The California Coast

Our family trip up the California Coast has been a long time coming.  I remember my dad talking about a trip like this when I was a kid, and this summer, it finally, finally happened. 

And my whole family (well, almost) got to come.

And it was worth the wait.

We were able to visit the house that my dad lived in as a baby.  It was on a quiet little street on a quiet little hill in a quiet little city.  And it was the cutest thing I've ever seen.

 We also got to visit the "famous" house that my grandpa got when he traded his truck in for it.  Yes.  Seriously.  He traded his truck for a house.

Next time I buy a house I'm bringing him along.

So naturally we took 14 jumping pictures on a random stranger's lawn in his honor.

 Stop Number Three on our Coast tour was Solvang.  It's basically a little Danish city that makes you feel like you are simultaneously at Disneyland and also 2,000 years back in time and also in a Hans Christian Anderson fairytale.  It's quaint and magical and it smells like hot donuts.  

So basically it's heaven.

After our fill of fairy tale land, we got back in the car and cruised up the coast.

And that is where we discovered paradise.

I kid you not.  It was the coolest place I have. ever. seen.

We pulled over for an impulsive view and ended up following Aubrey down a cliff...

then up a cliff, 
then down a different cliff,
and then across an inlet, 

and then up an island, and then through a crack, and into a private little tide pools that I cannot even describe.   It was FULL of crabs, sea anemones, hermit crabs, fish, coral, and all kinds of beautiful wildlife.  It seriously felt like being in a dream.

The girls could have happily stayed there for the rest of their lives. 

But sadly, we had to move on and our next stop was the elephant seal beach in Cambria.

It was full of hundreds of seals and they were entertaining and enormous and stinky.

 After leaving that delightful scene and grabbing some lunch at a Mexican grill, we continued our road trip and zoomed up the winding PCH enjoying the views, the snacks, and the company.

And then we arrived at the Morro Strands campsite. 

It was certainly not what I had been expecting, but it ended up being perfect.

We were steps from the beach, which was foggy, and empty, and covered with sand dollars.

We did the typical camping stuff and then were privileged to hear all of Grandpa's best campfire stories (which had the kids rolling).

At about 4:00 in the morning, I was awoken by something dripping on my face.  Somehow, our 1960's tent had not only started falling over, but had accumulated the mist from the ocean and was now dripping on us.  By 4:15, we were sleeping in a crisp, cool puddle of dew.  It was super pleasant.

And somehow we all still woke up smiling and ready for a great day.

After a scrumptious breakfast of dry cereal, we headed out on a morning hike to the Morro Strand rock (which was completely un-visible due to the fog, but the internet had promised us it was there).

We walked a little while without seeing a single thing and as soon as we returned to campsite, the fog cleared in the space of about 14 seconds and there was the elusive rock.

Sneaky, sneaky.

After breaking camp, we piled back into the cars and hit the road once more.

And in case the views weren't beautiful enough the day before, they somehow only got better.

I mean... if a mermaid had popped out of that crystaly turquoise water right up onto that sand, I would not have been surprised in the least.

Eventually we made it to our hotel and spent Father's Day morning playing a rousing game of scum in which Luke went from King to scum in one hand.  It takes talent, people.

And then the crowning event of the trip was my cousin Madison's mission farewell.  It was one of the best talks I've ever heard.

No, really.

We had the best, most magical weekend celebrating family, friends, and faith.

And then we drove back home where Bailey had her 4th blow-out of the trip (all in her carseat!!!!  Ew.) and she was out of clothes so we just let her chill naked.

And it was the best trip of our life.