Monterey Bay, CA

My sister lives in Trinidad, way at the tipy-top of California, and we live down here at the bottom of Cali.  SO, to celebrate my nephew Kody's birthday we decided to literally, meet in the middle, and stay a couple nights in Monterey, CA. We loaded the Suburban, grabbed my dad, picked up my brother in LA on the way, and moseyed our way up the California coast. 
After we sort of "ascended" on the Marriott lobby (picture 4 adults & 4 children that have been traveling all day pouring out of one vehicle with all of our luggage, it was one part Beverly hillbillies and one part clown car) we promptly set off to have a Pizza Party for the birthday boy.

Check out ALL those bouncy balls!

The cousins were so excited to see each other and had a blast hanging out and using their tokens to get more and more (and more and more) bouncy balls. It's not a party until you've got $30 worth of bouncy balls!

The next morning we headed over to our premiere destination, the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

This was as close as it got to everyone looking AND smiling.

Summer "petting" the rays

The "big" girls

This was one of Maverick's favorite exhibits with sea turtles, sharks, sun fish and you guessed it, Mahi Mahi!



The kids got in a Giant Clam.



Eric joined them.



Cousins!



Daddy & Aurora as a Jelly

 After the aquarium, and linner (lunch/dinner), we burnt some calories at Dennis the Menace Park. We ran through mazes, over bridges, through tunnels, slid down slides, climbed rocks and had a blast.  This park is a must if you're in the area.



That's us on the bridge, it's hard to see.

The next morning we got ready and packed up but before we headed home we went for a walk on the pier. 

It was a beautiful clear day, but very chilly.

We had been talking all weekend about seeing otters.  OK well actually, some of us (not me certainly) had been talking all weekend about eating otter burgers, otter souffle, etc., you get the picture.  While this was a TOTAL joke we really did want to see some otters, and on the very last day, right before we left to go home, we saw two! They swam right under where we were standing.

Aren't they cute!

Disclaimer: No actual otters were consumed (or harmed in general) during this vacation!

I've heard about the Madonna Inn (mostly from my friend Jenni) and driven past it, but never actually stopped and gone in, and neither had anyone else in the car.  So when we passed it on the way up to Monterey, we made a plan to stop in San Luis Obispo on the way back and check it out. It was time to get our pink on.
 

Madonna is the owners last name, the Inn has been around since 1958, predating the fame of The Material Girl.

Welcome  (I'm so excited)!

The Madonna Inn is something that you just have to see in person. From the hand-carved wood, and gold European fixtures to the natural stone and stained glass, this place is like no other; and oh yes, there is this subtle hint of pink.  OK, it's not subtle at all, the inn is smothered in PINK: pink carpet, pink walls, pink upholstered booths and chairs, pink linens, not to be outdone by the GOLD molding and trims.



The pictures do not do it justice but in addition to all the pink & gold, it was also decorated for Christmas!

After we explored the gift shops (yes that's plural), dining room, wine cellar, bakery, cocktail lounge, banquet rooms and bathrooms (the bathrooms are VERY unique), we made our way to the coffee shop to have lunch.

The kids loved sipping out of the colorful glass goblets and tea cups.



Desserts (we ordered three) including the Pink Champagne Cake.



It was totally worth the stop but we were pooped and ready be on our way, so homeward bound it was.

Grandpa keeping it fresh.