It only took us 21 years to take a trip with just the two of us. We have visited Galveston several times with our children when they were young and had completed several youth trips with our home congregation, but that had been about nine to ten years ago. This trip was so different…..Different weather, and full rest and relaxation!!

On the last leg of our journey from California, we headed to the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona where you can see shimmering petrified wood throughout the park. There is a wealth of educational information available in the park telling how the petrified wood formed slowly over millions of years within the sediment forming a rainbow of vibrant crystalized colors. However, I believe the evidence points to our wondrous Creator and the flood recorded in Genesis 6-9.

We had tossed around the idea of visiting the Grand Canyon National when planning our California trip but had decided against it because of time constraints. On our drive to our hotel in Flagstaff, we were just too close not to swing by, so Daniel made the executive decision to go so that we could check it off the list and at least say that we had been there. Both Caleb and I had never seen the Grand Canyon and after having our brief visit, we both want to return when we can see more of it and appreciate its majestic beauty.

Joshua Tree National Park is a unique place to visit featuring rugged landscape and huge boulders to explore.

It is interesting to see the landscape change before your eyes while traveling. From Monterrey, the scenery changed from oceanside boats to a heavily agricultural area with vineyards on each side of us with beautiful rolling hills. Daniel and I have been married for 30 years and I had heard several childhood stories of his cousins, so it was fun to finally meet one of them and his wife who lives in King City, California. We visited their beautiful home and they provided us with a tour of their gorgeous and peaceful place that included a vineyard and grapes that you could pluck on their backyard pergola. They provided us with a delicious lunch and wonderful company before we ventured to San Luis Obispo. The four photos below were all taken by cell phone showcasing our visit. We would have loved more time to visit and explore.

Keyhole Arch and the Pacific Ocean make a recipe for some fantastic photographic opportunities. This place is not well marked at all, but it is worth the hunt and the one-lane drive to and from the beach. The fog and haze continued to become heavier and the temps dropped making it quite cold and blustery, but still beautiful. We also received warnings of large sneaker waves and high tide before heading out to the Big Sur area, but given our limited time here, we forged ahead. We were glad that we wore our jackets as we walked through an area of densely covered area of trees before arriving at the beach. Pfeiffer Beach is known for its purple sand which is more apparent after a recent rain. I loved the gracefulness of this grove of Cypress trees. When you walk through them, you would never guess that you would find a beach on the other side.

Our first stop on the way to the Big Sur area was to drive through the charming part of Carmel-by-the-Sea to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Once again we found ourselves saying that this was one of our favorite stops on the trip. Despite the haze/fog settling in, this place offered stunning and magnificent views that appealed to all of the senses.

After spending the morning at Muir Woods National Monument and celebrating Caleb’s birthday in the North Beach area we headed to see the Golden Gate Bridge from another vantage point thinking the fog would lift as the day progressed. The fog continued to hover and hug the iconic red structure and cables making it interesting to photograph!

Every day each place we visited became our new favorite place. Muir Woods was magical! The photos do not even begin to show the size and majestic nature of the trees. Muir Woods National Monument is located about 15 miles north of San Francisco in Marin County. The roads are quite curvy to get there and cell service drops right outside of the park, so be sure to download any maps before your visit. Before visiting, be sure to make your parking reservations HERE.

I have to admit, I was somewhat apprehensive about visiting San Francisco. With recent headlines of the homeless and drug use, who could blame this Texas girl? I found this city beautiful, vibrant, and full of energy! My only regret is not being able to spend more time to see more sights. We barely scratched the surface! One of the things I was most excited about was to see the Golden Gate Bridge in person. It is such an iconic bridge rich with history. We even crossed it multiple times and we have the toll invoices to prove it! :)

After spending the afternoon at the Getty Villa Museum we headed to Santa Monica Beach. Caleb had been raving about a place where he had eaten Coastal Mexican food. While driving along the coastline I rolled down the back window to get a better view and I heard a big “THUD”. The back window would not go back up!

After spending the morning at Point Dume, we headed to Malibu’s gorgeous Getty Villa Museum located on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is a one-of-a-kind destination offering ancient Roman & Greek art with changing exhibits and tranquil manicured gardens. The admission is free but requires a timed entry reservation and a $20 parking fee.

Caleb’s choice for our first-morning outing was without question Point Dume in Malibu. It is one of Caleb’s favorite places and I can understand why! The clear blue waters, golden sand, and rugged cliffs were breathtaking!

We visited White Sands National Park in the summer of 2021. This park had been on my bucket list for over 15 years so when we planned our Colorado trip, we tacked this onto the last leg of our trip. To date, it has been one of my favorite places to photograph. It is just so unique and unlike anywhere else I have ever been. The dazzling white sands shimmer like a mirage and are tucked away in the Tularosa Basin in southern New Mexico. They shift and settle over the Chihuahuan Desert, covering 275 square miles.