Muir Woods

Sometimes I just need to recharge from the sum of my life, break away and inhale something fresh and pure. The city can seem a barren place of concrete, four walls and pointless energy. The yearning inside for something pristine, beautiful and virtually untouched takes over and all the words on my page seem empty. That's when I know I have to head up to Muir Woods National Park and take one of it's hiking trails; lingering on the designated paths and cherishing each expanse of it like I'm communing with an old friend. Declared as the nation's 10th National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, Muir Woods National Monument is a living memoriam of the efforts of early conservationist John Muir. Just a step into its inner sanctum is like walking into another world, the one before California was still a new state and Native Americans roamed the coastal landscape. Many times as a little girl I'd imagine I could see a brave running through Redwood Stream spearing a salmon that was jumping enthusiastically down river during spawning season. Sometimes visiting there has me closing my eyes and revisiting my childhood mind's pastime. I'll never tire of it.

Spring is definitely the best time to come to Muir Woods. It's neither too hot nor too cold. Muir Woods provides respite from city life, and because it's not more than 17 miles from San Francisco and only about 2 hours drive from Sacramento, it's the perfect destination for a day trip. Sometimes I'll pack a lunch for energy, but more often I love to eat at the little café located in the heart of the park. They serve the best hearty soups and sandwiches. I might even decide to purchase a redwood souvenirs or two at the small gift shop inside the café. They come in all kinds, shapes and sizes, many of which are hand-carved. Or often it's just nice to people-watch. There are tourists that come from all over the world to witness the grandeur of this Forest.

After charging up my energy, it's time to pick a path to take. Each trail is different and has various levels of difficulty. For a beginning hiker, a more mature trailblazer, or those traveling with children, I recommend the Ben Johnson Trail as it gives you the option of circling nicely around the park and seeing the sights without getting too deep into the woods. I personally prefer the Lost Trail, and the Dipsea Trail, the latter of which if you follow it far enough, goes all the way out to beautiful Stinson Beach. Whatever I decide, which is usually the Lost Trail, I am prepared to exist in my own personal dreamland for a while; shrouded by the mist and mystery of the beautiful redwoods. They have the distinction of standing as tall as buildings, with their sprigs of foliage outstretched while gently taking my breathe away. I have the privilege to witness their quiet existence in the denseness of the forest and I'm always awe-struck with the greatness of it. In my mind's eye I get to be there forever like that, the dampness falling on my face, the slightly minty scent of the redwoods assaulting my nose, content with the knowledge that I'm able to hear each leave fall to the ground and crunch beneath my feet. I know that many of the trees span gigantic circumferences and have been around for centuries. And I'm just a little thing busily trekking uphill, often having to navigate over a gushing stream of water in rainy season (January - March) and pass up another craggy burst of it spilling down the mountain-side. Muir Woods is all this and so much more. My words lack description for what has to be experienced at least once in a lifetime. Too soon it's always time to draw my stay in the woods to a close

When my visit to the redwoods is over, I usually skip the local Marin County restaurants, and take a stint into Berkeley, CA to eat there. It's not too far away and it's free-spirited feel matches my mood after coming down from my natural high. I most often hit the trail early at around 8 am, so it's usually about 3pm by the time I arrived in the city center downtown. There's nothing like having a mouth-watering gourmet pizza and a glass of wine at the brewery/restaurant, Jupiter's on Shattuck St. I usually top that off with a visit to Gelateria Naia and indulge in an unusual sort of Neapolitan that consists of the flavors of vanilla bean, chocolate decadence, and rose, which is flavored with real rose extract. If I'm so inclined I'll finish the evening early with a good indie film at Shattuck Cinema, a charming art deco movie house that I adore. What a lovely way to end the perfect day trip. I'm usually back home and snuggling in my covers, watching the latest Vampire Diaries episode I recorded by 10 pm.