My earliest memories of growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area always have one common component,…redwood forests! My mom and dad as well as my grandmother and grandfather, loved taking picnics among the redwoods in the Oakland Hills and around the Bay. I think my mom enjoyed being in these forests more than anyone in the family! This is Mom with our grandson Paxton at Muir Woods National Monument in Marin County near San Francisco. I just love the smile on her face!

This is a fantastic YouTube video on Oakland’s redwood forests and their history! It really is worth a look!

There is something totally magical and spiritual about being in the presence of these giant trees.

Samuel P. Taylor State Park has been a family favorite for years. Paxton And Logan are enjoying the day with our friends, Alex and Chris’ children..

It is a special and rare event when we can get a group this size at the park! In addition to the Stump family, my brother came from Hawaii, my niece and her husband from Guernsey, and my nephew and his wife from Scotland.

My nephew Steve took this shot!

Lisa assists my Mom across a bridge at the park.

Lisa, Mom, and Stacy enjoy this incredible moment!

Grandson Vaughan and Marla at Muir Woods. We have taken each grandchild to the Redwoods during their “9 year old trip” to the Bay area.

Love this photo!

You can easily tell who is enjoying the redwoods at Muir Woods.

We took grandson Owen to a surprise redwood grove on a wet January morning near Berkeley. Mather Redwood Grove is a great respite above UC Berkeley, with trees planted in the 1930s, quiet paths, benches and a small amphitheater.

Owen points out a giant tree.

He was fascinated by this tree ring display.

It was a rainy morning but no one complained at all.

Stacy and her family really enjoyed this visit to Samuel P. Taylor Redwoods.

The Girls love climbing this tree stump. Multiple generations of our family have climbed this specific redwood stump.

While on a weeklong cycling tour of Sonoma County, the group gathered in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Guerneville close to the Russian River for lunch.

An early photo at the park.

A photo of me with my dad and sister at a redwood park. Yes, I am quite clever with my lunch bag belt holder!

An early family picnic with my grandmother, mom and dad, my brother, aunt and uncle and cousins in a redwood park.

A family picnic many years ago with mom, dad, and our girls at Samuel P. Taylor redwoods.

The same picnic site from my last visit in 2021.

This brings tears to my eyes! I’m pouring some of my Mom’s ashes next to a redwood tree in the Oakland hills.

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.