California Christmas Part 2

Here we go with Part 2 picking up right where we left off--Lover's Point!  This is a small beach park where you can swim, rent bikes and kayaks, etc.  We just explored the water and climbed on all the boulders.  It would be a really fun destination during the summer.

We spent the next few days of our trip exploring Monterey.  The Monterey Bay Aquarium was number one on our list, but you know, it was poor planning to go on a Saturday.  Actually, if I could do one thing regarding this whole trip, it would be to come on a random week during the summer!  Every place we went to was crawling with tourists!...especially the aquarium.  We got there right when it opened and there was already a line to get it!  Luckily, we got our tickets a head of time so we didn't have to wait, but each exhibit was so busy that after an hour or so we were all pretty much ready to get out of there.

On our way to Carmel, we stopped in Pacific Grove to see the monarch butterfly sanctuary.  They hangout at the eucalyptus grove as part of their migration.  They hang from the trees in huge bunches, and you would never even know they were they because they are all gray with their wings folded up and just look like leaves!

Spending time in Carmel was one of my favorite things we did on our trip.  It is such a quaint, cute little city with tons and tons of shops and restaurants--if you are planning on every stopping by, be aware that just about every one of them closes between lunch and dinner (about 3-5pm), which was the exact time we were there are all very hungry!  Luckily we caught one that was willing to have us!  We took Adam down to the water and let him play in the sand for the first time!  He loved it, and it was everywhere-- ears, nose, toes, you name it, but so worth it to see him learning and experiencing new things.

We did the 17-mile drive and checked out the views of Big Sur from the car.  We hiked at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park where they have red wood trees and lots of poison oak!  My family does a lot of hiking, and it was fun to explore this new place together!

Hang in there for the last installment of our vacation-- Point Lobos, whale watching, a Sharks game, etc.