Our journey began in San Diego.
Our first night we visited Coronado island
and had dinner at the Hotel Del Coronado.
The next day we toured the USS Midway.
There is a lot to see there.
We probably could have spent the whole day exploring.
The kids had fun and
each took a turn at the helm.
The next day was the San Diego Zoo.
This is Xiao Liwu, one of two pandas they have.
A hungry snow leopard stares us down.
A koala at peak activity.
The bizarre "Buddy System" pairs big cats with dogs to calm them.
What are you looking at?
Josie astride an American Lion.
The polar bears were hiding out.
We rode the "Skyfari."
It wasn't on our agenda, but we drove right through the San Gorgonio Wind Farm.
The next day we went to Joshua Tree National Park.
Here are some crazy people in their natural habitat.
Here are two other crazy people.
The park is magnificent in its desolation.
Josie really liked Joshua Tree.
So many good opportunities for photos.
The scenery is beautiful
but unforgiving.
I wouldn't want to get lost there.
Stay on the trail, kids!
Cruising with the windows down - it was about 72 degrees that day.
A Western Scrub Jay perched above us.
Noah stops to admire the view.
They never complained once.
The rock formations there are amazing.
They call it "Skull Rock" - can't imagine why.
The next day we headed to Los Angeles.
Some of the more than 5M bones pulled from the La Brea Tarpits.
A worker cleans asphalt from a bone.
We also walked Hollywood Blvd.
We saw everything we needed to see in one day.
Then we battled an hour of traffic getting out the next morning.
Surfers at Pismo Beach waiting for the perfect wave.
After a long day on the beach.
The next day we visited Morro Bay.
Sea birds gather on Morro Rock.
We also saw sea otters swimming and playing.
A cormorant looks for food.
We drove through the enormous city of Harmony, California.
After being on the road for a week
we finally made it to the Central Coast.
We stopped at the Elephant Seal rookery at Piedras Blancas.
We saw about 500 of the beasts sunning themselves.
Words cannot describe the aroma.
We stopped for lunch at Ragged Point Inn.
More beautiful scenery along the PCH.
Us with the Bixby Bridge in the background.
Quite simply, the most beautiful spot on earth.
At Point Lobos State Park.
Another scrub jay in Carmel By The Sea.
We spent a day at Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Learned about the bay's wildlife.
And watched 28,000 sardines feed on krill.
We took the 17-Mile Drive
back to our hotel in Carmel.
And saw the most photographed tree in the world.
Then the kids needed some more beach time.
Possible porpoise sighting.
My beach babe.
Magnificent sunset off the Monterey peninsula.
They don't know the way to San Jose.
We toured the Winchester Mystery House.
Psycho Donuts for a mid-day snack!
The view from our hotel in the City by the Bay.
An early-morning hike among the giant redwoods.
Muir Woods National Forest is staggeringly beautiful.
Hard to imagine how old some of these trees are.
Just an amazing place.
New growth on a redwood tree.
A Great Blue Heron surveys Muir Beach.
The beach at Point Reyes National Seashore.
There are 388 steps down to the Lighthouse.
But the stalwart are rewarded with beautiful views
and two gray whales (mother and calf) say hi.
Dixie and her lighthouse.
Because we weren't tired enough that day.
The weather changes quickly in San Francisco.
A day in wine country - first stop Frog's Leap.
Then a walk around the grounds at Castello Di Amorosa.
Taking a break hiking the Petrified Forest.
We walked in Al Capone's footsteps
on Alcatraz Island.
The sea lions serenaded us on Fisherman's Wharf.
Who's hungry for a little sourdough bread?
The view from Ghirardelli Square.
Several of the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill pose for a picture.
After climbing Telegraph Hill, you can enjoy the views
from the top of Coit Tower.
Someone stole the roof!
Then, because we weren't tired enough
we climbed to the top of Lombard Street.
We rode the cable cars too!
Bye bye, San Francisco! We'll miss you!
