A Jaunt to Santa Cruz

The wildfires are raging in Redding/Carr and Mendocino so the air quality hasn't been good here. We decided to skip a trip to Lake Tahoe and escape instead to the Pacific.

Santa Cruz had plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. The kids loved the games and rides at the boardwalk especially Logger's Revenge. Owen also waited in a long line to take a ride in the Haunted Castle which he says was totally worth it.

There was no shortage of nature in the area. We visited Henry Cowell state park and walked amidst the redwoods. We even went inside one that was hollowed out by a fire where someone lived and had a small cutout for a cabinet. We saw a banana slug, the mascot of UC Santa Cruz.

Later we took a short drive to Natural Bridges state park. The cold temps didn't deter the kids.

We went kayaking and saw sea otters, a kelp forest, a crab, jelly fish and sea lions. Owen took a surfing lesson and was a natural getting up on his first try! See video below.

We also drove to the Monterey Aquarium where we saw more sea otters, jellyfish, octopuses, eels, penguins and sharks. It was awesome!

And the kids also gave the all-you-can-eat breakfast the thumbs up at the Holiday Inn Express.