We started off the day with a hearty and yummy breakfast at a nearby restaurant. We sat a spell enjoying the weather in Union Square before taking a bus up to Muir Woods. Jon has been wanting to see the redwoods for a long time, so we had to go see them while in SF. The redwoods were incredibly beautiful. They are the tallest in the world! It's hard to believe that some of these trees are up to 800 years old.
The history behind the Muir woods is a little sad. The redwoods are very hardy trees: a strong fire-resistant bark, and a natural pesticide against bugs and termites. These qualities made the redwoods very attractive to 19th century lumberjacks who cut down a good majority of these trees. In 1890, conservationists urged William Kent, a local philanthropist and congressman, to buy 600 acres of land to preserve what was left of the redwoods. The land was donated to the Federal Government and Theodore Roosevelt made it into a national park to protect the trees. However over the last hundred of years, the amount of foot traffic of tourists have trampled most of the park, ruining the soil and endangering the roots of these trees. The park has taken extensive measures to protect the trees: the trails are now paved and the areas around most of the trees are fenced off. The woods are very quiet as very few animals are allowed within the park. Despite what humans have done to these woods, the trees are still majestic and beautiful. Jon loved the trees so much that we can't wait to go to Yosemite to see the giant Sequoias!
at breakfast at Honey Honey Cafe & Crepery
Next: Down to Sausalito!
This couple is wild at hearts...in an adventurous and explorative way...
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