Meeker Family Vacation Part 2: Monterey, CA

So we left San Francisco to drive to our next destination:  Monterey, CA.  My older brother, K.C., and his family live there.  K.C. is in the Coast Guard and has been stationed here for a couple years now.  Monterey is definitely one of the most BEAUTIFUL places I have ever seen!  But it's COLD in the summer!!!  I had my coat on the entire time!  My brother's home is owned by the Coast Guard.  They have the cutest home right in between a working lighthouse and a golf course.  Check out these views literally RIGHT outside their windows!

Point Pinos Lighthouse built in 1855--and STILL in use:)

The Golf Course on the other side of their home

The beach a short walk away

This was hands down our kid's most favorite part of our entire trip!  (Next time we'll just drive to Monterey and stay all week--save a lot of money that way:)  The kids just LOVE LOVE LOVE playing with their cousins.  We definitely don't get to see them as much as we would like to.

Because their home is right next to a golf course, there are a TON of golf balls hit into their yard.  The kids had the BEST time "hunting" for golf balls.  It was kinda like Easter all over again, but with a LOT more to find:) 

Seth, Max, and Ethan 

Carlie and Cali

Such fun:)

So after literally finding hundreds of balls, we all headed down to the beach to find crabs in the tide pools:

This beach reminded me of "Goonies"

I could not get Hanna to keep her shoes on:)

Tatum was TERRIFIED of the hermit crabs:)

Brave Ethan:)

Max just wanted everyone to see his "owie" on his leg--he didn't even cry by the way:)

Hanna was the bravest of all--a crab in each hand!!!

We had one full day in Monterey so we had to hit the "World-Renowned Sea Aquarium!"  It was pretty darn amazing.  LOTS and lots of Jellyfish:

This is the most amazing seahorse I've ever seen!  It was called a Leafy Sea Dragon

Here the kids got to experience a tidal wave!

Lots of things to touch:)

Tatum...terrified but touching the starfish:)

We sure had the best time at Uncle K.C.'s house.  On our last night there, we HAD to visit the amazing Point Pinos Lighthouse before we left and we were in luck because K.C. has his own personal keys to the lighthouse--which is NOT haunted thank goodness--yes, I was concerned about this:)  So we had our own personal tour of the lighthouse and even got to go to the very top--which no one is allowed to do:)  We felt so special:

Oh yeah...we got our own personal tour of the lighthouse:) 

So a HUGE thank you to K.C. and Carolynn and their kids for being the most WONDERFUL hosts!  We had a BLAST and can't wait to see you guys again at Thanksgiving!!!