We love getting our National Parks passports stamped, and so we headed to Cabrillo National Monument after lunch. None of us were expecting anything special. We just wanted the stamp.
But holy moly, we were blown away. We learned all about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Spanish exploration ships, lighthouses and tide pools. We ended the day sitting on the tide pool cliffs. All of us sang “Baby Beluga” to Ammon while we watched the sun set. I don’t think I have ever watched a full sunset before. It was magical.
Abe attired in Spanish conquistador armor.
Mary thought the armor was heavy.The armor was a little bit big for Mary.In front of the Cabrillo statue.Ammon was soaked from our La Jolla adventure, so Abe kept him warm in his sweatshirt.This nice ranger told us all about life in the lighthouse. Apparently, the family in the lighthouse could go weeks without seeing anyone but each other. Sign me up!! The last member of the family to live there related that it was a most enchanting place to grow up After touring the darling rooms inside, seeing the cute garden outside and experiencing the nearby tide pools, I can hardly imagine a more magical setting for childhood.I wish I had gotten a photo of the children’s bedroom because it was the sweetest, but I didn’t. I got a picture of the kitchen, though.What a sweet garden.
The girls climbed the sides of some of the sand cliffs and found a perfect spot to play house in.
I have a million pictures of this, but I had such a wonderful experience sitting there with Ammon. We sat together holding hands for the longest time. He played with the sand with his other free hand, and I spent a long time enjoying his contentment.
The tide pool cliffs.We loved exploring the tide pools. I kept thinking of the book, How to Raise a Wild Child. I felt really good watching my kids experience the sights, sounds, and feels of nature.
