You don't always need to trek into the wild to lose yourself in nature. Just 12 miles north of San Francisco you'll find one of the most extraordinary natural spots on the planet: Muir Woods, which becase a national monument 100 years ago. Amid its 560 acres of ancient coast redwoods you might see coho salmon running up Redwood Creek, some 200 varieties of mushrooms emerging after the first rains, or ladybugs clustered on the fronds of a horsetail fern. You can thank philanthropist William Kent for buying and donating the land, and President Teddy Roosevelt for knowing what to do with the gift.
