and perhaps reflect. When you head back to the car, I think you'll find yourself as refreshed as I did and ready to carry on again.

P.S. The gift shop has redwood saplings that you can have for your very own. Just be sure to write down the care instructions for the generations to come – it’s gonna be a long time watering!

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.

Just a few short miles from the crowded city streets, you'll find one of the most peaceful and rejuvenating places I've ever visited. Muir Woods is so quiet and so natural, you'll be afraid to talk.

The roads leading to Muir Woods wind you through some fantastic scenery, over the Golden Gate Bridge and along valleys. The park is a mere $3 to get into, making it the best value in the San Francisco area. There is one small drawback to the park, in that parking can be difficult to find and quite a hike from the entrance. We had to park almost half a mile away from the entrance.

Even our parking woes could not deter from the wonderful majesty of the woods. Immediately upon entering the park, you are surrounded by 1000-year-old redwoods, reaching hundreds of feet tall. There is no comparison, and words cannot simply describe how neat this experience is.

There is some fire damage to some of the trees along the main trail, which shows the resiliency of these redwoods. They burn down and grow back, and even split and grow around other trees to adapt to their conditions.

The main trail tends to be crowded with visitors, so head along some of the longer trails, and at times, you'll find yourself alone. We headed along the Dipsea and Steep Ravine trails, but there are 5 or 6 other paths as well. The smaller trails are not good for children or for people with disabilities, since they narrow and have branches and rocks strewn along them.

You can easily spend all day in Muir Woods, and if you have the time, I would highly recommend at least 3 hours. Visit the Muir Woods website for directions, park hours, and other essential details.

We spent 1 day in San Francisco while driving up the Northern Coast. We took the drive the the infamous Stinson Beach, and it was well worth it! The beach is a classic with surfers and Great White Shark enthusiasts alike. Personally, I would never go swimming there, and the several signs warn against it. If the sharks don't get you, the rip tide will! I don't think anyone really surfs here anymore, but I'm not positive. It was a big spot in the 1950s. Anyhow, the drive is terrible if you have a fear of heights, but it provides a gorgeous view of the coast! There are hardly any guard rails, and the extremely windy road is perched right atop giant jutting cliffs!

After Stinson Beach, we continued our drive into Muir Woods. This National Park is famous for it's spectacular Redwood Trees. These trees are some of the tallest in the world, and grow up to 260 feet in the park. There are several paths for you to explore these great trees on, which I definitely recommend. Also, if you go in the winter, you can get a chance to see the trout swimming up the river- a spectacular sight in itself! This is a must see, especially for the family! It is a perfect spot for the afternoon picnic. Beware, though—make sure to bring a sweater along, even if it is a warm sunny day. Once you get in the shade of the forest, it is suddenly very chill and cool. A fun fact about Muir Woods—they shot several scenes from the movie "Return of the Jedi" here.

In less than a half hour, you can go from standing amid the skyscrapers of downtown San Francisco to standing in a redwood grove. Muir Woods National Monument, a 594-acre preserve of coastal redwood forest, was established by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1908. This home to thousand-year-old redwoods lies a mere twelve miles north of the city.

Several bus tours to the monument are available, but I chose the more civil option of renting a car. Follow Highway 101 out of the city across the Golden Gate Bridge. After crossing the bridge, pull over at the turnout for a sweeping view of the city and bay. Next, turn onto Highway 1 and look for the signs to the monument. The entrance road is narrow, steep and winding -- don’t try this with a trailer. (Difficult access to the highway spared this grove from logging.) Soon you’ll find yourself at the visitor center where you’ll pay your $3 admittance to the monument.

Though not quite as impressive as their more massive cousins the giant Sequoias, the coastal redwoods are still some of nature’s grandest creations. They are the Earth’s tallest trees, measuring up to 368 feet high with a 30-foot diameter, and are among the oldest, living up to 2,200 years. At one point on your visit, you’ll see the cross section of a fallen redwood. Stop and count the rings as Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak did in Hitchcock’s "Vertigo."

Two-miles of paved paths guide you around the grove. On some sections of the trail where the sunlight streams through, you may feel like you are in a cathedral. Birdlife is abundant here, so keep your eyes open for species such as the delightful Stellers jay. You can exhaust the monument’s trails within an hour or so. For hikers who wish to travel further on, some trails connect into Mt. Tamalpais State Park. Because the monument opens early (8 a.m.) and is so compact, I recommend you make it the first stop on an excursion to either Point Reyes National Seashore or the wine country.