Our Vacation!!

We just finished our longest ever family vacation!!! We were gone 9 days..... had an awesome time... saw so many sights....and were never so ready to be home!!! I posted the pics....there were over 300 to go through...and while each of them were wonderful; I really hated to bore you with them..so I narrowed it down to 76!! I hope you enjoy them! I also tried to come up with the best way to put our trip into a short summary...we saw and did so much...I really have a hard time summarizing anything...so I'll do my best!!
Saturday, August 15 - Left bright and early and headed for the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon! We had visited this last November, but the day was extremely foggy and we really couldn't see anything..so we thought we should attempt it again! I'm glad we tried it again..we were not disappointed! The views were amazing! We hiked a couple of trails which lead to some beautiful waterfalls! We ended our day at the Multnomah Falls...a huge waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge! After a full day at the Gorge we headed down to Eugene for the night!
Sunday, August 16 - We left Eugene early and headed down to Crater Lake for the day!! Crater Lake was amazing...the water was so clear!! I haven't seen water this clear since we went to the Virgin Islands---It was beautiful! We took pics from every angle, hiked to the top of Watchman's Point....definitely the best point to see the Lake from! We spent most of the day at Crater Lake and then headed down to Medford for the night! On the way to Medford, Shawn spotted one of his weaknesses....a North Face Outlet store! So, we stopped off, found some bargains and then continued onto Medford!!
Monday, August 17 - One of two of the longest driving days!! We were headed to San Francisco...and 6 hours later we arrived!! It was pretty much a non-stop trip..we started our day off with a huge breakfast...and were determined to eat an early dinner in Chinatown! We arrived at our hotel in downtown S.F. around 2:30 and headed down to check out Chinatown! We fought our way through the crazy, busy Chinatown streets, bought some super cheap souveniers, and ate some yummy Chinese food!!
Tuesday, August 18 - We left the hotel at 8:30 and didn't get back until after 8:30 that night....it was a day full of up hill and down hill San Francisco sight seeing! We started off with a cable car ride down to Fisherman's wharf!! The Cable Cars were definitely a highlight of our time in San Francisco! We went to the Aquarium on the Bay, rode the double decker carousel, shopped on Pier 39, shopped and tasted-tested Ghiradelli Chocolates at the Original Chocolate Factory, Grady and I tasted shark for the first time!!, saw Lombard Street--known for being the crookedest street!, walked along the Bay, ate and ate and ate some more.....we then hopped back on the Cable Cars for a trip to Union Square---we decided we were pooped and would do Union Square the next day....so we took a couple of pics and then back up the hill to our hotel!
Wednesday, August 19 - Started the day at the Cable Car museum and then headed to the Golden Gate Bridge! We walked along the bridge...trying to avoid being hit by the crazy bicyclists!! We then headed off for a drive along the Bay...we got out and tromped around in the sand....forced Grady to walk next to the water---we were trying to get him to overcome his fear of waves!! We ended our day at Union Square where we had an awesome Mexican dinner and some cheesecake in the Square!
Thursday, August 20 - Our final day in San Francisco! We ended our visit with a cruise to Alcatraz!!! The tour was awesome....excuse the dorky headphones in the photos...it was part of the tour! I was definitely happy to only be visiting the prison---it was cold and damp...not a place I would have wanted to stay! There was a funny but true quote on one of the gift shop walls, "If you break the rules, you go to prison. If you break the prison rules, you go to Alcatraz." Very true! After Alcatraz we grabbed a bite of lunch at Butterfly...let me just take a quick detour here...we had some of the best food while we were gone! I had quite possibly the best hamburger I have ever eaten....it was Kobe beef, aged cheddar cheese and some special sauce....Shawn had a sushimi salad...which he got Gabe--the "I'm never eating fish boy" to try!! I declared that if I lived in S.F. I would weigh a ton!!! The food was awesome! Okay back to the trip...we headed north on HWY 101..when we decided to take a detour! We decided to take HWY 1 along the CA. coast! When we started this drive it appeared to be a short detour..maybe an hour or so longer than taking 101....oh contrair....the trip should have taken at the most 3.5 hours on 101 and 6.5 hours later we arrived in Arcata, CA!!! This was the most beautiful drive I have ever taken, it was completely along the Northern CA. coast...the road was crazy curvy...it was like the road was tied up in knots---I have to admit when we first started this "detour" I was annoyed....I was pooped and just wanted to get to the next hotel! But after seeing my first grey whale...my attitude changed! I have seen whales in captivity before but actually seeing them in the wild..WOW!! So 6.5 crazy curvy winding hours later.....we were in bed!
Friday, August 21 - After our crazy night before we decided to sleep in.....until a whopping 8:00!!! We grabbed a quick bite and then headed off to the Redwood National Forest! This place was amazing.....the pictures do not do the Redwoods justice...they are HUGE!! When I tried to wrap my arms around the tree, I couldn't even get an eighth of the way around it...when we found a fallen tree, all four of us climbed up on it....and it wasn't just "throw your leg over the trunk", it was climb up the trunk and have a seat! This was probably one of the more memorable parts of the trip...for all of us! You just can't believe how big these things are until you have stood next to one!
Saturday, August 22 - A day of driving along the Oregon Coast! We really hadn't planned too much for Saturday...just drive along, enjoy the view, enjoy the beach...whatever the mood struck! We stopped off at the world's largest sea lion cave...and while the sea lions had opted to spend their day sunning on the rocks and not in the cave..we had another opportunity to spot some breaching Grey Whales! It is absolutely awesome to witness this---definitely something I will never forget! We had heard the Oregon Coast drive was one of the best...and while it was beautiful...if you ever have the chance, I wouldn't miss the California coast drive.....Shawn and I both agree it was worth the late night, white knuckled driving!
Sunday, August 23 - We spent the night in Astoria, OR. right on the WA and OR border. After breakfast we headed to Long Beach, WA. This was one of the places along the WA. coast we had heard was a must see...the other being Ocean Shores--which we did in the end of July! When we arrived in Long Beach..the place was packed! I had assumed it was because it was an absolutely gorgeous and clear day...but the actual reason was because there was a kite flying competition! I never knew there was an actual way to fly a kite...but there is! These competitors put their kite flying to music...I could have stayed there all day....it was mesmerizing! But home was awaiting us....so on we went!!! Home never loooked so good and my bed has never felt so inviting!! Good to go...but good to be home!