Monday, June 27, 2011

California Vacation Part 2: San Diego

The drive from Big Bear to San Diego is about 4 hours, so we broke up the trip by visiting one of Jason’s co-worker’s horse ranch in Temecula, CA.  The kids loved seeing all of the horses in the barn and taking a ride on Flash!  Trudy was a champ and rode with each of the kids.

20110614_Big Bear and San Diego_206720110614_Big Bear and San Diego_207020110614_Big Bear and San Diego_207720110614_Big Bear and San Diego_2085 20110614_Big Bear and San Diego_2088

Next stop:  La Jolla….

Casa Beach is home to all of these seals and sea lions.  It was great fun to watch these awesome creatures in action!  As the tide got higher on the beach the animals moved higher up the beach as well!  I took Marin down to the water to check it out and it was COLD.  We knew we wouldn’t be swimming in the ocean any time soon on this trip!

20110614_Big Bear and San Diego_209120110614_Big Bear and San Diego_209420110614_Big Bear and San Diego_208920110614_Big Bear and San Diego_209220110614_Big Bear and San Diego_2098IMG_057620110614_Big Bear and San Diego_2093

The next few days in San Diego were busy.  We played on the beach, visited an aircraft carrier (think Top Gun), and took the kids to a Science Center & IMAX.  We originally thought we would hit the San Diego Zoo & LegoLand, but after talking to several families with toddlers, they advised that these were geared more toward kids who weren’t napping—just too much to do and see in one day!   That just means we’ll have to come back for a visit at a later date!

20110615_Big Bear and San Diego_201320110615_Big Bear and San Diego_201920110615_Big Bear and San Diego_2029

Midway Museum:  An amazing ship!

20110615_Big Bear and San Diego_203220110615_Big Bear and San Diego_203120110615_Big Bear and San Diego_203820110615_Big Bear and San Diego_204020110615_Big Bear and San Diego_204420110615_Big Bear and San Diego_204620110615_Big Bear and San Diego_204920110615_Big Bear and San Diego_205320110615_Big Bear and San Diego_206220110615_Big Bear and San Diego_2064

Walking to dinner one night, we came upon this ‘Silver-Coated Mime.’  He was very good at his job, but he scared the bejeepers out of the kids!! 

20110616_Big Bear and San Diego_196320110616_Big Bear and San Diego_196520110616_Big Bear and San Diego_196720110616_Big Bear and San Diego_196820110616_Big Bear and San Diego_196920110616_Big Bear and San Diego_1970

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

This place was amazing…it was very similar to a Children’s Museum, but had more Science interactive things for kids to explore.  Of all things, Marin’s favorite activity was turning the conveyor belt and watching her ‘groceries’ move.  Of course, Oliver loved the fire truck!

20110616_Big Bear and San Diego_197320110616_Big Bear and San Diego_197720110616_Big Bear and San Diego_198020110616_Big Bear and San Diego_198120110616_Big Bear and San Diego_198920110616_Big Bear and San Diego_1990

Walking over from the Science Center to the Rose Garden.

20110616_Big Bear and San Diego_199320110616_Big Bear and San Diego_200120110616_Big Bear and San Diego_2005

Rush Concert:

Jason & Jeff finished out our vacation strong and went to a Rush concert.  Jas met up with a few of his co-workers and had a jolly good time.

20110617_Big Bear and San Diego_195220110617_Big Bear and San Diego_195320110617_Big Bear and San Diego_195420110617_Big Bear and San Diego_1955

It was really hard to leave those 70 degree California temps and ocean views to come back to the heat and humidity in Austin.  Oy!  Lucky for Jason, he’ll be back there in a flash for work! 

No comments: