Muir Woods: A Neighborhood Park

This Thanksgiving holiday, in addition to the joy of being with my son and daughter-in-law in the Bay Area of Calif., I give thanks for our country's national monuments. We wanted to take a short drive Friday afternoon and 45 minutes later we were no longer in the city, but transported to the forest, amid the scent and sight of towering coast redwoods.

Many families walked in groups-- three generations together taking photos of each other to remember the day, young couples pushing strollers, hikers walking quickly using their powerful muscular legs, a few people in wheelchairs, children wandering ahead to explore. The procession continues because 99 years ago, William Kent and his wife donated to the federal government the 295 acres they had bought to preserve the few remaining redwoods in the area. Named after John Muir, one of the first conservationists, the ancient old-growth forest remains available for future generations.

Next year commemorates the 100th birthday of Muir Woods. Come celebrate the preservation of wilderness just 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. As RVers, we treasure the beauty of our country and appreciate the government agencies that support our scenic, historic and cultural places of interest.

Although national monuments tend to be smaller and less well known than national parks, they often are more accessible. Here are some Web sites to help you plan your own visit:

• For a complete list of national monuments by state, visit Gorp.
• To find out which agency governs each monument, visit Answers

After you discover which agency governs the monument,  go to the agency's Web site, type in the name of the monument to find detailed information about it: what to see, whether there is camping, directions, handicapped access, and more.

• National Park Service
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• U.S. Forest Service
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Happy travels,

Alice