Walking across the Golden Gate Bridge

While up in the Bay Area, I took my boys to do one of my all time classic San Francisco adventures - walking on the Golden Gate Bridge.  It wasn't the most gorgeous day, but it was a classic foggy day on the Bay. 

One of the things I love most about the Bay Area is that it is full of low cost or free adventures.  Whether you love getting out and exploring nature, taking in the sights of the city on foot or just walking across the Golden Bridge, there are tons of things you can to to fill in the time between some of the more costly adventures the city can offer.

My boys were beyond excited to park at vista point and walk out a bit on the bridge.  Below is another picture we took that day.  Notice my two little photographers with their Nintendo DSi's in hand.  They both were snapping away taking pictures galore on their DSi's.

Have you taken the time to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge?

Read more...

Book a Duffy Boat Cruise - 50% off (great deal but HURRY)

Going out boating brings back a lot of memories from my childhood.  (I spent a lot of time cruising around the world as a kid, but we'll save those stories for another post..) 

When I saw the weekly Screamin Deal I knew I had to share it with you guys!  For $67 (almost 50% savings!) you can purchase and book a cruise around Newport Harbor on a Duffy Boat!  That's hard to beat and a guaranteed fun adventure for your family.  Head on over here to take advantage of this amazing deal, but hurry because this deal is only available for another 6 hours...

Read more...

Surfing? Yeah... No thanks.

Ummm... yeah.  This is one reason you won't find me surfing out in the Pacific Ocean.  In a wave pool, maybe, but after this video taken off the coast of San Onofre Beach, CA it is clear I will never become an ocean surfer.

Me my Shark and I from Chuck Patterson on Vimeo.

Are you a surfer?  Have you ever seen sharks in the water around you?

Read more...

Our Recent Tidepooling at Crystal Cove - Wordless Wednesday

Read more...

Beach Clean-up in Seal Beach This Weekend

Looking for a great family activity this weekend here in the OC?  Head on over to Seal Beach for the monthly beach clean-up sponsored by Save Our Beach.  It starts at 9 am and goes till Noon.  Meet at the beach parking lot at the end of 1st street in Seal Beach.  Bring gloves and a trash grabber.  For more information head here.

It's a great way to teach your kids to respect and take care of the beach!

Read more...

Ambassadors of the Environment Program at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel

"People protect what they love...

teach the children to love the planet and they will protect it." 

-Jean Michel Cousteau

Hearing him say that in person at the launch event for the Ambassadors of the Environment program at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel echoed a sentiment I have felt for many years.  As an ocean loving Mom, you've probably noticed I have a tremendous amount of posts that relate to the ocean or nature in some way.  I always find myself heading to the beach when I need to just relax from a crazy day (or week or month!).  Teaching my kids to love the ocean is very important to me.  

I am so excited to hear and share information about some of the AMAZING programs that are being offered at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, CA. The Ritz Carlton is partnering with the Ocean Futures Society to bring these amazing programs to Orange County. 

You don't have to be a guest at the hotel to register for them.  Everything from sustainable gardening, snorkeling in the nearby kelp forest (Ever seen the murky water off Dana Point?  I had never realized THAT is actually a kelp forest!), organic cooking, underwater photography, tide pooling, boogie boarding, whale watching and much much more.  The programs are very reasonably priced and with the world renowned hospitality of the Ritz Carlton, you know your kids will have an amazing time!  Go here for more information about these amazing programs.

Read more...

Sunset on the Balcony at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel -Wordless Wednesday

Read more...

And that is why... Wordless Wednesday

You don't swim in the outlet of the creek at Aliso Creek Beach...

Read more...

Mother's Day Brunch Idea

Mother's Day is coming up and if you don't have plans yet... The Californian Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach is a great place to head to.  The menu for the morning is mouthwatering to say the least...

The brunch will also include a sumptuous Hot Entrees station will boast Grilled Rack of Lamb with Mango-Mint Chutney, Prime Rib of Beef complimented by Horseradish, Dijon and Pommery Mustards, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Pineapple-Glazed Ham, Roasted Chicken and Spinach Ravioli with Garlic, Cream and Reggiano and Shrimp & Mascarpone Ravioli will be available at the Pasta Station. The Seafood Station will include a Sushi Bar featuring a bountiful selection of freshly made-to-order Sushi, Jumbo Shrimp and Crab Claws, Smoked Atlantic Salmon and Californian Ceviche Shooters. For dessert, the pastry team will tempt the taste buds with a sensational assortment of delectable sweets including Warm Apple Cobbler, assorted Cupcakes featuring Red Velvet, Vanilla and Coconut flavors, a Strawberry Shortcake Station, Ice Cream Sundae Bar, miniature pastries, parfaits, and the ever popular Chocolate Fountain, an endless supply of rich warm imported chocolates accompanied by an array of dipping choices.

Brunch is from 10am- 2pm and reservations are encouraged. Cost is $78 for adults, $68 for seniors and $25 for kids ages 6-12 (5 & under are free). Call (714) 845-4885 to make your reservations now!

Read more...

Even Parking Meters Have Joined the 21st Century!

Yesterday, my husband and I took the boys to downtown Laguna Beach for some shopping and lounging at the beach.  It was a gorgeous day and we obviously weren't the only ones with the idea to hang out at the beach because finding a parking spot took a while.  Once we found street parking, we did the usual scrounging around for coins.  I popped out of the car to load up the parking meter and couldn't believe what I saw... all parking meters in Laguna now accept Visa/Mastercards!  Um, wow. 

I didn't think anyone would believe me so I snapped the picture above as proof.

Anyone else see the parking meters of the 21st Century?  I'd love to know where else you can find them!

Read more...

Wordless Wednesday...

Because I can't get enough beach pictures in...

Read more...

Wordless Wednesday Aliso Creek Beach

My boys showing off the coconut they found at the beach earlier this week.

Read more...

What Refreshes You?

Today we stopped by Aliso Creek Beach in South Laguna Beach and took these videos.  Not sure if the large waves were from the storm we just had or from the storm coming in later this week, but they were definitely mesmerizing!  I could watch/listen to the videos over and over again.  :)




There's just something soothing to me about listening to the ocean. All I need is a few short minutes at the beach to feel rejeuvenated. What rejeuvenates you?

Please share!

Read more...

Hyatt Recency Huntington Beach Spa Discounts for Beach Clean-up

One of the biggest draws of people here in California is its’ beaches. But unfortunately from time to time people forget that the beach doesn’t clean itself! I can’t tell you how many beach clean-ups I have participated in over the years (I started waaaay back in Middle School!). It’s always been something I loved doing (any excuse to go to the beach!) but am always saddened to see the junk that people leave at the beach. Kinda leaves you wondering if people forget what the garbage cans are there for! I’ve personally found everything from syringes to wrappers to hundreds of cigarette butts to let’s just not mention… Gross!!!


When I found out that the Pacific Waters Spa at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach Resort & Spa would be offering fantastic discounts to participants in the upcoming OC Coastal Clean-up Day on September 19th, I knew I had to share it! Volunteers who take advantage of the Pacific Waters Spa discount will have access to the resort’s 20,000 square foot spa that includes a full-service beauty spa, 24 hour health club, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauns, outdoor co-ed relaxation garden with waterfall and a spa retail store! They are offering a drastically discounted rate of $99 (normally $145!!!) for the Pure Results Facial for participants in the Coastal Clean-up effort! What a deal!! To get your coupon click here and for more information about the Coastal Clean-up click here.


Get your kids started in volunteering early and teach them some great personal responsibility at the same time!

For more information about the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach click here.

Read more...

Tide Pooling Times for 9/2/09 - 9/9/09

Here are some of the photos from our last time tide pooling (at Aliso Creek State Beach) and the high/low tides for the next week (including the best times to go tide pooling here in Orange County, CA). Be sure to pop back on and post a comment if you did go tide pooling during one of these times and how it was! A quick reminder that the best time for tide pooling is when the tide is going out after a particularly high tide. You want to catch it before the new tide starts to come in.

There are some great ones over the next week, all of them falling in the afternoon to early evening. I’m highlighting & staring the best times to go tide pooling because there are so many of them! Click here for a post about our favorite beach to go Tide Pooling – Crystal Cove State Beach, Newport Beach, CA.


9/2/09
High 9:15 am & 8:41 pm
Low 3:01 am & 2:36 pm*


9/3/09
High 9:35 am & 9:12 pm
Low 3:23 pm & 3:06 pm*

9/4/09

High 9:55 am & 9:43 pm

Low 3:44 am & 3:38 pm*

9/5/09

High 10:17 am & 10:16 pm

Low 4:05 am & 4:12 pm*

9/6/09
High 10:40 am & 10:52 Pm
Low 4:26 am & 4:49 pm*


9/7/09
High 11:06 am & 11:32 pm
Low 4:47 am & 5:31 pm*


9/8/09
High 11:35 am
Low 5:08 am & 6:21 pm*


9/9/09
High 12:23 am & 12:11 pm
Low 5:30 am & 7:25 pm

Read more...

Waves From Tropical Storm Ignacio

Just had to share some of our pictures from Aliso Creek Beach earlier this evening (yes that is an adult in the photo!)... The waves are huge from Tropical Storm Ignacio just off the Baja California Coast is bringing in the large waves and causing dangerous rip currents - so be careful!

For more information about the wave warnings click here.

Happy wave watching!

Read more...

It's Wave Watching Time for Orange County!

**First off, let me put a warning out… ocean waves can be very dangerous and what I am recommending is NOT swimming in them right now, but merely checking them out for the fun of it from a safe viewing place!**

With monstrous waves heading at the OC beaches right now, I thought it would be fun to try and catch a neat sunset at Aliso Creek Beach tonight. Well, I managed to get one out of two of those goals accomplished tonight (the cloud cover had come in so the sunset was obscured). I must say the waves were pretty cool and are predicted to remain this way through Saturday. Apparently there was a large storm in Tahiti and the waves are now reaching our shores as a result of it.

Well, whatever the cause it made for a total spur of the moment fun adventure for our family tonight! At about 7pm we decided to head down to Aliso Creek State Beach and check them out for ourselves. When we first arrived, the waves were okay… not too large, but not small either. Then shortly after I took this picture (sorry for the blurriness – I took it with my phone and was getting ready to run from the wave as it came at me!), I started to see the waves increase dramatically within no time. It was pretty cool, yet humbling at the same time. I would have gotten more photos, but there wasn’t enough light to capture anything by that time.

The waves kept getting larger and we moved off the sand just as a wave completely engulfed the entire beach area below the sidewalk! It was amazing, but eerie at the same time. We retreated to the play structure where the boys informed us that we were now playing “Deadliest Catch” and welcome aboard their sailing ship! And yes, I was busting up laughing at that. Love those moments!

Below is another photo I got of the campfires at the beach (brings back so many memories from my childhood!), I’ve wanted to have one with the boys, but just haven’t gotten to putting a check mark next to that one. For those keeping tabs… the waves came right up to these campfires about 15 minutes after I took the picture and everyone took cover on the sidewalk!

So, my recommendation? Go find a safe vantage point and check out the waves over the next day or two!

Have a great weekend!

Read more...

Aliso Creek State Beach

Aliso Creek Beach, Laguna Beach

Why we love it: Because it has a great playground adjacent to the beach. While the kids are playing on the elaborate play structures, you can enjoy the views of the beach and soothing sound of the waves crashing on the beach. There are two play structures- one geared towards 5 and up, the other for younger children. There are two standard swings but aren’t any bucket swings for young toddlers. It can get busy during the summer season, so it’s best to go on a weekday. Watch for dolphins, whales and lots of ocean life out in the water. We’ve seen all of the above over the years. Take the kids just before sunset on a summer night. The kids will have a wonderful time and you can enjoy the breathtaking sunset.

Be sure to bring: A couple dollars to pay for parking. Its $1/hour and you can only use the vending machines- cash only. It is patrolled daily- don’t get caught without the parking validation in your window! Make sure you lather on the sunscreen, there is very little shade. Flip flops or sandals if you decide to venture down to the water. During the summer the snack shop on site is open. There are restrooms on site as well as lots of picnic benches.

Appeals to: Toddlers and up. The play structures are nautical themed and children love pretending they are sailing the sea on the ship/playground. You do have to keep an eye on younger children being so close to the beach and near the busy parking lot… but the ambiance it well worth it!




Location: It’s off of Pacific Coast Highway in South Laguna Beach. Here’s the link to Google maps for the precise location: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Aliso+Beach+Park,+CA&sll=33.509572,-117.751443&sspn=0.005367,0.008508&ie=UTF8&ll=33.510556,-117.752194&spn=0.021469,0.034032&z=15&om=1

Read more...