California Adventure - LA and Disneyland

Our very last full day in California was spent at Disneyland (we spent 2 nights in a hotel in Anaheim). If you ask the kids, it's the only thing we did the entire trip. We knew they'd like it, but they loved it so so so much. Eloise thanks us for taking her there nearly every day since we've returned home and George tells anyone that will listen that he met Mickey Mouse. We stayed in the park for literally 12 hours and it was the best day. We followed it up the next day by an afternoon in Beverly Hills and lunch on Rodeo Drive before catching our evening flight back home. 

It's a Small World After All

Teacups

Teacups again

Pure happiness and laughter

Pluto

Minnie

Mickey 

Goofy

Cinderella

California Adventure - San Diego

We drove along the Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu (so very beautiful!) and on into LA traffic, eventually arriving in San Diego. We stayed in San Diego at the Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla for 4 nights. Our time in San Diego was highlighted by hiking Torrey Pines State Park, exploring the San Diego Zoo, visiting with our good friends, the Gilberts, who were staying at the Hotel Del Coronado, and spending time with our fabulous friend Brooke who flew from San Francisco to see us! Another highlight for Eloise was witnessing a real live animal rescue at Seal Beach in La Jolla - they captured a young sea lion who was injured by an alarmingly large fish hook.  

Pacific Coast Highway - Route 1

The guided bus at the Zoo

Matching zoo-goers

Elle the elephant tamer

Ready for the pool!

The pool at Hotel Del

Hikers at Torrey Pines

Hikers carrying hikers

We hiked down to this beautiful beach

Beaching 

Torrey Pines pool, golf course, ocean

Seal Beach

Eloise and seals

Sea World Animal Rescuers to the rescue! 

Next (and last) stop - LA...

California Adventure - Ojai & Santa Barbara

After Yosemite we drove to Ojai - with one overnight stop on the way. We chose Ojai because many people suggested we spend time in Santa Barbara, and at only 17 miles east, we thought Ojai might be more our speed since it is nestled in the mountains and it sounded like a fabulously laid back, somewhat hippie, quiet Californian town. We were right. We loved Ojai. And we loved the beautiful Ojai Valley Inn and Spa - the best service, great restaurants where you can watch your kids run around on the golf course, talking parrots, free yoga classes - we stayed 5 nights and we didn't want to leave!

We were lucky to find this random motel in the middle of nowhere -

and yes, we nailed that hot tub

The pool at Ojai Valley

Jump!

Putting lessons

Golfing with his guys

Andrew's nightly spot - with the fireplace only appearing out of control...

We celebrated Easter at Ojai - 

egg hunt, face painting, crafts, cookie decorating and an amazing brunch

George's eggs he found during his hunt with all the 0-3 year olds

Eloise looking for candy in her eggs

Warming up by the pool on Easter

 Digging in the sand in Santa Barbara

 Stomping in the ocean

Our favorite restaurant of the trip - we ate here twice

Hiking in Ojai

 Beautiful mountain view!

 Drinks overlooking the golf course

Running wild

Most nights, they slept like this...

California Adventure - Yosemite

Andrew earned a 4 week sabbatical from work that ended just this week. His month off was spent exploring California on a 2 week adventure with us, skiing for 5 days in Colorado with Jon and Andy, growing a beard, and he had about a week total to relax (?) at home.

Our California adventure began with a flight to LAX, picking up our rental car and driving several hours to our first destination - Yosemite National Park. We spent one night en route to Yosemite and two nights at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. We drove on winding mountain roads (in sun, rain and snow), we hiked, we skied, we explored waterfalls and sequoias and we loved visiting this truly beautiful National Park.

Doesn't it look like an Olan Mills backdrop?

 Lake, mountains, nature nature everywhere

Drew and kids at Tunnel View

Deer grazing ALL over Yosemite - we also saw coyotes (but no bears - darn!)

Chair lift at Badger Pass - Drew and George

Chair lift at Badger Pass - Mom and Elles

Our blue square skier

Silly moves on the slopes

Sunning at the lodge - Badger Pass

Yosemite Falls (actually 3 separate falls and one of the world's tallest)

 Sequoias - Mariposa Grove

Grizzly Giant (notice how George hiked in comfort)

Man made tunnel in a sequoia