Spring Break Day 3: Cayucos to Monterey

Day 3 we left Cayucos for Monterey. We were able to drive that beautiful, windy road to get from the 1 back to the 101 to head up to Monterey. Aaron was pretty spent and fell asleep on that road again. 

Monterey is such a cute little city. It is certainly bigger than Cayucos and more bustling, but still very charming. We stayed right by the aquarium since that was our main attraction there. It started to rain while we were there, but we were so close that it didn't matter. And we borrowed umbrellas from the hotel.  

We checked into the hotel and it was time for Aaron to take a nap. Jeff stayed back with Aaron and took a nap as well while Kyle, Emily & I headed for the aquarium. Since we hadn't had lunch yet, we hit up the cookies store and had sandwiches, ice cream cookie sandwiches. 

While the entire aquarium was absolutely amazing, I think the most fascinating thing we learned was about skates and their egg case. "A mermaid's purse holds baby skates. You're looking at living skate embryos. A female skate laid the leathery egg case after mating. These prongs anchor the egg case in seaweed or sand. After almost a year, one edge of the case opens, and the miniature skates flap their wings and swim away." Check out the next picture of the mermaid's purse with little, live skate embryos. Mind blown. 

Kyle, Emily & I covered the aquarium (what we wanted to see, which was most of it, but we did speed through some parts) in about 2.5 hours. By then Aaron was waking up so Jeff took Aaron to the museum and Emily decided to go back with him to show him some of the highlights we had seen. 

Penguins for Papa

After the aquarium, we went over to a little wine bar and had what we thought would be small appetizers before a later dinner, but they were substantial enough to be dinner. It had an amazing view over the ocean and bay. We watched a pair of sea lions play in the ocean in the rain. 

After Aaron took a shower, Jeff gave him the Daddy towel look. What an adorable little guy!

The next morning the rain had stopped and dried up a little bit. We headed up to Jack's Peak for a stunning view of Monterey from what I think remember it saying was the highest point. Even if it isn't (yes, I know I can just google it), it was high enough for a stunning view. And a fun, easy hike for the kids that I believe was about a mile round trip. Easy enough for the kids for sure. Aaron even walked most of the way too (he did have a lot of energy though). 

Spring Break Day 2: Cayucos part 2

The drive to Cayucos from Paso Robles was stunning. It was a tiny, windy, narrow road to get through the hills over to the beach. 

Upon arriving in Cayucos, we again didn't have any set plans so we just went with what came our way. This little beach town seems to be about 3 blocks long with some gorgeous beaches and amazing waves. We watched the surfers ride some incredible waves that we would have had no business even trying to surf like we thought we might try. Instead, we chilled on the beach and the playground on the beach and just enjoyed walking around and soaking in this cute little town. 

Aaron can swing like the big kids. 

Playground swings on the beach. My three babies swinging to the view.
Aaron swinging

The gardens at Cass House. The kids loved playing with Ben the cat in the gardens and playing hide and seek with their walkie-talkies around the property. 

Kyle taking a little siesta in the sun on our patio. 

Cayucos pier

Handsome little Bear. With a monkey in his pocket. Ready for our fancy dinner.

We did a multi-course tasting menu that the B&B puts together. It was wonderful. Kyle and Emily both enjoyed it as well. Aaron's favorite were the abalone balls. Since this was just downstairs from our room, when he was tired and it was bedtime, he went upstairs to bed.  

Nice view

Spring Break Day 2: Paso Robles to Cayucos, part 1

Day 2 of spring break got off to a nice start. We had a delicious breakfast at Summerwood. The kids were thrilled with the place and the meal. It was a bit chilly out so our plans to go to the beach were quickly reconsidered. We thought about horse back riding, but that didn't happen either. Instead, we just winged it and took the day as it presented it self to us. And that was the best decision we could have made. 

We knew we were heading to Cayucos to stay that evening, but otherwise, we let the day dictate itself. About a mile down the road from our B&B toward Cayucos, there was a cute little farm that we saw and figured we should check it out. There were cats, goats and chickens roaming about and other fun farm things to enjoy. 

Driving down the road from Summerwood

The cute little farm

Kyle & Emily LOVED feeding the goats. They were named Vanilla Bean, Butterscotch & Caramel. Their interactions with the goats reminded us of when they were feeding the bunnies in Switzerland after the mirror maze. 

Aaron baaaas at the goats

As we went to the car to leave after spending over an hour there, the chickens decided they wanted to come with us to Cayucos.

Spring Break Day 1: San Diego to Paso Robles

It's time for Spring Break!! This year we decided to drive the coast since we never have done so before and since our time here is running out, we figured it was best to do it while we actually live on one end of the trip. And it was nice to not have to fly somewhere for a change. We packed up the van and hit the road early (for us, 8:30) on Saturday morning. 

We started with breakfast in Del Mar at Stratford Court Cafe with some smoothies and Vermonsters. Oh and a pretty decent view. 

Driving down the hill. That's the Pacific Ocean meeting the sky

By the ocean

Time to hit the road! The kids are watching The Sound of Music. It was glorious! Perhaps the best movie to listen to for 3+ hours. 

Bear playing an iPad game for the first time and LOVING it

Since we have typically had to fly most places, it was nice to be able to just pack up the car with what we needed and not have to think so much about the logistics and regulations of flying. 

After breakfast, we headed north up to Santa Barbara for our first stop, lunch at a taco shop called La Super Rica. Apparently, Julia Child dubbed it the best taco shop there is. It was a tremendously long line to order (we waited at least an hour) and the food was just okay. We were hungry and so we ate, but it wasn't life altering. The biggest stand out to all of us was the watermelon aqua fresca. 

After lunch, we continued on to Paso Robles, our destination for the evening. It was a beautiful drive (minus driving through LA).

Aaron was a bit grumpy when he woke up from his nap and we were still driving. 

When we arrived at our bed and breakfast at a winery for the evening, the kids were pretty happy. It had a huge shower, a bath tub, a large pull out couch for the kids to sleep on and a closet big enough to put Aaron's pack and play in for his own 'room'. After roaming the room and the building a bit, we had a nice, light dinner at Thomas Hill Organics. Kyle and Emily both tried steak tartare. Pretty brave if you ask me! I'm not surprised Emily tried it, but Kyle trying it and liking it was fairly shocking since he is very much a visual eater. 

Apparently in the middle of the night Bear didn't want to sleep in the closet and snuggled up with me. I had no idea. Jeff took a picture to prove it. 

Nennis

Just some cute words from Aaron...

Emmy and Kyle song

Today while the kids were in school, Aaron was missing them. I was making lunch for him when he picked up his guitar and started strumming and singing to the pictures on the walls as you go up the stairs. He sweetly sang to Emily & Kyle. It's so cute to see how much he misses them when they are at school and loves them. 

Kyle's tennis tournament

This weekend Kyle played in a tennis tournament. He started really early Saturday morning with an 8am match. For those that know us, being up, ready, out somewhere and ready to play by 8am know that is no small feat in this late rising house. Anyhow, he did great and won his first match. He is playing under 10s because that is the youngest division.

His next march was at 11 so we went home and picked up the rest of the family. The second match didn't go as well but it was a good learning experience for Kyle who did his best. 

Emily and Aaron had a good time there. It was crazy hot out and Aaron was, well, Aaron and didn't want to sit still. So to prevent him from running onto the court, raising a ruckus or throwing a ball into the court we took turns and found a good open field to run and play on with him. In said field, he found a gem. I played soccer with Emily while Aaron played catch with a lacrosse net. Clever little boy. 

Kyle's award

As part of the awards ceremony today, Kyle received an award from his teacher for being a creative writer.