California.

Last week we went to California for our first official family vacation.  Of course we've been on trips and the like - but they were always to a family reunion or something like that.  This was our first ever trip that wasn't related to anything else but fun.  We went to Capitola, California and it was wonderful.  Here are some pictures from the trip.  I went 99% film on these - except for a shot in Muir Woods that I couldn't get with my 50mm lens so I had to use my digital camera. I still have some things to learn about film - even though I was consistently shooting 3 stops over they are still a little underexposed.  Oh well, there is always next time.  So, here goes with the LONGEST post EVER...

Since Capitola is on Monterrey Bay the mornings were chilly and misty.  Our first morning there we went and explored the town and the dock.   The mist was actually really beautiful and created such a soft light.  Perfect weather to take pictures of one-legged pigeons.

Once afternoon arrived the mist would burn off and leave you with PERFECT weather - and I mean perfect.  So, of course we'd set up camp at the beach!

It was wonderful.  The next morning we headed out early to explore the tide pools at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz.  Tide Pools are full of sea life that's right at your fingertips.  They're always worth a visit.

After that we headed over to the touristy Mystery Spot in the redwoods above Santa Cruz.  It IS a tourist trap but it's worth every penny.  I won't reveal too much about the mystery except that it's really cool and fun.

On our final day in California we went to San Francisco and it lived up to all the hype.  It was beautiful and interesting and colorful and dreamy.  I hope we get to visit there again some day.  For lunch we ate in Chinatown and to my surprise my kids GOBBLED up their totally authentic Chinese cuisine.   After lunch we rode a street car across town only to find out it was a one way trip so we had to hoof it back across town.  Even though none of use planned on walking a few miles across the city it was a great way to really see and experience San Fran - and it's never ending hills!

After the city we drove across the Golden Gate Bride - which was hidden in a beautiful chilly mist and drove up to Muir Woods.  My old friend Lindsay and her darling boys met us there and we walked through one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Though I wish we could have stayed longer than we did, our two tired babies were done so we ate some amazing food, said our goodbyes, and headed back to Capitola.

On our way home in order to spread the 13 hour drive over two days we stayed in Reno at a casino.  The boys loved it and thought we were staying in the lap of luxury.  It was fun and was the perfect way to end a beautiful week.

Our Second Honeymoon in the most beautiful place on earth.

After our trip to McCall, Mike flew back up so he and I could leave the kids with his parents and take a trip together - a second honeymoon - a "we've been married for ten years and want a weekend without the kids" trip.  And it was perfect.  Stanley, Idaho is the home of the Sawtooth Mountains and it's beauty was mind blowing - and this is coming from someone who lives at the foot of some of the prettiest mountains around.  I wish my pictures did it ANY justice but they just don't.  Some day you've got to drive up and see those mountains yourself - you'll thank me.

This lake was so SO amazing - the water was really so clear - it looked like the Bahamas - only it didn't feel like it - it was a chilly 52 degrees.  Even with the cold, lake swimming is still my favorite thing in the world.   We canoed, we sun-bathed, we photographed.  It was heaven.

One night we ventured out to some hot springs a waitress at our RV park told us about - they were hidden just below the road - on the Salmon river.  Someone put an industrial pot of some sort there - and a pipe was coming right out of the side of the mountain with super hot spring water in it.  You could move the pipe over the tub to make it hotter or use a bucket to add river water to cool it down.  It was so amazing.  And then of course we couldn't resist dipping into the freezing river water and back into the hot...

And to finish of the trip more perfectly than anything else could - we went to the James Taylor/Carole King concert in Sun Valley.  Mike's second cousin, Raymond, called us several months ago and said he had some extra tickets and asked if we could make it.  It was such an amazing offer we designed this trip around it.  Not only was the concert amazing but if Raymond hadn't offered I'm sure we wouldn't have ever taken a trip along at all.  So thanks Raymond - we seriously owe you big time!  The venue said no camera's of any kind and I quickly realized once I got there that I was the only one who followed that rule... it killed me not to have my camera there but luckily Mike's phone came through...

Anyhow, in the end, GO TO STANLEY!  Or don't.   Maybe I'd like to keep it an amazing secret place just for me and my family.