Carmel Beach and the 17 Mile Drive through Pebble Beach

Per my request to spend my Birthday at the beach we traveled to Carmel and stayed overnight to take in all the sites.  We explored the shops and did the 17 Mile Drive through Pebble Beach. There were little spots you could get out and explore along the drive.  We stopped at a rocky beach to play at while the boys napped.  Once we made it to the Pebble Beach Lodge we played on the grassy area near the 18th hole and had a drink at the Bench.  This has been my favorite beach thus far.  The sand was so soft and the beach went on forever so it didn't feel overly crowded. On top of that the views were beautiful.  We even saw dolphins and seals swimming near the beach. We made a stop at a place on the way home I had been wanting to check out called Casa de Fruta.  The kids rode on a little train and played at a playground and I got to taste some yummy fruity wines.  This was such a fun little family getaway for us, and great way to spend my Birthday.

Ellie's always thinking of ways to transform our home into pirate fun.

This was her pirate hammock invention.

17 Mile Drive...

This was a girl stop as the boys stayed in the van to nap.

We climbed rocks, chased the waves, and
found a kelp broom to make designs in the sand.

Ellie asked us to guess who she was sitting up on the rock like this,
so my first guess was Ariel and I was wrong. 

The winning guess after almost giving up was Pocahontas.

Carmel Beach...

Equipped with swimsuits on for day two, they were ready for the water!

We worked on a sand castle village and the kids tried out their first drip castle.

Our next en-devour was digging a hole to crawl into.

Then we got a little walk in to look for treasures to decorate our village.

 

  Casa de Fruta...

Jack and Ellie rode on the train ride with Dad.
Jack got a chocolate covered face because under Dad's watch he stole a piece of chocolate from a candy barrel.