If you ever have the chance to travel and experience a day trip (with or without your kids) at Muir Woods National Monument, take the trip. I have some good stuff to cover on this beautiful destination, so bare with me as I take you through this lovely day out with my husband, and for perspective, it was both our first time going to see this magical place, home of the giant redwood forest near the Bay Area in San Francisco, California.
Flight from New York to San Francisco is long, but OK
My travel flight route took me cross country from New York City to San Francisco International Airport, so if you plan a similar route, be prepared for five to six hours in the air, getting served snacks and beverages only. Bring extra food (a real lunch meal) for yourself or kids traveling with you. Airlines really do hold back on feeding anything that remotely resemble a filling meal. We didn't have our kids with us this time round, but other moms did, and unfortunately there was a very cranky little one with her parents right behind us our entire flight. Could you blame her though, poor little thing was strapped in a child seat by the window. As the flight attendants explain to mom and dad, it's FAA regulation (A crying upset baby will never get that memo however).
As an experience mom of three, I've been in this situation before on family flights. Here's a few tips that helped ease my situation:
- Bring along your child's favorite media and picture book (songs, videos, cartoons) and watch it with them while it play on loop. This worked for my son around a year old whenever we had to drive very long distances. Back then the cartoon Arthur and it's theme song were one of his favorites, so we'd crank it up and voila!!!! It worked, he calmed down, but we had to play it on loop to keep him happy the entire 7 hour ride (that's parenting on the road).
- High elevations thousands of feet in the air create a clogging sensation in kids' ears. Airplane air is dry, which thickens kids nasal mucus, causing the Eustachian tubes to become clogged. This make them unease and quite irritable sometimes. A proven method is drinking liquids at frequent intervals. Let them drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids throughout the flight as this encourages swallowing, which opens the Eustachian tubes.
- Another simple trick is giving them quick dissolvable chewables which also encourage swallowing, opening up that clogged inner tube (instant relief and less crying from your little ones)
Getting to our hotel before Muir Woods
Once you land at SFO Airport, do yourself a favor and rent a car if you don't have a designated friend or relative in the area to taxi you around. Plan for this in advance when booking your flight. Gas prices are very high in California compared to New York and other states, but a car will help tremendously. Every major touristy spot or destination point in California is very spaced out, so you'll need a dedicated ride to travel from place to place. I'm a middle age mom, and love taking in the scenes, so I gladly opted to be passenger while my husband did all the driving (HaHaa!!)
Fortunately we booked a hotel only 15 minutes drive from the San Francisco Airport, so getting there was fast and effortless. It's important to note, we opt to stay at a quiet scenic area in Pacifica, California right off the pacific ocean shore front with a nice hiking area with an elevated climb and a sharp slope looking down on surfers enjoying the moving swells. Did I mention there are literally nice looking hills everywhere, very different terrain than I normally see in NYC Queens or Long Island. If you have time and the family vacation travel budget, I recommend you make a trip here to this nice quiet California coastal town.
It's Scenic Before and After Entering the Park
The hour long drive (before rush hour started at 3pm) was so nice. Heading north to Mill Valley from Pacifica are memorable views from the misty ocean west of us to the sudden sloping hills north and east of us. Every space on those hiils occupied by small colorful California style homes and condos.
But the grand view before reaching Muir Woods park was the one and only Golden Gate Bridge. It looks even more magnificent up close in person than what we see on television and social media photos. My husband geeked out a little when he spotted the hilled area by the bridge, featured in one of his favorite movies. Meanwhile I'm getaway momming it up, snapping photos bound to end up on my social media feed.
Before entering Muir Woods be aware you'll have to drive through many sharp winding roods uphill before going downhill again. The fun part (or nerve filled anxiety part if you're scared of heights) are the sharp cliff dropoffs near the roads edge with no guard rails. Yes that was fun, and the overlook view was simply breathtaking. Do take the ride when you get the chance.
It's Family-friendly and Mom-Friendly
So now we're parked and actually at Muir Woods. The entrance fee at time of our 2024 visit is $15.00 per adult (16 years of age and older) and Free for Children (15 years of age and under). If you're a mom trekking with a stroller and little ones to feed, there are plenty quiet shaded seats along the designated walkway beneath the giant redwood evergreens. We visited on a weekday when most people were still at work, so we got to see everything we wanted and take as many interference-free pics as we wanted.
The park forest is entirely covered by the giant redwoods towering hundreds of feet above. They're quite a wonder to see, some of the largest and oldest trees in the world. The walkthrough has signs describing the forest's history and animals that live there. You could hear the slightest sound made, it's so quiet and peaceful in there.
There were many moms and dads with children here. Moms with little ones seem to have no problems with crying or older siblings yelling. Muir Woods seem to bring out the calm and serenity in everyone, but just in case anyone gets loud, there actually are posted signs asking visitors to speak low or whisper out of respect for the tranquility the park provides.
Upon entering and exiting the forest, there's a great little souvenir shop in the Visitor Center. It also has great coffee, beverages, snacks, and energy drinks. I didn't see a dedicated mothers room for moms who need to express milk or feed their babies, but there is a changing table in the rest rooms.
When is the Best Time to Visit Muir Woods
So for me, my day out at Muir landed during the beautiful spring season. On the east coast, specifically Northeast US, I'm used to a lot of rain and pollen during this time of year. It's a bit different in the San Francisco Bay Area, where there's less rain and humidity during the spring. I had no problems with that, in fact it was quite welcoming. I wished for a nice sunny day experience and I wasn't disappointed.
Good Spots to Stay and Eat Nearby
The vibe in the area where I stayed in Pacifica is very laid back and low stress. Exactly what any busy mom need on a short trip. There are also great little bars, restaurants, and burger grills nearby in case you want to wander out of your hotel to sample the local drinks and bites with family or company. All in all I highly recommend this national park as a great spot to visit and enjoy with family.
