We printed out directions to the campground from Mapquest, then opted for the more scenic route up Pacific Coast Highway instead. It took several hours longer than we'd planned, but it was a beautiful drive. We stopped north of San Simeon to take a look at the Elephant Seals sleeping and sunning themselves on the beach.
Yes, those things that look like driftwood are actually Elephant Seals. There size is amazing. The bulls can be as long as 18 feet and weigh as much as 5,000 pounds!
We set up our campsite at Sunset Beach State Park and quickly got to the business of camping......big campfires and roasting marshmallows. It was a bit colder than we expected, so the campfire was greatly appreciated.
Yes, that's me bundled up in a tee shirt, sweatshirt, quilted jacket and two blankets!
We spent our first day playing on Sunset Beach. I managed a little "crafting", in the form of a sand cake. Nathan took great delight in "frosting" my sand cake in dry sand.
Day two was spent at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It is a great place to take kids and Nathan had a ball. They also have a great website with games and activities for kids.
The Jellyfish are my favorite. They are so beautiful and graceful. I could watch them for hours.
Day three we broke camp to head back home. On the recommendation of a woman we met at the Aquarium, we stopped at Asilomar State Beach. It wasn't the beachcombing treasure trove we were hoping for, but the sand was great for building sand castles.
I think they built an entire sand village!
We all love the seaside and had a super family vacation. Can't wait to go again!
2 comments:
WoW! What amazing pics and a fabulous trip for the family! We love the aquarium! We are going to Northern Cal in August. That looks like an awesome beach trip! My hubby grew up in Northern California, so we visit a couple of times a year.
Wow! The elephant seals are so freaking cool.
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