Many times we feel that it’s just humans living on this earth, and forget that this beautiful earth also belongs to thousands of species of animals and insects, and thousands of varieties of trees and plants. However when you travel, you get an opportunity to break away from your routine and explore something new. One such journey was our trip to the Bay area in California.
This journey into the most tech savvy silicon valley marked a connection with some of the most amazing trees that thrive on this earth. Though I have visited the Bay area many times with family and for work, this particular trip seemed different. One main reason was that we were hosted by my sister and her husband. They took very good care of us, and left no stone unturned in making us feel comfortable and welcome. The love they showered on us made us so alive in exploring new places. And unlike the previous visits, where we mostly explored urban adventures, this time we had the opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy the unique landscape of the Bay area.
The main attraction that stayed with me as a treasurable visit, was our visit to the Muir Woods National Monument park. I had read about and seen pictures of California Redwood trees. But nothing prepares you for a walk among these giants. They are giants no doubt, yet they feel gentle in many ways. It’s like walking into a temple of tall pillars that nature has decided to build. In the temple built by humans you experience the sound of bells, and fragrance of incense. But here you experience the sound of birds and wind rustling through the leaves, and the smell of the fresh soil.
Muir Woods and the Significance of Redwood Trees
Muir Woods National Monument park is located north of San Francisco. The park is protected and named after naturalist John Muir, and it preserves one of the last remaining old-growth coastal redwood forests. Coastal redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens) are the tallest trees in the world, with some exceeding 350 feet in height. Many of the trees in Muir Woods are between 600 and 1,000 years old!
Muir Woods: A Walk Through the Temple of Trees
What makes them especially remarkable is their resilience! Redwoods have thick, fire-resistant bark and contain tannins that protect them from insects and disease. Rather than growing deep taproots, they develop wide, shallow root systems that intertwine with neighboring trees, providing collective stability against strong winds and erosion. Redwood trees are a geographical wonder not just because they are the tallest trees on Earth, but because of how they exist. Some of them have stood for over a thousand years, surviving fires, storms, and centuries of change. Walking through Muir Woods was physically and mentally different from walking through a typical forest. The temperature was noticeably cooler, the air felt moist due to the fog that frequently drifts in from the Pacific Ocean, and sound was naturally muted by the dense canopy. The scale of the trees created a strong sense of verticality, drawing the eyes upward and slowing movement almost instinctively. The experience was less about sightseeing and more about observation—of age, scale, and continuity. What stories have they witnessed since 100s of years and what stories do they hold in their trunks? It almost seemed like spiritual experience.
After a successful trip to Muir woods, we then visited the Mystery Spot in California. Visiting the Mystery Spot in California was an intriguing experience that challenged everyday assumptions about gravity and perception. Located in the forested hills near Santa Cruz, the site is known for its carefully designed structures that create optical illusions, making people appear to grow or shrink and objects seem to roll uphill. Scientists explain this phenomena by tilted planes and visual reference distortions, creating an optical illusion. Walking through the area required constant recalibration of balance and perspective, turning a simple visit into an active, almost playful engagement with science and human perception. Surrounded by tall trees and followed by light trekking in the nearby forest, the visit blended curiosity, movement, and nature, making it a fitting and memorable close to the journey.
Other than all the above, we also visited the San Francisco downtown, and tried out the famous Ghiradeli ice cream in the Ghiradeli square, and the famous sourdough bread bowl. We gazed at the sea lions at the pier, and explored the market area. A visit to Chinatown gave us a perspective of the Chinese culture around San Francisco. We got a feel of the giant tech campuses – Google, Meta and Paypal. We also visited the Computer History Museum and immersed ourselves in the evolution of computers over the period of many years. We drove around many cliffs of the bay area, and marvelled at the ocean breeze persevering to carve out the perfect cliff sculptures. As we completed our journey, I started making a list of natural places to visit during my next visit! Hope to check off more items of my travel list the next time I visit the Bay.
Note: This is a loose translation of original article in Kannada published in Udayavani Desiswara. The original article can be found at the link below:
