Side Trips from San Francisco
 

My husband and I will be visiting the San Francisco area for a little over a week at the end of April. We want to see some "big trees". We were planning a taking a side trip to one of the national parks. Between Seqoia and Redwoods National Park which one is worth seeing more? I know Redwoods is further but at this point we are willing to drive to either (maybe drive one day, explore the park the next and then drive back the next for 21/2-3 days side trip)

Thanks in advance

Both of the parks you mentioned are at least an overnight(or more) trip from SF. Muir Woods would be the closest day trip--just across the GG Bridge.

You could also consider Yosemite; there are several groves of the Giant Sequoias there. For coastal redwoods, Muir Woods or Big Basin state park (south of San Jose) are good options that are much closer.

For myself personally, I'd probably choose to do a day trip to Big Basin and an overnight to Yosemite.

Both are definitely worth seeing and are very different from each other. Redwood has coastal redwoods and the low elevation, coastal forests. Sequoia has the high elevation forests with the sequoia trees. Because of the higher elevation, there might be some accessibility issues at Sequoia - just depends if Spring comes late this year.

As TrvlMaven said, you don't have to go that far from SF to see the big trees though. Muir Woods has a nice grove, Big Basin does too, Henry Cowell, Portola, and several other parks within an hour of SF. The real benefit of Redwood is that there are more old-growth (never been logged) forests than closer to SF.

Not trying to discourage you from exploring further afield - I think a 2 or 3 day side trip to either Redwood or Sequoia (or any of the other really great places to see in this area) is a terrific idea :)

You might also consider visiting The Armstrong Woods in Guerneville..just outside of Healdsburg. Its less well known than Muir woods but really lovely. Its about 1.5 hrs. North of the Golden Gate..straight up #101 to Healdsburg..then West towards the Pacific..

My favorite is the Avenue of the Giants, north of SF on Hwy 101. We have enjoyed staying at www.mirandagardens.com and Myers Flat B&B. Check the visitors center in Myers Flat for a map of easy, luscious walks through the big trees.