Brenda Landrum

Is there a state that you never really thought you would want to go to? Sure, there are some cool things there but because you have this preconceived idea about how it will be there it is just not on your list of places to visit.

California was that state for me. Now I can hear you asking me, “But Brenda don’t you want to see all the beautiful things there?” Well yes. I always thought it would be cool to see the Redwood Forests. I’d love to step where Ansel Adams did in Yosemite National Park. The ocean isn’t a high priority but would be cool. These things were just never worth what I thought would be the hassle to actually do these things.

Then my husband took a job that required him to travel to California a few times pr year. His first trip out was an absolute no for me. I told him to go and scope it out and then we’ll see. I came up with all kinds of concerns and worries to fight him hard to not go when the next trip came around. I sure am glad I lost that fight. He ended up booking the flights so that I had no choice plus when my daughter, who’s never seen the ocean, was not on my side I was going to loose.

This trip changed me. I am not joking! I came back home with a completely different perspective on many things in my life that I was fighting so hard for yet knew I needed to let them go. Getting away from my every day routine and thoughts plus reminding myself how much fun it is to explore an area I’ve never been before gave me a new perspective on my life. I felt different and ready to walk a different path. I started to not want the same things anymore. I gave myself permission to release my grip on what I thought I wanted and instead accept the life I already had and be open to new things on the horizon.

A simple business trip turned into family vacation ended up being just the thing that I needed.

We spent our time in San Jose (home for the week), Monterey Bay, Big Basin Redwoods, San Francisco, Mill Valley and Half Moon Bay. We were there for 7 days: 2 days mostly for traveling & prep, 1 day we transitioned from vacation to work, and we did all the site seeing things in 4 days.

Our first day was spent in Monterey Bay where we got our first view of the ocean, toured the Monterey Bay Aquarium (highly recommend), walked the coastal trail up to Lover’s Point, and had lunch at Fish Hopper. I would like to spend more time here and also get to Carmel.

Day 2 we drove up to San Francisco and over the Golden Gate Bridge (I recommend the bathrooms be burned to the ground), and then up the coast to Mill Valley (they have some crazy steep roads) and back to San Jose. In Mill Valley, we grabbed lunch at a small grocery store and sat outside of a shoe repair shop. We were absolutely amazed at how busy this shoe repair shop was. Customer after customer drove up and parked, took in or brought out shoes, and when they left the next customer was parking. It was very entertaining for some reason.

Day 3 started with a lot of rain on our way up to Big Basin Redwoods. More crazy roads that only fit 1 car at a time so I was unable to look around too much at the scenery but these trees are simply amazing. This forest had a fire a few years ago but it is regrowing. You have to be careful though hiking around. It was a bit breezy and we saw and heard branches falling from high above so you had to pay attention.

Day 4 was a girls trip day up to Half Moon Bay while the man of the house had to work. He planned this drive for us since he had done it before and I’m so glad he did. We had so much fun! I think he thought we would get back to the hotel before he got off of work but he totally beat us back. We stopped at everything along Highway 1 from Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay. Shark Fin Cove (steep hike), Pigeon Point Lighthouse, and spent a long time at Half Moon Bay Beach.

All she wanted was a little bit of ocean to take back home to Colorado. She got wet and almost lost her shoes and balance but she got it and was so happy!

And that’s all!