Anchored Crew: Vacationing up the California Coast

I feel bad blogging about this years summer vacation when I haven't even completed last years post of our summer vacation.......oh well.

This summer we had the first McGowan Family reunion at Point Reyes National Seashore just north west of San Francisco. John and I decided to take the scenic rout up to the reunion and travel north up the California coast a few days early.

One of our first stops on the way up was at the infamous Andersen Pea Soups. John told the boy's they would take a picture with some pea soup and they both cried. Fortunately, we were able to get this.

We even stopped in San Simeon to see the smelly stinky elephant seals. They were uneventful, but my boy's posed for a photo.

From there we went to our firs night stay at the Apple Farm. The Apple Farm is a nice little hotel with a Victorian flare to it, cozy and full of character. We spent the evening walking about down town San Luis Obispo.

There's always a chess or checkers game going on with these boys.

This may look like a photo bombed picture to anyone else, but to me this is perfect. J's fingers are a blurr at the pic, K attempted to race across as to avoid being in the pic, and my love and I are smiling away. Priceless.

I love that I have a husband that takes every opportunity to teach.

The next day we drove north to one of our most excited locations, Big Sur. The drive was beautiful! I've driven through Big Sur a number of times, yet this was the first time I've actually lodged there. We spent the next two night camping in Prieffer Big Sur State Park. This was a few first experiences for us; for the boys if was the first time they have ever camped and this was my first time camping as a parent. Being in charge of making meals and packing was a bit overwhelming, but thanks to my parents who let us barrow some great camping gear they helped ease my concerns. It was a great outcome in the end, we all had a great time with our first experiences.

Our first peak at where were going to stay.

As a mom of boys, I am learning that they love to be productive with their hands. K was totally in his element helping Dad with the tent and getting it situated. He was, as were we, very proud to see their hard work complete.

Their smiles speak for themself.

The next day the boy's participated in Junior Rangers where they learned about kelp and other under water plants. After, we all went on a three mile incline hike to Pfieffer waterfalls. The drought didn't give us much water, however, I was proud of the boys for making the hike with minimal complaining.

Yes, I am that mom that went to took pictures of the boys in Junior Rangers.

John showed the boy's how to whittle and how to chop wood to kindle a fire, they explored the grounds and chased the TON's of bluebirds that surrounded our site. And camping wasn't camping without at least one game of dominos which the boy's begged to play both nights.
Our camp site was beautiful, it was beautiful to see the sunlight peak through the tree tops as we enjoyed the shade below, despite the poison oak, we really enjoyed the two days of camping and first experiences we had in Big Sur.

Mom (Me), needed a break from camping so the next night we stayed in Monterey and visited the well known Monterey Bay Aquarium. Great, yet pricey, we saw kelp, tuna, sharks, fish, otters, seals, octopus, jelly fish, dragon fish and plenty more.

My camera actually caught these amazing colors so bright and vibrant, it is incredible to see all the beautiful wildlife under the sea.

The next three nights and the end of the vacation was spent at the McGowan Family Reunion (here). Family from all over the western United States traveled from as much as 16 hours or as little as less than two hours to get together for one unforgettable reunion.

On the way to the reunion we stopped in a small town named Aromis where John was raised as a young boy. John (who is a great story teller), has told the boys countless stories of the small grocery store and slurpy machine in Aromis that it just didn't seem right to be so close and not stopping to visit. So here are some snapshots of John and the local market he would go to with him mom and the garage he and his dad would take their car to get fixed.