Elephant Seals at Ano Nuevo State Park

This past summer we spent a long weekend in San Luis Obispo County, which we capped off with a drive along Highway One. One of our many stops along the drive home was to view the elephant seals in San Simeon. The kids loved watching the massive seals bark and play in the water and enthusiastically imitated them for a good portion of our drive home. Over Thanksgiving weekend we made a last minute decision (as in Saturday night at 10:30) to take a trip down to Ano Nuevo State Park the following morning to visit some more elephant seals! When the kids woke up I told them about our plans and the house was soon filled with the familiar barks of our girls doing their best seal impressions. A pretty good start to the day!





Ano Nuevo State Park is located just off Highway One between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz and is known for being one of the largest mainland breeding colonies in the world for the northern elephant seal. The peak viewing months are mid-December through March, at which time you can only view the seals on guided tours that cost $7/person (kids 3 and under are free). The seals are present year-round however, so don't fret if a guided tour isn't your cup of tea.





We were lucky to get exceptional weather on our late-November visit. Highs were in the low-60's with perfectly blue skies and a slight breeze. This part of the coast is frequently fogged in, so clear skies felt like an extra special treat. In order to reach the elephant seals, there is a relatively easy 1.5 mile walk (3 miles roundtrip) that is primarily along a well maintained trail but requires walking through soft sand for the last 1/4 of a mile. Along the path (which is stroller friendly!) there are multiple viewing points where you can peer out at the ocean.

About a quarter of a mile into the hike there is a short trail that will take you down to this lovely beach.

The views are spectacular and there is plenty of wildlife to spot (this is definitely a trip worth bringing some binoculars on). We saw large hawks and bird formations as well as several whales breaching off the coast!

Here my youngest is asking if she can "take this one home, please?"

The kids did really well on the walk out to the elephant seals and were especially spirited when it got to the sand portion of the trail. Once you reach the sand there are three viewing areas to see the seals. While I was tempted to go to the furthest viewing point, we eventually decided that the closest one was a safer bet. Each viewing point has volunteers available to answer questions and provide information about the seals. The girls enjoyed watching the seals "wave" at us as well as the occasional attempts at moving along the sand.





The trail is an out-and-back trail, so we headed back the way we came, making the occasional stop to admire the views. I recommend bringing a good stroller if you are visiting with young kids. We ended up carrying the girls a good portion of the walk back, so a carrier or stroller would have made this much easier.







Assuming you are coming from the Bay Area, there are a couple of great options for stops on your drive home. We had never been to Pescadero, so we made a quick detour on our way home to grab some food and check out the shops. Arcangeli Grocery Co is famous for their freshly baked artichoke bread, so we grabbed a loaf and enjoyed it in the small picnic area behind the store. The Pescadero Country Store seemed to be a popular spot and the outdoor picnic area looked like a great place to enjoy a beer and let the kids run around (next time!). Overall, I was a bit underwhelmed with Pescadero, but it's possible my expectations were a bit high. I would give it another shot and would like to make a visit to nearby Harley Farms.



 

If you are looking for a really exceptional place to eat on your way home, I highly recommend making a stop at Cafe Capistrano in Half Moon Bay. If you still have energy for a bit more exploring, you can see details of our recent trip to the area that included a beautiful walk along the Devil's Slide trail followed by a lovely hike along Pillar Point Bluff and a visit to Francis Beach (see pics below).

Views from the Devil's Slide trail

A hidden beach along the Pillar Point Bluff Trail

Francis Beach on a chilly afternoon!

Winter is one of my favorite times to visit the beach and coastal communities in Northern California. There tends to be less fog and far less people, making for an extra memorable experience. What are your favorite winter trips?

Details: Ano Nuevo State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Berkeley. Admission to the park is $10 per vehicle. If you are visiting between from December-March, you must reserve a spot in one of their guided tours in order to view the elephant seals. There is a short trail that leads down to Cove Beach at Ano Nuevo SP, so if you are planning on a longer visit you can bring along some snacks and make a day out of it.

24 hours in Sedona

A few weeks ago we ventured outside of California (a first for us as a family of four!) and headed down to the Phoenix area for a long weekend with the in-laws.  We spent most of the time catching up with family (my brother in-law lives down there as well) and took an overnight trip to Sedona with my husband's parents. If you haven't been to Sedona, it is a beautiful place to relax and well worth the detour!

We arrived in Sedona mid-day and after some amazing tamales at Tamaliza Market and a quick stop at the neighboring Whole Foods, we were on our way to Briar Patch Inn. Upon check-in at the main lodge we grabbed some complimentary fresh cookies and apple cider and then eagerly went to check out our respective cabins. The Inn is nestled at the bottom of a canyon along Oak Creek and includes 19 cabins spread out across the 9 acre property. Each cottage has a unique layout and is tastefully decorated with southwestern touches.

We spent the afternoon exploring the property which sits at the base of the red rocks and alongside Oak Creek. The grounds of the Inn exceeded all of my expectations. There was so much to do and easily enough to keep the kids engaged for the afternoon. Our first stop along our walk was to visit the resident Sheep, Lilly and Wooly, which of course was a big hit with our girls. From there the kids alternated between running in the nearby meadow and relaxing on the wooden bench swings, followed by a hike along the creek.

Despite visiting in late Fall, the creek head a steady flow of water (a stark contrast to most of the dried-up water sources in California). We carefully maneuvered our way along the rocks that lined the creek, coming across a swimhole (complete with tire swing!) and the occasional glimpse of the red rocks through the fall foliage. 

This is the look my little one gets when I tell her to be careful :) Not exactly reassuring!

After throwing up on the car ride into town, my oldest ended up in all stripes and exclaimed "i'm a zebra!"

I suggested that she use her hands to help her balance, which she then applied to walking on level ground :)

After a home-cooked meal (the cabins come equipped with full kitchens), we all settled in by the fire, enjoying some good wine, playing cards and sharing laughs.

The following morning we enjoyed a complimentary breakfast buffet in the main lodge before checking out. We said goodbye to our cozy little cabin and took off for Crescent Moon Picnic area, which is set inside the Coconino National Forest. Known for it's amazing views of Cathedral Rock, this area is the most photographed spot in all of Arizona!

Making "soup"

After crossing the large picnic area, we hiked along the creek, frequently stopping to admire the views of Cathedral Rock. The trail was relatively level, with a few obstacles and the occasional river bed to cross. The kids loved tossing pebbles in the creek, admiring the stacked rock formations made by hikers before us and finding the perfect walking sticks. This was definitely a wonderful way to spend the morning and stretch our legs before the drive home.

Our last stop of the day was for lunch at Mariposa, a latin inspired grill with breathtaking views. Everything we ate was delicious (burger, quesadilla, carnitas tacos and margaritas!). Definitely somewhere I would eat again and the perfect end to our 24 hours in Sedona.

Have you been to Sedona? Any recommendations for future visits?

Details: Sedona is about a two hour drive from Phoenix. The Briar Patch Inn is located just a few miles from the main shopping area of Sedona. They require a two-night minimum stay, but will waive this when booking only 14 days prior to arrival. I highly recommend staying at least two nights if you can. After returning home from our trip, we were excited to see that Sunset Magazine just named Briar Patch one of the West's 37 Best Cabin Getaways! Rooms range from $200-$400 and not all cabins are available to those traveling with kids. The super Tamales at Tamaliza Market are filled with fresh and organic ingredients (no processed ingredients at all - everything is from scratch) and cost $8 fully loaded with meat, guacamole and sour cream. Seriously SO GOOD. Admission to Crescent Moon Picnic Site is $10/vehicle.

Cabin Camping at Samuel P. Taylor State Park

Since beginning our family travels about a year ago we have made several trips to the Point Reyes National Seashore and each visit has left us longing for more. On our most recent trek to West Marin, we capped off our full day of exploring the area with a stay in the Samuel P. Taylor cabins. Located just 15 minutes from the town of Point Reyes Station, the cabins are the perfect option for those looking to spend time in the area without breaking the bank.

After our morning in Point Reyes Station, followed by an afternooon hike at the Tule Elk Preserve, we picked up some pizza to-go at Cafe Reyes in Point Reyes Station and headed on our way. Fifteen minutes later we were checking in at Samuel Taylor State Park and enjoying our pizza on the picnic table outside our lovely little cabin.

The cabins, which were built in 2012, come equipped with electricity, platform bunk beds with mattresses, wood floors, covered porches, and a small electric stove. There are 4 bunks (one full size mattress and three single beds) and the top bunks have rails, making them pretty safe for kids. All you have to bring is your bed linens and you are set! Our kids were ECSTATIC about the bunk beds. They must have spent the first thirty minutes bouncing around on the beds and squealing with joy.

After settling into the cabin we set out for a hike before the sun went down. I originally had grand plans of hiking to the top of Mt. Barnabe, but our earlier hike and excitement of "camping" was enough for one day, so we opted for an easy walk around the park. The cabins sit on the hillside across the street from the main campground area, so we started our hike by crossing Sir Francis Drake and following the path alongside Lagunitas Creek. The combination of the towering redwood trees, fresh air and rambling creek made for a very peaceful and enjoyable experience.

After exploring the grounds, we made our way back to the cabin and got a nice fire started (you can bring your own firewood or purchase a bundle for $8 at the entrance to the park). We gathered up some good sticks for roasting marshmallows and made s'mores while we enjoyed the warmth of the fire.

Bedtime is always a challenge when we travel, and this trip was no exception. The initial enthusiasm over sleeping in bunkbeds wore down as bedtime approached and it quickly became clear that we would be snuggling up together in the bottom bunks. After sleeping on a deflated air mattress on our recent trip to the Steep Ravine Cabins, having a mattress pad was a major luxury. If I didn't have a squirmy 2 year old spinning around the bed all night, I am sure it would have been a great nights sleep!

We woke up the next morning and enjoyed some coffee and french toast (we cheated and bought the frozen french toast from TJ's!!) before packing up the car and heading home. I would have loved to take advantage of the wonderful location and done some more exploring, but that will have to be saved for another trip (possibly when the kids are a bit older!).

Have you ever been cabin camping? Any recommendations for other cabin/glamping options?

Details: Samuel P. Taylor State Park is located off of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in the small town of Lagunitas, just 15 minutes from Point Reyes Station and Tomales Bay. There are 5 identical cabins (2 of which appear to be exclusively for handicap users). We stayed in Hazel Haven which is the closest to the bathrooms (bonus!), but Wren's nest would be the best option if you are looking for more privacy (it's at the end of the row of cabin and furthest from the bathrooms). Cabins rent for $100/night. Each cabin has a picnic table, fire pit, barbecue pit and water spicket outside. There is a general store just down the road in Lagunitas where you can buy basics as well as a larger grocery store and restaurants in the nearby town of Point Reyes Station. You can eat your meals at one of the nearby cafes and get away with little to no camp cooking if that appeals to you!