On our way back to San Francisco from Sonoma, we stopped at Muir Woods National Monument to hug some trees! We were excited to see the beautiful redwoods and the awe-inspiring sight did not disappoint. Here are some tips to help you plan your visit.

When to Go
Get there as early as possible when the park opens at 8 a.m. and go on a weekday. There are a limited number of parking spots closer to the entrance and a high number of people visit each day. Hopefully going early will give you a quieter and more peaceful experience. The rainy season is late October to early May.

Getting There
It’s a 40 minute drive from San Francisco. You’ll drive on a long, narrow, and windy road in the last 15 minutes. Make sure you have a steady driver in your party or find a shuttle that will take you there. Speaking from experience, the windy roads may make you slightly car sick.

Can you see me hugging a tree?!

If you’re not visiting Muir Woods for a serious hike, stay on the boardwalk and don’t veer from it.

If you want to get into nature, there are several trails that will take you on dirt trails deep into the woods. Off the trail, you’ll be able to hug some trees. If needed, there are $1 maps of the trails at the entrance. If you want to be “extra” adventurous, don’t get a map because the trails will eventually lead you back.

In other words, our “seeing the redwoods” experience turned into an unexpected miles-long hike around the park because we decided to see what was on a side trail. It was a long and sweaty hike but a great workout.

You might even see some critters like this chipmunk.

Quick Details:

• Get there early (open at 8 a.m.) and on a weekday.
• They’re open 365 days a year.
• Parking is free.
• Park entrance fee is $7 per adult. Free for children 15 and under. (On January 1, 2016, the entrance fee will increase to $10 for adults 16 and older.)
• Weather is slightly cooler under the shade of the trees.
• There is no cell phone service in Muir Woods.
• Visit the official website here.

What national parks have taken your breath away?

Visiting San Francisco? See my recommendations for things to do and places to eat.

The post Muir Woods National Monument Travel Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Goodbye, summer and hello, autumn! Thankfully Texas weather was in the know and it’s already much cooler. I had a fantastic summer and crossed several to-dos off the list. 

Hike Pedernales Falls State Park

Ashley, Linda, Bob the Dog and I enjoyed a morning at Pedernales Falls State Park. It has trails for all levels of hiking and some great views.

Visit Jester King Brewery

I’m slowly crossing off Austin’s breweries off my list and Jester King Brewery’s sour beers were interesting. It’s not something I would drink often but I did enjoy it. The brewery and area around it (including its neighbor Stanley’s Farmhouse Pizza) is a fun place to spend an afternoon.

Try paddle boarding

Finally crossed this off my to-do list! Ashley and I didn’t fall off, and I would definitely do it again though I would prefer a kayak to a paddle board.

Visit the beach

I made it to the Texas coast this summer and wrote about it here. I crossed ‘learn to surf’ off my life list on this trip.

Make a dish with peaches

I love peach season. It’s one of my favorite fruits. I made light shrimp tacos with peach salsa.

Spend time on the lake

My friends hosted a birthday event on a party barge which was lots of fun. Lots of sun and swimming.

Go to a concert

I saw Kitten, The Antlers and OneRepublic in concert. My favorite was the fun OneRepublic show at the Austin360 Amphitheater. The band is incredibly talented and energetic, and they kept us dancing for much of the show.

Take a long trip

I went on this little trip to Greece that I’ve been sharing about on the blog. You can read about my favorite sights on the trip and the delicious things we ate and drank.

Eat at 5 new restaurants

Trying new restaurants is also a fun and easy goal to accomplish. I tried Garbo’s, Cipollina, Justine’s, Blackbird & Henry, Monkey King Noodle Company (chicken noodle soup pictured above), and Kin and Comfort (pork buns pictured above), among a list of other restaurants. (Check out my ‘flavors of the month’ posts!)

Eat a snow cone

How to survive a Texas summer: stay indoors as much as possible, stay in water if you’re outside, and consume frozen treats. I’ve always enjoyed the snow cones at Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs. Be sure to get Tiger’s Blood as a flavor.

 What fun things did you do this summer?

The post Goodbye to Summer 2014 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Enchanted Rock is a huge pink granite dome 15 miles from Fredericksburg and about an hour and 40 minutes from Austin. It’s a popular place for a quick day trip, and I finally visited when two of my friends came to visit.

We spent a few hours here, hiking up and down and then enjoying lunch at Sweet Marley’s food truck at the bottom.

The hike is pretty easy. Though steep in some parts, good shoes and the enthusiastic energy of friends will help you get to the top. We saw all ages, kids to grandparents, hiking to the summit.

When at the top, enjoy the view! Try not to get blown away or knocked over by the high winds. Quote The Lion King’s “everything the light touches” line. Take optical illusion jumping photos.

Be sure to bring a water bottle to help you stay hydrated. They have water fountains to fill it up if needed.

Have you been to Enchanted Rock? What did you think?

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is 1,825 feet tall.
16710 Ranch Rd. 965, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.
You can get more info HERE.

The post Hiking Enchanted Rock appeared first on Fearless Captivations.