Located just 12 miles north of San Francisco, Muir Woods is a patch of land that has been protected as a national monument for the past 101 years. Thankfully.

Muir Woods contains an old growth redwood forest which, due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean (and other environmental factors), contains a vigorous ecosystem of plant life. A few weeks ago, I had a chance to visit… for the third time. During both of my first two times there, my time was constrained so I stayed to the boardwalks and prescribed paths. An adventurous spirit and more time allotted to the endeavor allowed for more exploration this time.

If you’ve never been, Muir Woods may still look familiar as a few movies have featured the forest. These include Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, both Lost World: Jurassic Park movies and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, among others.

It’s a magical, mystical place…