Muir Woods National Monument News

What you'll see: A pretty drive in the Marin hills dips into a canyon filled with a sea of old-growth redwoods.

Less than 15 miles from San Francisco is the beautiful Muir Woods National Monument.

It's not hard to grasp the expanse of time that makes up history when you're looking at the exposed stump of a 1,000-year-old coastal redwood.

Is the late-summer heat sending you in search of a cool retreat? Are you yearning to escape the beating sun and enjoy a canopy of shade.

Monday, August 10, 2009 Freebies-- food, things to do and more Your budget got you down? Want to find a place to exercise for free? How about restaurants where kids can eat for free? Everyone is penny-pinching these days and even if don't have a clunker sitting in your garage waiting to cash in, you still want to save a few bucks here and there.

Fewer visitors are going to Muir Woods National Monument this summer, and no one seems to know why.

Fewer visitors are going to Muir Woods National Monument this summer, and no one seems to know why.

The Fern Creek Trail in Muir Woods National Monument is just one of several shaded paths that weave through the ancient redwoods.

ANYONE WHO has lived for any length of time in California, particularly Northern California, and who has any interest in nature and the outdoors is familiar with the name John Muir.

BRIAN O'NEILL was an old-fashioned park ranger, but his job was a far cry from managing a traditional park.

Anyone who visits Muir Woods National Monument in Mill Valley is likely to encounter Joseph Ritchie, a tallish guy in a ranger's uniform, glasses, beard and long dark hair.