<p>WITH CHRISTMAS and the gift-giving season upon us, keep in mind that a visit to Muir Woods is an excellent family outing, a must-see natural wonder for out-of-town guests and an opportunity to shop for nature lovers.</p><p>Gift shopping tip: Muir Woods has an outstanding gift shop, and the visitor centers at Marin Headlands and Point Reyes National Seashore also offer equally grand gift choices. Check out these parks for a great selection of trail maps, trail guidebooks, plant and animal identification books, local history information, nature art, children's storybooks, activity books, card games, puzzles, nature toys and many more items that will nurture curiosity about nature. And, an important consideration is the fact that your dollars help support these parks.</p><p>A winter visit to Muir Woods National Monument offers its own sightseeing feast. In addition to admiring the 200-foot-tall old growth redwoods, smaller jewels can be special, too. Moisture from rain or dew can create droplets of water that hang on the end of a redwood branches and sparkle like miniature ornaments. Spider webs covered in dew become lacy artwork. Watch for clusters of ladybugs. They spend the winter in Muir Woods by huddling together in masses of hundreds or thousands. They cover rocks and vegetation like a red carpet.</p><p>When the rain begins, Redwood Creek will become a spawning area for Coho salmon. The salmon will dart up the stream to spawn. Be sure to stop at each of the four footbridges to examine the creek for fish. As you gaze at the flowing water, scan the edges and eddies where fish like to rest. Fish also might be seen in Fern Creek.</p><p><a href="http://www.marinij.com/healthandfitness/ci_24656020/hike-week-winter-visit-muir-woods-can-be">Keep reading...</a></p>