Trip To Monterey!

During my 3 week notice I gave to my old job, I asked for a couple of days off so the family could take a quick trip to the coast. It was January but I knew we'd enjoy visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium and going tide pooling.

I absolutely adore the below photo. Some day I want to create a wall of framed prints in our hallway. This is one I want to blow up and place on that wall.

While walking to a nearby sandy beach area, we stopped to say hi to a puppy. The girls have to stop any time they see a dog. These dog owners were so nice and we had quite the nice little chat!

Well it turns out that tide pooling was a no-go this trip because there was a storm making the ocean extra crazy and unpredictable. Shortly after taking the above pictures a wave came and wiped out the girls. Daniel and I were able to move out of the way quick enough and although we running towards the girls and yelling, they panicked and got soaking wet from a big wave that came out of nowhere. Sigh. I hope poor Charlotte overcomes her fear of the ocean (the water, not the sand, she LOVES the sand) but since we keep traumatizing her with wave experiences I don't see her warming up to the ocean any time soon. Oops.

Thankfully, I was a good mommy and brought an extra pair of clothes just in case the girls got wet! Mom to the rescue!

After the girls were changed, we headed out on a walk to find a restaurant for dinner. 

I love, love, love the plants and trees along the coast. It always feels so majestic to me.

We got to see some gorgeous views as we walked the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. We don't often take big trips but we do try to get the family out for quick one or two day trips here and there since there is so much within a couple hours drive here in California. I always just get online and start researching to find out what to do and where to stay, etc. TripAdvisor is something I reference for ideas of what to do. I usually end up pretty proud of myself for putting together trips by just brain storming on the internet. Daniel is not a planner but he enjoys our trips as long as I have everything planned out smoothly.

I'll take one of these houses please and thank you.

Her socks are wet because we couldn't find dry socks for her to change into. I didn't realize they were that wet! The bottom of her pants are drenched! But I took this picture because I loved how she was walking with her hands behind her back. She seemed so reflective.

Those trees!

The girls stopped to touch and feel how velvety and smooth this flower felt. Morgan loves nature and they're always investigating and discovering.

We had two tired yet relaxed girls for dinner.

We took a beautiful dark walk back to our car! I'll never tire of the ocean. I love the way it sounds, feels and smells. It's an all consuming experience.

Back at the hotel, we made time for a dip in the pool and hot tub before bedtime!

The next day we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium!

We got to see some seals sunbathing on our walk to the aquarium.

Hmmm....lunch!

Look at this gold and purple shell. It looks man-made to me but it's not. 

We were fascinated by the fact that you can see the lunch they just ate in their "stomachs". They had just eaten tiny shrimp which is completely visible. Amazing!

The aquarium itself is a pretty amazing place. None of my pictures of the exhibits do them justice but that's okay, we still have the memories. 

I absolutely love trips like this with my family.