Highway 1

One of the best perks of living in California is the hundreds of miles of accessible coastline and the numerous state and county parks and trails.  On any given weekend we can hop in the car and drive half an hour, and see this:

Nature, in general, is excellent at providing perspective and calm.  But the ocean, especially the vast Pacific, helps me make sense (or forget) it all.

This particular weekend we escaped to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and its Enchanted Forest, where photographers shot corny engagement photos and a film crew was recreating a battle. We walked down to Seal Beach, where we all ran away from a fast wave that unfortunately soaked Anders, who was left behind.

These two pictures pretty much sum up Anders' personality: tragic and tyrannous.

After we realized the tide would be too high to tide pool, we drove further south to Pescadero State Beach to walk the beach and nearby wetlands.

There was an abundance of dead dungeons crab shells and huts for the kids to play with.

After all that exploration we couldn't resist a stop at nearby Duarte's Tavern for their famous cream of  artichoke soup and ollalieberry pie. It was all in a day's exploration.

Just recently we met our friends at Año Nuevo State Park to  see the peak of the elephant seal population converge on the nearby beaches. The park is open year round, but during the peak seal months (Dec-Feb) you need tickets to take a guided hike to where the seals are. While online reserved tickets sell out months in advanced, you can go there early and easily get tickets at the visitor center. It's about a 1.0 mile hike to the staging center where you meet the docent.  

The kids loved the freedom of the trail, but once we crossed over to seal territory they need to stay close by for safety.  The seals were everywhere!

 This female is about to give birth, and this male insists on gauging her "interest."  She barked out "Back off!  Get a clue!"

 There was a lot of action-- males fighting for prime breeding ground.

Some of the kids loved the drama, some of the kids cared more about the sand.  Overall, they did well following directions and staying out of the seals' way. (Photo credit: Amy)

 

We got back right before the kids got hangry, and had a nice picnic before hitting up a pie stand and Highway 1 Brewery.

It doesn't take much for me to reset, just some fresh air and open trails.  Highway 1 just makes it that much easier for us to enjoy each other and this beautiful place.

New Year's in Yosemite

Soon after we returned from our Oregon road trip I had the itch to plan another trip.  We'd been meaning to bring the boys to Yosemite since we returned to California, the place where we honeymooned many years ago. The New Year holiday seemed like the perfect weekend to go.

We were lucky to get great driving weather on the 31st, and the boys were happy to sit in the car listening to audiobooks.  Their first excited glimpses of snow and the Yosemite Valley set the tone for the trip.

The valley was freshly dusted with fine powder, giving contrast to the rocks and leafless trees.  After checking into our heated tent cabin in Curry Village, I got the kids in their snow gear and kicked them outside while I unpacked our things.

There's no cooking allowed in the cabins so if you want hot meals you have to eat at the camp restaurant.  It's a limited menu: pizza and beer (with a salad bar).  There were many families there to celebrate the new year, so we were in good company. In the cabin we ate junk food and read stories, even toasting with little bottles of champagne.  Alas, by 10:30 Mattias and I were ready for sleep in our new 2-person sleeping bag that kept us toasty in the subfreezing temperatures.

In the morning we used a hot water kettle to make cocoa, instant coffee, and oatmeal. We had to get suited up and out the door early for our bus tour of the valley floor.

My parents gave us tickets for the tour for Christmas, and it was a great idea.  The kids each got a seat next to huge windows, and were happy that they weren't confined to their regular car seats.  We were allowed to hop off the bus at the scenic stops along the way.

I wrangled children while Mattias walked off to take pictures. The tour was a treat for him, too.  He didn't have to drive in the snow, which would have made it impossible to enjoy the view around us.

The coziness of the cabin and the village made us feel like a family of penguins.  Huddle close together, or freeze to death!

The following day was reserved for snow play, around our campground and at the Badger Pass ski area.

Snow tubing was fun, especially for Anders, who was pulled up the slope after each run. Matters and I got a pretty good workout from hauling that kid!

By day 3 the snow started to melt, and we were due to head home.  The kids got one last morning to sled and romp in the remaining snow, while Mattias and I packed up.

Literally "off the grid", we were left to focus on the present needs of staying warm and dry, and avoiding getting hit by a snowball. While not your traditional, relaxing vacation, this trip to Yosemite gave us a fresh start to 2016.