Our first stop Sunday between sessions was a closeby monument to veterans called Mt. Soledad. It was a good chance to explore the area and stretch our feet after our long Saturday drive and Conference morning. The parking lot was at the bottom of the hill, but we welcomed the time to see all the new and different plants. We were at a high point in La Jolla above the morning mist and it was strange to look down and see the clouds below near the houses.
In the afternoon we went to a nature walk area near Scripps Reserve. We saw lizards and rabbits, big beetles and strange bugs.
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| dandelion type succulent ground cover |
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That's the ocean in the background! |
This is one of the houses on the cliffs overlooking the canyons and beaches.
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| dew even in late afternoon from the moist climate |
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| heart shaped prickly pear |
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| cute Tessa! |
We also went to the Children's Pool beach where the Sea Lions sunbathe and took a walk on the boardwalk. It was our first sight of the beach up-close! We made it! Our goal for the trip was to have lots of time to explore and enjoy the natural habitat and wildlife of San Diego.
We also went to the Children's Pool beach where the Sea Lions sunbathe and took a walk on the boardwalk. It was our first sight of the beach up-close! We made it! Our goal for the trip was to have lots of time to explore and enjoy the natural habitat and wildlife of San Diego.
After dinner we drove to Torrey Pines State Beach and Park --also 5 minutes from the condo.
BIG pine cone
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| Jonathan wasn't sure about the waves. |
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| the shoes take a break |
The kids came home more wet than we hoped after chasing the waves on the beach. Except Leisel. She and Jonathan kept a pretty good distance from the water the whole trip.
The short outings were perfect for traveling with kids and allowed us to get our feet wet without the stress of all day sightseeing.
Monday Marveling
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| We stopped at Shelter Island pier and watched the boats going out the bay. |
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| We also stopped at Miramar National Cemetary on Point Loma. I think it was meaningful for the kids. They really love to participate in the Veteran's and Memorial Day programs at school. |
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| We were the ultimate tourists at the next spot, Cabrilla National Park. These guys loved to watch the subs from the Navy Base on Coronado and all the other boats and ships. |
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| Cabrilla was one of the first Spanish Explorers in California. |
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Tessa always loves incentives. She and Leisel finished the Jr. Ranger program and earned a commemorative pin.
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Yea for lighthouses!
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The lighthouse keeper's garden
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A beach on the way home (in the bay so...without waves for the little ones). It had lots of jelly fish instead though!
Leisel is the speck at the end with the sky full of birds. She ran all the way down and made 70 or 80 birds fly away to find a new spot without precocious children.
Jonathan loves the birds too!
Monday evening we stopped at the grocery store. The kids bought a treat and chose a movie. They crashed at home and watched "The Good Dinosaur" after a full day.
Tuesday Trompings
Jared took the kids to the pool at the condo in the morning and we went to La Jolla shores beach in the afternoon. We took some wetsuits and tried some body boarding. (even me!) I had to reminisce about my childhood at the beach in Guam.
Tuesday night, we decided it would be more fun to buy seafood and have a feast at home rather than go out, so we stocked up on shrimp, crab, and two kinds of fish.
Wednesday Wanderings
Wednesday morning we visited the U.S.S. Midway aircraft carrier.
We spent some time in the evening packing up and then went for a last outing. The girls discovered water under our feet after walking down the boardwalk to the end of the pier! We met a family from Draper and South Jordan trying out the fishing too!
This pier has Cottages that you can rent. It is really wide at the sandy end and has room for parking in front of your unit too. You sleep to the sound of the waves all night.
Michael adopted this football all day.
On the way home we stopped back to a favorite spot where we didn't spend much time during our first visit. It was a nice place to say goodbye to San Diego.
Then, Thursday morning, we got back in the car for the long ride home, taking some great memories with us. :)
