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Caribbean

Exploring Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos

June 9, 2017
by Carrie

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Exploring the SF Bay Area & Beyond!

I’m Carrie, a native to the San Francisco Bay Area. I have a huge passion for outdoor adventures (hiking, kayaking, zip-lining, scuba diving to name a few) and love taking my family along with me. I love to inspire other families to get outside with their kids and find outdoor activities everyone will enjoy. We love exploring not only the Bay Area but also California & beyond! I aim to show families with busy school & sports schedules that you can still find time to adventure together!

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marquezfiveadventures

Tucked away in a cave on Fern Grotto Beach, at abo

Tucked away in a cave on Fern Grotto Beach, at about the midway point on the Old Landing Cove trail at Wilder Ranch in Santa Cruz, is a small little fern grotto 🌿I’ve seen lots of pictures of this grove on social media and it was a big draw for me. I talked it up to Ben to get him excited about the hike.

It is cool and unexpected. Much of the hike is along an exposed coastal bluff (see last post). I wouldn’t expect to find a damp dark rainforest-like cave with ferns hanging from the ceiling anywhere nearby.

But - I think both of us had a much bigger cave in mind. And despite having it all to ourselves, we only spent a few minutes here as it just didn’t capture his attention like I thought it would. Instead he wanted to continue on with the hike where we almost immediately found an overlook to a beach with a ton of sunbathing seals 🦭- watching the seals was much more interesting to him than the fern grotto.

We both enjoyed the hike, but I liked it more than he did. It reminded me a lot of the Cowell-Purisima trail in Half Moon Bay. I gave this hike a 7.5/10; Ben gave it 6/10. He thought the grotto was “just a cave” and overhyped. He said he would have rated the hike lower except he thought the views were really good 🌊🤩

So...do you hype stuff up to get kids excited about adventures and run the risk that it doesn’t live up to their expectations? Or downplay it or don’t mention it at all so they are happily surprised? 🤷🏼‍♀️Even if I hadn’t mentioned the grotto, I don’t think Ben would have thought it was amazing, but he likely would have been a lot more curious to check it out when we stumbled across it.

**Wilder Ranch, Santa Cruz** I finally had a chan

**Wilder Ranch, Santa Cruz**

I finally had a chance to check out Wilder Ranch in Santa Cruz! We hiked the Old Landing Cove Trail and had amazing views of the ocean, wildflowers, beaches, harbor seals, and a fern grotto! If you zoom in you can see a bunch of seals sunbathing on the beach. 🦭🌊🌿

Details:
🌼Distance: 2.3 mile loop (trailhead begins right at the main parking lot)
🌼Difficulty: Easy. This is a great trail for all skill levels. It’s flat, well graded, and wide. The only exception might be if you take an offshoot trail. We took a detour down to Fern Grotto Beach - the trail was a bit steep and narrow, but manageable even for little kids.
🌼Elevation Gain: +85 feet
🌼Restrooms: Yes at trailhead
🌼No dogs
🌼Stroller/Bike Friendly
🌼Parking: Large parking lot. $10 day use fee.

It can get crowded on the weekend. We went during the week and it was not crowded at all!

6/22/2021. Hike 22/52. Our rating 6.7/10. #52hikechallenge2021

🌴5 Fun Facts about Santa Barbarba🌴

🌊It’s known as the “American Riviera”. This is because it has a unique east-west coastline - the only one from Alaska to Cape Horn - that provides the city with year-round southern exposure.

🎥 It’s also known as the “Hollywood of the North” as hundreds of silent movies and westerns were filmed her in the early 1900s.

⛪️ In 1925, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake destroyed much of downtown Santa Barbara. This destructive earthquake coincided with an architectural reform resulting in many of the city’s famous buildings being rebuilt in Spanish Colonial style.

☀️Santa Barbara averages 300 days of sunshine each year!

🏨 Motel 6 was founded in Santa Barbara in 1962. The original $6 room rates inspired the name of the motel.

One of our favorite things to do when we travel is

One of our favorite things to do when we travel is a food tour 😋

We booked a tour with @tastesantabarbarafoodtours which was so much fun! We met our guide Linda and we hit up 5 different spots run by locals (which included wine & apps, street tacos, noodle bowls, and McConnell's Fine Ice Cream) 🍷🌮🍲🍦plus we learned a lot about the history of the downtown area. I love that she took us to unassuming places we likely would have walked right by on our own, but were amazing local finds with interesting stories about how they started! My favorite was the street tacos at Los Arroyos - while everything was delicious, Jack and I both wanted to smuggle out the recipe for the guacamole, salsa, and homemade Agua Frescas.

Santa Barbara is a gorgeous city and I couldn’t get enough of the Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial architecture. My two favorite non-food stops were the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the Arlington Theater with a beautiful fountain courtyard, free-standing ticket booth and an indoor theater which makes you feel like you’re sitting outside in a Spanish Colonial town!

Another teen approved activity!

We stayed at the Hotel Californian in Santa Barbar

We stayed at the Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara which is only a block from the beach 🌊We spent so much time running (ok, running was just me 😜), walking & biking along the fantastic path that runs for miles along the beach. This area of Santa Barbara was such a fun area to stay - we had the beach across the street plus tons of restaurants, wineries, breweries & shops within walking distance. And basically everything was outside because the weather in Santa Barbara is👌🏻

Santa Barbara is one of those places where I found myself asking “Why don’t I live here?” So I’ve now added it to my short list of other places I could live:
☀️San Diego
🌴Santa Barbara
🦘Sydney
🏛Washington DC

🌊Sea Foraging in Cayucos! 🌊 Did you know th

🌊Sea Foraging in Cayucos! 🌊

Did you know there are over 10,000 types of seaweed in the ocean?

Over a year ago, I heard about sea foraging with @marleyfamilyseaweeds in Cayucos on the Central CA Coast and filed it away in case we were ever nearby! And it fit perfectly into our spring road trip! I don’t love seaweed, but I thought it would be such a fun and unique experience!

There was no tour planned the day we wanted to go so I contacted Spencer the owner, and he added a new tour just for us! We met him at the beach and he taught us everything we could ever want to know about seaweed: the different types, how to find it, how it’s processed, health benefits, and commercial foraging (farmed v wild). We tried several different types straight out of the ocean (Kombu, Nori, sea lettuce) - some we cut off rocks (if you cut it carefully it grows back in a few months) and some we found floating in the surf.

After we collected our stash, Spencer set up a stove right on the beach and made ramen with the seaweed we had just collected! 🍲Even if you’re not a huge seaweed fan like me, eating ramen on the beach with freshly foraged seaweed is pretty amazing & delicious! Some of the others in our group went home with large bags of seaweed, but we didn’t since we had nowhere to store it. FYI - in order to cut our own seaweed and remove it from the beach we had to get a California one day fishing license.

This was such a unique experience and it was one of our favorite things we did on our trip!

So many elephant seals at the Elephant Seal Vista

So many elephant seals at the Elephant Seal Vista Point just 7 miles north of San Simeon 🦭🦭The elephant seal is the largest seal in the northern hemisphere (males can weigh up to 5,000 lbs!!) and is found between the Gulf of Mexico and Baja California. The Piedras Blancas rookery hosts up to 24,000 elephant seals each year. In April, Jack and I stopped by to see hundreds of these giants, many of which were molting, lying around on the beach. I think the most exciting time to come is December through February during prime breeding & pupping season, but definitely worth a stop no matter the time of year you happen to be there!

This vista point is right on Highway 1 and very easy to find!

"The best view comes after the hardest climb" The

"The best view comes after the hardest climb"

The view from the top of Nevada Falls in Yosemite was spectacular! Standing atop this wooden bridge directly over the Falls we had climbed hours to reach was an unbelievable feeling!

I’ll keep saying it...if you do one hike in Yosemite, make it The Mist Trail! We hiked 8 miles round trip to Vernal Falls and then on to the top of Nevada Falls. From here some continue on to Half Dome (another 6 miles roundtrip), but we turned around and followed the Mist Trail back. Another option is to make it a loop and return via the John Muir Trail which is a little longer and bypasses Vernal Falls, but offers a less strenuous way down plus new views of Nevada Falls.

New blog post today with ALLLLL the details on this favorite hike! Link in Bio.

✨”It's not the mountain we conquer, but oursel

✨”It's not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” - Edmund Hillary ✨

It was a tough hike. 4 miles up to the top of Nevada Falls in Yosemite climbing 2,000 feet including hundreds of steps, dealing with elevation, and questioning whether he had the stamina to make it all the way. 🥾🏔

I knew he could do it.
He doubted himself.
I encouraged him.
He yelled at me.
I finally gave him an out and said we could turn around.
He said no and kept climbing up.

He finally believed he could do it and he did. When we got to the top, he told me it was all worth it and my mom heart burst 💗💗Watching him take in the views and give the other hikers at the top a knowing nod & smile as he passed them saying “we did this” was the most amazing thing.

He conquered both the mountain and his doubts and that made for a very good day! Now he’s joining me as we bag six peaks around the Bay Area - there may be a bit of bribing involved, but he CAN do it!💪🏼

One of the hardest things for me last year was can

One of the hardest things for me last year was canceling our trips to Switzerland & Hawaii 🇨🇭🌴It was also one of the best things because we were forced to stay local and focus on exploring California. It was such a great reminder that we don’t need to travel far to discover new places and have epic adventures. California is an amazing state and I feel very lucky to live here!

Having said all that, I’m excited to get back to traveling beyond California this year ✈️. This summer, we have one international and one domestic trip planned. But we also have 5 weeks here in the Bay Area and I am excited to explore even more! My goal for this summer is to do a deep dive along Highway 1 between San Francisco & Santa Cruz. I want to find all the best beaches, hikes, restaurants, shops & hidden gems and share them here 🌊🥾🌲🎢

(And when I say “deep dive” I don’t mean Scuba - my 11yo looked at me with horror 😳 when I asked him if he was excited to join me until I explained it just meant we would learn everything we can about the area).

Loved this tunnel of trees along the trail on Mt.

Loved this tunnel of trees along the trail on Mt. Umunhum 🌲🌲We call these “Refrigerator Trees” because their bark is cool to the touch, but I’m pretty sure they are actually called Madrones. I was on a field trip at Filoli in Woodside with one of my kids when a docent pointed out these trees to me for the first time. Now I can’t walk by one without stopping to touch the smooth bright red bark and confirm to everyone around me: Yep, Refrigerator Tree! 😉

Have you ever done something only because you knew

Have you ever done something only because you knew your kids would love it? 💕

On our road trip to the Central Coast this spring, I planned a stop at Oceano Dunes - the only drivable beach in California. We have ridden ATVs before and the kids loooove it! So when I came across a thrilling Hummer tour on the dunes with @xtremehummers I knew we had to do it.🏎

This was the one thing on our trip that Jackson was looking forward to most and I was looking forward to the least. Naturally, I was thinking about everything that could go wrong and how scared I’d be the entire time wishing it was over 😬 But it was SO FUN!!! 🤩Our driver was amazing - flying around the dunes at what felt like 100mph, driving straight up some dunes that towered over us like walls and then reversing back down, and answering all the questions Jackson had about the engine 🥸It was like being on a rollercoaster and the best part was I felt totally safe the entire time. Both Jackson & I loved it!

You don’t have to do a tour like we did. You can bring your own ATV, rent them, or even take your own car. As we were heading out, our guide noticed a Subaru Outback stuck in the sand about 50 yards in looking for a tow. I’m not sure I’d recommend taking your own car if you don’t know what you’re doing! 🤪

Glad I decided to push my comfort zone and share this amazing experience with my teen! I find it slightly ironic that I’ve been pushing my kids their whole lives to try new things even if it makes them slightly uncomfortable - the tables are turning and they are becoming the daredevils - now I feel like I need to practice what I’ve been preaching.

**Uvas Canyon Short Waterfall Loop** 🌿Distance

**Uvas Canyon Short Waterfall Loop**

🌿Distance: 1.8 miles
🌿Elevation Gain: +620 feet
🌿Difficulty: Easy
🌿Restrooms: Yes
🐶Dogs on Leash
🚗Parking: $6 day use fee
‼️Important! Advanced reservations are required to enter the park (specific day and time window). I made our reservation at www.gooutsideandplay.org about a week beforehand. Print out a permit and they check you in at the gate.

I was so excited to finally check out Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill! It’s a little over an hour away from us and reservations are required to enter the park - so it wasn’t something we could plan at the spur of the moment.

Ben had a soccer game ⚽️ at nearby Kirigin Cellars in the morning (although it’s a trek, it’s probably the most beautiful field we’ve played at - plus they sell mimosas to enjoy on the sidelines 🥂) After the game, we drove to Uvas, ate lunch at the large picnic area, and then headed out on the short 1.8 mile loop where we saw 3 different waterfalls 💦 (Black Rock Falls, Upper Falls and Basin Falls). We had Ben’s friend with us and the boys enjoyed scrambling up rocks, hopping across creeks, exploring fallen trees, and crossing bridges. It’s a great place to linger and let kids play. We saw quite a few families there, but it wasn’t crowded at all since they limit the number of visitors. There is a longer 3.5 mile loop I’d like to go back and check out. We opted for the short hike this time because we were a bit short on time.

4/25/2021. Hike 16/52. Our rating 7.67/10. #52hikechallenge2021

Do you ever feel like you’re just too busy to fi

Do you ever feel like you’re just too busy to fit in an adventure?

This Sunday afternoon hike at Twin Peaks almost didn’t happen because we were “too busy”. I had shared my plan with everyone - a short hike and then stop for tacos in the Mission afterward, but then when the time came it just felt like too much. There was still homework to do, the house was a mess, and my to-do list was a mile long. I didn’t want to start the week already feeling behind and decided trying to squeeze this in might add more stress than enjoyment. So I said we’d do it another time.

Except Kate stepped in. She basically said: We need to go - you promised me tacos. Usually my kids are looking for reasons to skip activities so the fact that she was trying to save it had a big impact on me.

So we went. And as I should have expected, it was such a good choice to go. I made sure to thank Kate for insisting we go - even if she was just there for the tacos! Sometimes when we’re busy and stressed out, the thing we need most is to take a step away and do something outside. We all came back from that outing feeling calm, happy & relaxed. Kate, thank you for reminding me that family adventures are more important than my to-do list!

I’m kind of a sucker for challenges. This year,

I’m kind of a sucker for challenges. This year, I heard about the #sixpackofpeaksnorcal challenge and decided to do it! 🥾I have until 12/31 to hike 6 peaks around the Bay Area. On Memorial Day, Mike, Ben & I hiked our first peak - Mt. Umunhum! ⛰

I’d never even heard of this mountain until I read about it in the challenge. It’s located in the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve in Santa Clara County and is one of the highest peaks in the Santa Cruz Mountains at 3,486 feet. We had 360 degree views from the top - from the Pacific to the Sierra Nevada!

We hiked 7.7 miles from the Bald Mountain Parking Area to the peak. The trail was clearly marked the entire way, was extremely well maintained, and wasn’t very crowded. We went on a really hot day and appreciated that there was a fair amount of shade on the trails. We had great views, plus we saw lots of wild flowers, oaks, and native plants. The mountain also has an interesting history - first home to the Ohlone, then in 1845 mercury or “quicksilver” mining began which was essential to process gold during the the Gold Rush, next it was procured by the US Government in the late 1950s for use as an Air Force Base during the Cold War. The mountain was cleaned up and opened to the public in 2017.

✅Distance: 7.7 miles
✅Elevation Gain: +1,150 feet
✅Difficulty: Easy/Moderate (continuous uphill on the way to the top, but never felt steep)
✅Restrooms: at parking area & peak
❌No dogs
✅Parking: Free, but very limited space! We arrived at 9:15AM and got the last spot!
🗑No garbage cans - pack out what you pack in!

**Ben was super upset when he learned you can actually drive to the peak - but we told him he wouldn’t have appreciated it as much!

My goal is to knock out the rest of the peaks this summer!

5/31/2021. Hike 19/52. Our rating 7.67/10. #52hikechallenge2021

It always feels like we are literally the last one

It always feels like we are literally the last ones to finish school for the year - but we finally made it to the last week! Proud of all my kids for making it through this unbelievably crazy school year 😜 I’m glad to put it behind us and am hopeful for a return to normalcy in the fall. Still can’t believe that as of tomorrow, my youngest kid will be a rising middle-schooler!

Looking forward to a summer full of adventure at home 🥾🌊🌁….and abroad 🦒🦓🐘

I just needed a little rainbow today 🌈

I just needed a little rainbow today 🌈

“May your adventures bring you closer together,

“May your adventures bring you closer together, even as they take you far away from home.” – Trenton Lee Stewart

We aim to hire a photographer 📸 on at least one trip a year. I’m glad we decided to do it on our trip to Florida ☀️🏖 so we could get some cousin photos too! It’s always nice when I’m not the one trying to herd everyone into a photo - AND it’s nice when I can actually be in some photos to prove I was on the trip (although not this one 🤣)! We loved working with Maddie @heritageheartco - she was so accommodating and great with the kids 💕

Do you ever hire a photographer on vacation? I highly recommend it!

**🌊CA Roadtrip with a Teen 🚗 ** For Jackson

**🌊CA Roadtrip with a Teen 🚗 **

For Jackson’s spring break back in April, we settled on a roadtrip from the Bay Area straight down to #SLOCAL and then slowly made our way to Santa Barbara. He wanted warm weather and specifically requested no hiking 😜 - I wanted to get outside and be active. We stopped at beaches, did a little sightseeing, ate A LOT of food, and even got in some outdoor adventures! 🎉

We made this list of things to do together (teen approved!) - we didn’t get to it all in 5 days so we will be going back for sure!

🏰Cambria/San Simeon - Hearst Castle, Elephant Seal Rookery, Nit Wit Ridge
🌿Cayucos - Foraging for Seaweed
🏎Pismo Beach/Oceano Sand Dunes - Hummer ride along the dunes (the only drivable beach in CA!)
⛱Santa Barbara - Biking along the beach, Hiking, Food Tour, Mission Santa Barbara
🛶Channel Islands National Park - Hiking & sea cave kayaking

Maple Falls in the Forest of Nisene Marks is still

Maple Falls in the Forest of Nisene Marks is still one of my favorite hikes of the year! This is a popular trail so Ben and I hiked it on a Tuesday and had it mostly to ourselves. Hiking through the second and third growth redwood forest was just stunning! It’s shaded almost the entire way so a great summer option though the falls may be dry. The hike alone is worth it for the wooded views, canyons, bridges & river crossings, and rock scrambling (that was Ben’s favorite part). We plan to head back here during the summer and check out some more trails in this amazing park. The Medicine Buddha Loop is high on my list! Have you been?

Maple Falls:
🌿8 miles
🌿Difficulty: Moderate due to the rock scrambling towards the end
🌿Park Entrance Fee: $8
🌿Restrooms: At the parking area (not super clean)
🌿No dogs

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