The Starnes Family

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

West Coast Travel Report - Imperial Beach

We traveled (not all the far) to the southwesterly most city in the continental United States. Left at 10:00am and drove south on the 5 to......

Imperial Beach!

Well, first we visited Coronado Island. I worked for a bit and the kids bowled with my boss's kids.

Best. Job. Ever.

Toured the island, saw the aircraft carriers and the new ship docked......helicopters, etc, etc. Military life is so cool.

Then, we cruised past the Del Coronado Hotel and headed down the strand to Imperial Beach. It hasn't been known for much over the years.....but has recently gotten a lot of improvements, including a plaza at the pier and some parks. We enjoyed it all!

From the pier, you can see downtown San Diego and the Coronado Bridge.

We went to the very end of the pier and figured we were the most southwesterly people in the U.S.

I so love this kind of dorky stuff.

There's Mexico! From the pier, you can see into the country. Lots of helicopters watching the border, I assume.

Starnes kids are sure whales and sharks are helping, too.

Back at the pier plaza, we had ice cream at Cowabunga. Voted the top creamery in San Diego.

Time for the water. Took a couple of shots under the pier.....not a safe place to play usually.

There's our 3.

This big jelly fish washed up on shore. Hopefully he made it back home later on. We were told several years ago not to touch these guys......that if the tide carries them back to the ocean, they can survive.

Sand dollar!

Dead baby (seagull?) (pelican?) birdy. :(

Lots of critters and shells on this beach. Not typical of north county beaches, where we live.

Our awesome oldest.

Treasures!

Jack stopped abruptly on our walk to examine this oddity.

"A mail box? I neber seen one of dese in real life!"

Obviously, I need to get this kid out more.

Here is Dunes Park, just north of the pier.

Best purchase in a very long time. We take these everywhere!

What's a park without a reptile?

Meet James Bond, the friendly iguana who strolled up while we were at the park.

Completely normal for SoCal.

5 miles north of downtown Tijuana. 26,000 residents. Cool little town.

Friends arrive later this week in from Sacramento! Can't wait.

Back soon with a post on traveling on a budget.

Later!

Imperial Beach on Dwellable

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Beach Life - Two More Crossed Off Our List!

We've been non-stop at the beach lately.

First up, Grandview in Leucadia, just between Carlsbad and Encinitas. We went in pursuit of Ponto Beach, but parking was limited, so we kept on down Coast Highway.

We are no pretty site getting to the sand.

Carter and Daniel are a bit more pulled together.

Park for free and walk down these steps. Beautiful, beautiful beach awaits.

Kids waxed their boards and got busy.

Jack and Lainey slide right up onto the sand.

I watched Lainey flip fully over the boogie board after a wave tossed her around. Sweet little girl came back to the blanket crying and sat down for a while. I walked to the water to check on Jack and returned to see her running toward the ocean again, telling me, "I Bethany Hamilton! I am going again!"

We watch a lot of Soul Surfer in our house.

Jack is working hard at learning how to surf.

Big brother is working hard at teaching him.

Such a good day.

Saturday, Laine had 3 birthday parties. So, the girls took off together.

And, the boys rode 10 miles round trip to the beach and back on their bikes.

Impressive!

That night, Lainey and I made a fringe shirt out of a $3.46 Walmart tshirt. She saw one like this at a surf shop weeks ago and has never forgotten it. So, we made it ourselves: