What's so special about redwoods? Their majestic beauty. Their height—some individuals of the species are taller than a 36-story skyscraper. Third, their longevity—some have lived for two millennia. Find a quiet spot and experience true serenity.
We also offer an unhurried visit there as part of our Everybody's Favorite City tour. Or you can walk quietly into Muir Woods as part of our West Marin tour, the pastoral world just north of San Francisco. Marin County is a rare gem, beloved by locals, hidden in plain sight. (FYI there're small admission fees associated with each forest, that you pay at the entrance. And we as tour companies along with all private citizens, must make a time-specific reservation, sometimes as much as a week in advance.)
Take our Wine, after Redwoods tour and start your day visiting Muir Woods, then we drive you about an hour further to premium grape-growing regions (the Napa, Sonoma or Russian River Valleys)--for lunch and an afternoon of tastings at 2-3 beautiful wineries, learning about the mysteries of viticulture while enjoying spectacular scenery.
FYI the only routes into Muir Woods National Monument involve 12-15 minutes of riding on steep two-lane roads, both coming and going. Over a million people visit Muir Woods annually without incident; however, if someone in your party finds more than a few minutes on winding or mountainous roads disturbing, s/he should come prepared with a motion sickness aid. There'll always be one seat available next to the driver, if that helps. Otherwise, s/he may enjoy hanging out in Sausalito or Tiburon while the rest of the party visits Muir Woods.
If experiencing a primeval redwood forest, without the steep, winding roads, is important to you, there is an excellent alternative: Armstrong Woods State Park...less visited than Muir Woods and often more peaceful...5 minutes outside Guerneville on the emerald Russian River. There is a live controversy as to which is more beautiful--Muir Woods or Armstrong Woods: when the sun comes as dappled light through the canopies and falls on the forest floor, both captivate.
* Please note that for several weeks now (Dec 2021) Armstrong Grove has been closed to the public due to wildfires last summer. Thankfully the fires spared the ancient trees, but trails into the forest will need considerable repair. State Park agents do not expect to re-open Armstrong until next spring at the earliest. (Stay tuned.)
FYI there's a third really large stand of ancient redwoods relatively near Francisco: Big Basin State Park in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains--about 90 minutes to the south, off a winding two-lane highway. Unfortunately, last year (2020)'s wildfires did tremendous damage, which will probably take years to repair before tourists, hikers and campers can enjoy Big Basin again. What about those big trees you can drive through? You're probably thinking of the large redwood forests (some privately owned) 4-5 hours north of San Francisco near California's "Lost Coast," or the giant sequoias in and near Yosemite, in the Sierra Nevada mountains 4-5 hours east of The City. You can sometimes walk, but not drive, through them. If you're driving several hours north on your way to Oregon's Shakespeare Festival in Ashland or to Portland, it's well worth your time to take the easy detour through the 31-mile-long Avenue of the Giants.
Why Tour with Us?
Because most other companies get you there at the most crowded time of the day and give you less time to actually be in the forest. And if you're thinking "we'll just rent a car and drive there ourselves," the Park Service now requires on-line reservations in advance, which are harder to get on holidays and weekends.
We also offer an unhurried visit there as part of our Everybody's Favorite City tour. Or you can walk quietly into Muir Woods as part of our West Marin tour, the pastoral world just north of San Francisco. Marin County is a rare gem, beloved by locals, hidden in plain sight. (FYI there're small admission fees associated with each forest, that you pay at the entrance. And we as tour companies along with all private citizens, must make a time-specific reservation, sometimes as much as a week in advance.)
Take our Wine, after Redwoods tour and start your day visiting Muir Woods, then we drive you about an hour further to premium grape-growing regions (the Napa, Sonoma or Russian River Valleys)--for lunch and an afternoon of tastings at 2-3 beautiful wineries, learning about the mysteries of viticulture while enjoying spectacular scenery.
FYI the only routes into Muir Woods National Monument involve 12-15 minutes of riding on steep two-lane roads, both coming and going. Over a million people visit Muir Woods annually without incident; however, if someone in your party finds more than a few minutes on winding or mountainous roads disturbing, s/he should come prepared with a motion sickness aid. There'll always be one seat available next to the driver, if that helps. Otherwise, s/he may enjoy hanging out in Sausalito or Tiburon while the rest of the party visits Muir Woods.
If experiencing a primeval redwood forest, without the steep, winding roads, is important to you, there is an excellent alternative: Armstrong Woods State Park...less visited than Muir Woods and often more peaceful...5 minutes outside Guerneville on the emerald Russian River. There is a live controversy as to which is more beautiful--Muir Woods or Armstrong Woods: when the sun comes as dappled light through the canopies and falls on the forest floor, both captivate.
* Please note that for several weeks now (Dec 2021) Armstrong Grove has been closed to the public due to wildfires last summer. Thankfully the fires spared the ancient trees, but trails into the forest will need considerable repair. State Park agents do not expect to re-open Armstrong until next spring at the earliest. (Stay tuned.)
FYI there's a third really large stand of ancient redwoods relatively near Francisco: Big Basin State Park in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains--about 90 minutes to the south, off a winding two-lane highway. Unfortunately, last year (2020)'s wildfires did tremendous damage, which will probably take years to repair before tourists, hikers and campers can enjoy Big Basin again. What about those big trees you can drive through? You're probably thinking of the large redwood forests (some privately owned) 4-5 hours north of San Francisco near California's "Lost Coast," or the giant sequoias in and near Yosemite, in the Sierra Nevada mountains 4-5 hours east of The City. You can sometimes walk, but not drive, through them. If you're driving several hours north on your way to Oregon's Shakespeare Festival in Ashland or to Portland, it's well worth your time to take the easy detour through the 31-mile-long Avenue of the Giants.
Why Tour with Us?
Because most other companies get you there at the most crowded time of the day and give you less time to actually be in the forest. And if you're thinking "we'll just rent a car and drive there ourselves," the Park Service now requires on-line reservations in advance, which are harder to get on holidays and weekends.
“I still can't get over how you treated us. It was really like we were your long lost best friends or cousins who came to San Francisco for the day. Even though you must do this every day your enthusiasm for the wonderful city of San Francisco was with you every step of the way. We loved everything about it. The murals, the Mission and Muir Woods were our favorites. But the Districts, Legion of Honor, your history lessons and the Chinese Fortune Cookie Factory were great. You do an incredible tour: no one in town can come close to what you offer to the lucky visitor who finds out about you.”
– Lynda & Richard K. (Tustin, California)
– Lynda & Richard K. (Tustin, California)
