Monterey and Carmel

With the kids out of school, Tyler took a few days off and we enjoyed a quick get-away to the beautiful and charming cities of Montery and Carmel this week.  The weather was perfect, which to me means SUN!  I can handle any temperature as long as there is blue skies and no wind!  (Man, for being raised in Idaho I sure do sounds like a big "weather wimp")!  We stayed at the time-share right on the beach at Marina Sand Dunes and the kids were up our first morning bright and early to the beach!

After wards we had lunch and headed into Monterey, only a five minute drive.  We got family passes this year to the Monterey Aquarium when we visited in April and were anxious to get back.  It's such a big place we found an entire wing we'd missed the first time.  The kids love the touching pools, and of course the penguins and sea-horse exhibits too. 

After a stop at the Nestle shop for hot cookies and ice cream sandwiches we were off to find the famous Dennis the Menace park that a friend of mine had told me about. This playground is known throughout the state for its whimsical equipment, which includes a drinking fountain inside the mouth of a lion, a swinging rope bridge, a rock climbing wall, a roller slide, and a life-sized hedge maze, among others.  In addition, you can climb all over the real steam train engine   I think we could have stayed all night, the kids loved it!

The next day after another morning trip out to the beach, a morning football game on the lawn and time at the playground, we were off to explore one of our favorite places, Carmel.  We love driving through those narrow, quaint streets looking at all the homes.  They each have such personality and are named.  We walked through the cute downtown area again stopping in a few of the local shops.  And then we were down to the beach front again.  Tyler and I had our beach chairs and enjoyed watching the kids get their "beach fix" for the next few winter months.  It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.

A quick stop on our way home at the park (again) and we enjoyed a dinner and a movie night with the kids.  It's always so great to get out of town and relax, even for just a few days!  It was fabulous!