Santa Cruz, Monterey, LA Outskirts, & Winston-Salem… What?!?!

It’s been almost a full month since my last blog post, and as is always the case it seems with us, a lot has happened.  We have been (or I have anyway) to all of the places listed in the title; Elijah, our youngest, turned 15 years old; we settled into a routine with raising our 5 year old granddaughter (she’ll actually be 6 in 2 weeks!); and I flew to NC to be there for the birth of our first grandSON!

 

Since Greg had to work and he and I had already been to Monterey Bay Aquarium and the 17 Mile Drive through Pebble Beach, I took the kids to those place during the week while he was working. Here are some pictures from that fun-filled day.

Santa Cruz was a wonderful town in itself.  We especially enjoyed the Wharf.  Unfortunately the theme park on the Santa Cruz boardwalk was closed since we visited out of season.  Here are some pictures from around Santa Cruz.

On Saturday, our only weekend day that we weren’t relocating, Greg joined us and we had a whirlwind day full of gorgeous sights.  First we visited Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park which Greg found right there in Santa Cruz!  When we told the park ranger there that we were heading to the Monterey area she insisted that we visit Point Lobos State Reserve.  We wouldn’t have to pay another park fee (since we paid the state park fee there it includes all state parks for that day) and she said it was “the most beautiful place on earth.”  Who can resist that?  Not us, so we headed straight there.  It was here that we spent the bulk of our day and it was gorgeous!  We hiked over 4 miles in total and every step was met with yet another breathtaking view. Finally, we wrapped the day up with a sunset on the beach at Marina Dunes Beach.  Check it all out…

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