Holidays 2012 - Sticking to the Coastal Highway

We stuck to the Coastal Highway (highway 1) as much as possible, which made for fantastic views and beaches to stop at.

 The kids enjoyed playing with a giant weed we picked on the side of the road that felt like a feather duster.

 We stopped multiple times to walk around in the tide pools and go seashell and creature hunting. We were in heaven!

Holidays 2012 - Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge definitely is a wonder. So majestic!

 Our kids were SO good the entire road trip. CRAZY good! They spoiled us so much, which we were grateful for! It definitely made for fun traveling and stopping along the way to see sites.

Holidays 2012 - China Town

 Cables for the cable cars.

 Amazing lantern covered street.

 Cable cars!

 Green lights as far as the eye can see!

Holidays 2012 - San Francisco

Neat Buildings

 Lombard Street. Neither of us had ever seen this in person. SO rad!

 Pier 39 to go sea lion watching.

 Alcatraz

 The kids had some folded up brochures that they pretended were their phones/cameras. Here they are "taking pictures" of the sea lions.

 Giant Christmas tree at the pier. Mind you, I am 4 weeks from giving birth at this point, so don't mind me. If you've been pregnant, you know how photogenic you feel by this point :)

Holidays 2012 - Oregon Coast

Once we hit the coast, weather took a turn for the better. Mild temperatures and NO snow :)

We stopped at a cove where people were whale watching. We didn't see any whales but it was so pleasant to stand outside and breathe in the slightly warm humid air.

As we approached Redwood National Park we saw this place where you could walk through a redwood grove. We stopped in and found Paul Bunyan and his giant blue ox, Babe.

They also had a Sasquatch. What more could you ask for?

One of my favorite things about the coast is that everything is covered in vegetation. I love how all the limbs on the trees are furry green. SO lush and beautiful!

We spotted a herd of elk along our pretty drive.

As we neared warmer weather beaches we stopped at multiple surf shops to try to find Eric some boogie boarding fins. I loved the look of this surf shop. It screams "good times"!