Planning for The Holidays

I am making plans to spend time at the house after Christmas.  Although the spring and fall are the best times of the year for warm weather the beach in the winter time has always seemed magical to me.  Walking on the beach when a gale is blowing is exhilarating and always makes me feel so alive.  I also love the otherworldly feeling of walking at night in a deep, deep fog.  Surprisingly though, some of the best days that our family spent where around Thanksgiving and Christmas - warm weather and beautiful sunsets were more typical than cold and storms.  Even when the weather on shore is pleasant and sunny the beach changes on a daily basis due to the variety of debris from the storms out at sea that is deposited during each tide change and the carving and erasing of dunes by the strong currents.

I miss the beach and can't wait to go!

Family Reunion

Last weekend we had a family reunion, of sorts, at the house.   My sister from CO was in CA to visit her daughter and new grand-daughter so we took the opportunity to get as many of us together as possible.  In the end we had nine adults and five kids.  We used the time to clean-up  the landscaping in the back, replace the blinds, clean carpets, etc.  As they say many hands make light work, and we had plenty of time to enjoy each others company.

Saturday morning after a traditional popover breakfast my sister and I went out bought a bunch of crabs from the harbor for dinner.  There is nothing better than sitting down at a table with a big pile of cracked crab, green salad and crusty bread.  We have fans of all styles - cocktail sauce, mayonnaise or melted butter with garlic.  I like them all.  We also have people who eat the crab as fast as they get it out of the shell and others who patiently build a big pile of crab meat before digging in.

Where did everyone sleep?  One sister and a neice slept in the back bedroom suite with 4 of the kids;  Another sister and neice in the master suite with the other baby; sister and brother-in-law in the second master suite; and I selpt in the lower bedroom with my brother and his wife.  Everyone was very comfortable and all had a great time.

It's time to think about your summer vacation.  Book the house now for a week in July or August.

Although our house is big enough to accomodate several people it has the advantage of having several nooks and retreats that help you from feeling like you are living on top of eachother.

The back deck is a true haven.  From this private, secluded deck you have a great view of the Monterey Bay, but you have privacy that would not be available on a front deck.  When the strong ocean breezes blow in the afternoon the back deck is protected by the house.  This deck can be reached by stairs outside the dining room or by a skyway from the back bedroom on the top floor.  Sit out here in the morning with your coffee, sunbathe in the afternoon, barbecue in the evening.  This is really a great hideaway or a great place to gather.

Spring Has Sprung!!

I just spent two weeks at the house and had a glorius time.  When I first got there it was raining like mad, but within a few days the sun came out and it was stunningly beautiful.

Even when it is rainy it is wonderful to walk on the beach.  The early morning on weekdays is especially tranquil.  Be sure to check a good tide table so yu know if it is low tide or high tide.  NOAA is probably the most accurate http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/geo.shtml?location=95003.    Nights and early morning can still be chilly this time of year so be sure to have a good jacket and shoes that you don't mind getting sandy or even wet.

When you are not walking on the beach sitting up on the back deck is really pleasant.  Especially in the afternoon when the ocean breezes tend to blow.  The house offers protection from the wind, but you still have a spectacular view of the bay  Inside the house you can enjoy wine and cheese in the living room.  The Bay window brings the view to you.  For a more romantic location sit in the bay window in the master bedroom for cocktails and privacy.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium - Things to Do

A great daytrip to take while you are staying at our house is a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Just jump on Highway 1 and head south and you can be there in under an hour.  If you go plan on spending at least half the day there, but you can just as easily spend the entire day.

There is so much to see and do.  You can watch as the otters are put through their agility training that keeps them active and healthy.  Try to catch the show when the divers enter the giant kelp forest to feed the fish.  The divers are miked and explain about the giant kelp and the different types of fish that they are swimming with and how they all interact under the sea.

If you have small children with you then a visit to the Splash Zone is a must.  This is were you can see the penguins and put on your apron and play in the water.  In the shore area you stand "under" the water as the tide comes crashing in and fills the tidal pool located on the observation deck.  Of course "kids" of all ages will want to reach in and touch the bat rays as they skim by in the petting tank -- please remember to be very gentle!

When I visited just recently my favorite displays where the jelly fish and the sea dragons.  I felt that I could have spent all day watching the eeirly beautiful sea dragons float through the water.  They look so much like floating lace, it would be almost impossible to pick them out if they wre surrounded by seaweed.  They do not look like they are real.

If you are a seafood eater be sure to pick up the information available at the aquarium about the best choices of fish and shell fish when you are dining out or shopping.  It is important for the health of our planet to consume seafood responsibly.  Another fun stop is the "cafe" where ordering frequently featured menu items lets you know whether those items are good or bad choices depending on how they are fished or farmed.

When you get hungry there is a restaurant inside the aquarium or, if you have planned ahead, you can bring a lunch with you and sit out on the observation deck on a nice day, enjoy your lunch and watch the otters, whales and seabirds as they go by in their natural habitat. 

Another option would be to leave the aquarium and walk up to the recreation trail that goes through Pacific Grove and Monterey.  If you take a right onto the trail you will pass Berwick Park and on to Lovers Point Park, a really great way to end your day .