Exploring California.

All moms know how expensive it can get taking kids out, anywhere. I mean come on, a day at lego land for a family of five can reach over $1,000 if you include gas, food, toys, souvenirs, and of course, the tickets. That can be so pricey for one day of enjoyment with your family. Even just going simple and just going to dinner and a movie can get into the hundreds! Memories made, yes, pocket broken, for us at least, definitely. And I don't know about other at home moms, but I sure get a bit stir crazy being in the house all the time, and so do my children. By the end of the week, day even, we are all SO ready to get out of the house it's not even funny!
But sometimes, money just wont support our "need to go out" status. So one day, the boys and I were going a bit crazy, needed to get out. So, my husband and I loaded everyone up, packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and snacks for everyone, and started driving. We came across a beautiful little pond with ducks in it, and nature all around.
We pulled over, got everyone out, and had a picnic. It was wonderful. We all laughed, played, enjoyed each others company, told stories, jokes, and had a wonderful time. We bonded, the way we never could at a movie, or amusement park. We just, adventured, as a family. That's what started our adventure time weekends.
Then, we realized not only how much fun we have, but that we've never really tried to see what all California has to offer. The beach, yeah of course, but there are so many other beautiful places here to venture to that we had yet to try! Considering we will be moving back home to Colorado at the end of this year, we decided to start making the most of California in our remaining time here as a family, and adventure, explore, and enjoy being around each other in these beautiful places.
All in all, we have been exploring California and it's wonders weekly, and intend on continuing our adventures until the day we drive home. So, I would like to share our beautiful nature findings with anyone interested in looking, or even better, looking to explore California the way we have decided to!

First, Guajome County Park in Oceanside California! Camping offered, fishing, perfect biking and walking paths and trails to explore, and of course, hungry ducks ready to eat the bread you throw out for them! Great place to take the kids, short easy hikes, flat surface not loose rocks or anything like that. Heres some images from our Guajome adventure:

Next, is Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea California. Some of the only redwoods in Southern California are here at this park, but if you're looking for the "lake" that you find in pictures on google, you wont find it here, it's all dried up. I was very disappointed at first, for one, that there wasn't a lake, and it was VERY hot out, barely any shade while we were walking to find the redwoods, and at first I was convinced there wasn't even going to be redwoods! Then we came around this bend, and boom, (small) but beautiful red woods. There was barely any people there which was nice, and LOADS of shade throughout the mini forest! Also, with the sprinkler's running made a perfect cool down session for my kids. They ran through them for hours, and if they got chilly, they'd stand in the sun for a few minutes (didn't take long) and get all warmed up, then back in the water. Was small, but still so beautiful and enjoyable. 

Thirdly, is Carlsbad park, not sure of the exact name, we just saw a cool tree and decided to stop! Other than the tree, and a view, there is nothing worth going for. It's a very small patch of grass, a tree, table, view, and tons of very busy streets surrounding it, (not what I prefer on my adventures) but I am obsessed with trees, so I had to!

My favorite, ever, is Big Falls in Forest Falls California. By far one of the most beautiful spots I have ever been! This place is a must see, that is for sure! Not AS kid friendly as the other places we have gone, but very doable with some effort, and possibly a few deep breaths from the mommy (my boys scare me sometimes, BE CAREFUL DARNIT!) But in all reality, I will never forget the day we went up to big falls, and it will always be one of my favorite memories.

Oh, and by the way, the water is FREEZING, but it was hot enough that you warm up fast, and if you just keep your feet in and don't go all in (like me) then you wont even get chilly!

Obviously, the beach! We haven't been to many different beaches, I personally don't like oceanside beach, Carlsbad is nice, my favorite is the beach here on Camp Pendleton, Del Mar beach, very clean and beautiful I think. That is where all of the following pictures were taken! (I'm assuming beaches up north are beautiful as well, but we mainly stay here for beach days.) 

So many more adventures to come, so expect more posts about places to see in the beautiful California. Also, if you ever make it down to Oceanside there are two places you MUST go. One, is Hello Betty's. Great food, yummy drinks, GET THE BANANA FOSTER, awesome interior and atmosphere, and a GORGEOUS view.

Also, a must try, is JR's shaved ice, can't tell you exactly where, but type it into maps in Oceanside and you'll find it, it's right next to a 7/11 here in Oceanside, and it's FANTASTIC!