Trip to the Coast

We all took a trip to the coast last weekend. It was a much needed vacation. We went shopping all day on Friday and then traveled to Atascadero and stayed the night. The next morning we were off to Pismo. We stayed in a beautiful hotel called Shelter Cove. It had fantastic views. 

This was the view outside of our room.

Santiago loved sitting in the chair and taking in the sights and rays of warm sunshine.

After checking in we were off again we visited a roadside stand, only it was more like a farmers market on steroids. They had all sorts of fruits, veggies, jams, nuts, pastries, roasted corn, sheep, goats, hens, roosters, and fields of sunflowers. I think it was one of my favorite parts, and it was just a spur of the moment decision to visit it. This is one thing I love about my husband he comes up with the most interesting and fun things to do. It is like Christmas all the time for me being married to him. 

Then we went to Avila Beach and spent sometime walking around and visited a few shops. Avila beach is smaller than Pismo but significantly less crowded and it has nice playground areas for children. 

Later that night we headed home. Santiago did not enjoy sleeping in a portable crib that evening. It was a rough night for all of us. He only slept from about 9:30 until 3:00 and then he was in our bed for the rest of the night. This is Santi and I about 8 am giving Santi his morning sippy cup of milk.

Later on that day we hiked down to the beach and showed Santi the ocean. Gerardo carried Santiago when it got too steep and rugged for the stroller. Last time we visited the ocean with him he was asleep the whole time so it was really fun to see him discover the waves for the first time. The tree on the cliff is the same tree in the previous picture. The hole in the cliff by the water is difficult to see in the picture but it was amazing to see in real life.

Santi is all about discovering things on his own. He is so independent I love it!

I think he really liked the texture of the sand and pebbles on his feet.

On the way back up we stopped to look at a viewpoint between two cliffs and I saw something in the distance. It looked like fins of some kind. It turned out to be dolphins! A whole pod of them. (Do you like my new word? I had to look up what a group of dolphins was called!)

 It was so much fun to watch them jumping out of the water and diving back in. They traveled so fast, they were soon out of sight but it was amazing while it lasted! 

It was really an awesome relaxing trip, hoping we can do it again one day!