Two weekends ago, we visited Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. We’ve seen redwoods before. In fact we’re parked among them right now. But, being close to the coast, the redwoods at the reserve are the largest the kids and I have seen.
We experienced a bit of a wait getting through the pay station at the entrance of the park. Once through the gates, we were able to park with ease, use the restroom and enjoy a well-marked and easy mile-ish walk.
The trail was very kid friendly. We spent a lot of time looking up.
The trail led to the tallest tree in the park.
It was beautiful seeing the sun shine in through the giant forest. The air was so fresh.
There were park volunteers answering questions along the trail. The girls also enjoyed visiting with a volunteer stationed near the parking lot with a table full of artifacts, pictures and information.
On the way home we stopped in Sebastopol. It’s a cute town with some funky health conscious dining options.
We opted for Soft Medicine Sanctuary. The food was decent though we found it a bit over priced. We did enjoy the atmosphere which encouraged lingering with Chess on the table. How nice it was to slow down and play a game together. Ellie soaked in learning a new game and Maeve was thrilled to “help.” We also hit the local Whole Foods. It is cute; similar in size to Petaluma’s. All in all a lovely way to spend a family day.