Redwood viewing

Hello,

Sorry if this is a silly question...We will be staying in SF during husbands conference in July(4 days). We would like to come in early and do a little sight seeing by car....where is the best place to view some redwoods with other sights to see around....I%26#39;ve notice several parks north, which ones are worth the trip?

Thanks for any help..

OhioTrav

Redwood viewing

The closest is Muir Woods, a few miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. It%26#39;s a National Park site where you park outside and walk through the majestic forest of coastal redwoods. No strenuous hiking is needed; folks of all ages and conditions can enjoy it.

There is an entrance fee (I think $3 per person, or the annual National Parks Pass will admit your immediate family). You can stay as long as you wish, but camping, smoking, picnicking, and pets are not allowed, for the protection of the forest. There is a snack bar/gift shop.

Muir Woods is EXTREMELY popular. Any weekend, and any day in the summer, you need to arrive early to find parking. It opens at 8:00 a.m. And in the redwood forest, it is almost always shady, so bring a sweater or windbreaker.

On this trip, you can visit Sausalito, a fun town that rises from the bay and goes up some pretty steep hills. You%26#39;ll find all kinds of shops, restaurants, and fabulous views. Also, nearby is the Marin Headlands area of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, where you can watch for birds, hike, visit the Marine Mammal Rescue Center, or take the kids (don%26#39;t know if you%26#39;re bringing any) to the Marin Discovery Center under the north end of the bridge.

A little farther north on Hwy 1 is Stinson Beach (narrow, twisty road with steep drops). Point Reyes National Seashore has numerous great hikes, a lighthouse, herds of elk, an old barn made into a visitor center, an earthquake trail where you%26#39;re walking on the San Andreas Fault, and the Morgan Horse farm that raises and trains Park Service horses.

For a quiet, lesser known bit of local history, go through San Rafael to China Camp State Park. (On Hwy 101, you will pass the Marin County Civic Center, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright). China Camp is inside the Bay, not on the ocean. It has a historic early 1900s Chinese fishing village, picnic and campgrounds, and areas where you can hike or ride bicycles. There%26#39;s a snack bar in the old town but it has odd hours, so stock up elsewhere to be safe.

Redwood viewing

Thanks for the info! Sounds like a neat trip!!

I went to Muir Woods and had an enjoyable hour or two. Took about half hour to find parking. I think there are public buses that can take you there from SF.

We also spent some time at Sausalito before we got there.

There has been a public bus from the freeway to Muir Woods in summer only, for the last few years. There are tour busses that go there every day.