Just under the north
tower of the Golden
Gate Bridge, at East Fort
Baker, families should
stop by the Bay Area
Discovery Museum (www.
baykidsmuseum.org; adult/
child $10/8; h9am-4pm
Tue-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat & Sun;
c), an excellent hands-
on activity museum
specifically designed for
children. Exhibits include
a wave workshop, a small
underwater tunnel and a
large outdoor play area.5 p56
The Drive » Follow Hwy 101
north to Hwy 1, passing a stretch
of Richardson Bay packed with
funky houseboats. Ascend a
mostly residential section of
two-lane Hwy 1, and after 3
miles follow signs to Muir Woods
via Panoramic Hwy.4 Muir Woods
Walking through an
awesome stand of the
world’s tallest trees is an
experience to be had only
in Northern California
and a small part of
southern Oregon. The
old-growth redwoods
at Muir Woods (www.nps.
gov/muwo; adult/child $7/
free; h8am-sunset) are the
closest redwood stand to
San Francisco. Logging
plans were halted
when congressman
and naturalist William
Kent bought a section
of Redwood Creek, and
in 1907 he donated
295 acres to the
federal government.
President Theodore
Roosevelt made the sitea national monument
in 1908, the name
honoring John Muir,
naturalist and founder
of the environmental
organization the Sierra
Club.
Muir Woods can
become quite crowded,
especially on weekends.
But even at busy times,
a short hike will get you
out of the densest crowds
and onto trails with
huge trees and stunning
vistas. A lovely cafe
serves local and organic
goodies and hot drinks
that hit the spot on foggy
days.The Drive » Head southwest
on Muir Woods Dr (signedTRIP HIGHLIGHTStart: 1 San Francisco
The soul and anchor of Berkeley’s ‘Gourmet Ghetto,’
Alice Waters’ famed Chez Panisse (%restaurant
510-548-5525, cafe 510-548-5049; http://www.chezpanisse.com;
1517 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley; restaurant meals $65-100, cafemains $18-29; (^) hrestaurant dinner Mon-Sat, cafe lunch &
dinner Mon-Sat) gave birth to modern California cuisine
and is a bucket-list destination for gourmands who
prize fresh, local and organic ingredients. Upscale
but unpretentious, its two dining rooms inhabit a
welcoming Arts and Crafts house. The downstairs
restaurant serves more formal prix-fixe meals, while
the cafe upstairs is slightly less expensive. Reserve
weeks ahead.
Cross the Bay Bridge to I-80, exiting at University
Ave. At 2 miles, turn north onto Shattuck Ave.
CHEZ PANISSE
DETOUR:
GEOFF KUCHERA / ISTOCKPHOTO ©
NORTHERN.CALIFORNIA.
2
(^) SAN FRANCISCO, MARIN & NAPA
LOOP