Summer VACATION 2010

We had a beautiful (and much needed) family vacation to the California Redwoods and the Southern Oregon Coast this past week. 7 days of gorgeous scenery, delicious food, incredible hikes and uninterrupted family time. What great memories. We just got home and I am already planning next summer's vacation!

Redwoods

This was my first time experiencing the Redwoods and it truly was awe-inspiring. We went on one hike called "Cathedral Trees," and I think that is the best description of these magnificent forests. The redwood trees really are like colossal, intricate, natural cathedrals reaching into the sky.

Me standing next to the roots of a toppled giant. Hard to even comprehend the scale of these trees - even when you're standing right next to them.

We did lots of hiking on this vacation. Well, Andrew and I hiked, that is. Amelia mostly wiped graham crackers on our shirts, cried, slept, cried, and yelled at things.

Don't let these pictures fool you. She was not an angel on this trip. We do, however, seem to have a disproportionate number of sleeping/smiling pictures from this trip but that is SOLELY because we are apparently more inspired to take pictures when she is sleeping or smiling than when she is screaming her head off, imagine that.

That being said, isn't she sweet when she's asleep!

We stopped on the side of the road to observe a herd of elk with their massive antlers. Very impressive. We thought of you Matt...

Amelia yelling at the elk. I imagine she is saying, "Hey, what are you eating over there? Can I have some?"

She loves stealing Andrew's sunglasses. Very hip.

This is her happy screaming face.

West Coast Game Park

Oh, don't mind us, we're just petting a couple of Bengal Tiger cubs. You know, like for real baby tigers. Yeah, we just pet them like they were regular house cats.

Amelia mostly screamed at them because she wanted their bottles of milk. She's such a mooch.3 week old baby black panther

King of the Jungle. We did not pet him.

Chillin' with some llamas.

This was a pretty neat little adventure. Apparently this is where they breed animals to be sent to zoos. It was kind of a weird little place, but pretty neat to be so close to so many impressive animals.

Southern Oregon Coast

The southern Oregon coast may have been my favorite part of this whole trip. Driving up highway 101 through Gold Coast and Port Orford, I saw some of the most beautiful coastal scenes of my life.

Tide pools in Bandon.

Come visit me and maybe I'll take you to some of these places.