Crescent City Family Vacation Part 1

It's been quite awhile since we went on a family vacation and it seemed like the right time, so we made plans to go to the Redwoods (which we've wanted to see for a long time).  After some research I found that Crescent City, California (on the coast) is close to the Redwoods, so you can spend time on the beach and also see the Redwoods.  We found a great deal on a rental house in Crescent City and it turned out to be a great location, just about 5 minutes from a fantastic beach.  The whole trip seemed like angels were orchestrating it.  After I booked the trip, the forecast said that it would rain for most or all of our trip.  I was disappointed, but we bought some ponchos and decided we'd make the best of it.  Then we were able to go on our trip a day early and the owners of the rental house let us have the extra day for free.  During our trip, the only bad weather was either in the night or when we were at church.  Some of the days were so nice, you didn't even need a jacket.  It was a sweet blessing.  Even the last day, which all the forecasts said would be rainy, turned into a beautiful day, topped off with a rainbow leading to our favorite beach. 

We drove to Crescent City on a Thursday.  It was a long day, the 10 1/2 hour drive took us 13 hours.  But the kids did so well and Mark was an awesome driver. I spend the drive in the back keeping the baby happy, which kept everyone happy. 

There was a bit of snow from a recent storm on the drive.  It slowed us down a bit, but not too much and it made for some very pretty scenery.

At one point, Daniel just needed a break, so we pulled off the road and he got to "drive' the (stationary) car for awhile.

 Here's Andy by a large ceramic owl at the rental house, one of the many breakable decorations that we moved temporarily so the baby couldn't get to it.

This great tree was in front of the rental house and Daniel was afraid of it. :)

 On our first day, we went to see Battery Point Lighthouse.  It was constructed in 1856, and it's been operational and occupied since then.  It's only accessible at low tide.  Volunteers live there for a month at a time and give tours

 The walk up there was a bit of a hike (Mark got lots of good exercise carrying the stroller. And he never complained). But there were some great shells and rocks on the path that is covered during high tide.

After the lighthouse, we went looking for a good beach, and soon we found a great one that was beautiful, mostly deserted, and right by our rental house.

 Beach fun!

 Pretty Grace

 Every time we went to the beach (which was most days, often multiple times), Andy would find a stick and dig and draw and build and whatever else boys do.  It was so cute.

 Each of the kids had a bucket for finding sea shells, rocks and sand dollars.  The kids learned that after a wave went out, they should run and look for sand dollars.  They found lots of them.

 I love this picture that Mark took of me and Grace, very cool.

 BethAnne spearheaded the construction of a sandcastle.

While one of us would watch the kids on the beach, Mark or I would often sit in the car while the baby took naps and this was our view.

Mark was on baby duty in the mornings, which was a bit of a challenge at the non-babyproof house, but again he never complained and was always so cheerful, the whole trip. Here's a picture he took one morning.

Stay tuned for Part 2, our day at Trees of Mystery...