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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!

Follow me on Instagram!

marquezfiveadventures

🥾Hike the family friendly Sequoia Audobon trail

🥾Hike the family friendly Sequoia Audobon trail at the Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, the largest coastal wetlands between San Francisco and Monterey. This is an easy 1.5 mile out-and-back trail that meanders through the Pescadero marsh.

🦅Here you’ll find more than 200 species of birds, including egrets, blue herons & pelicans, as well as migrating butterflies, endangered steelhead and Coho Salmon, and red-legged frogs. There are informational signs along the way pointing out wildlife and describing the ecosystem.

🔭Be sure to bring binoculars – our kids loved watching the birds up close and trying to track them as they flew.

🚗 Park at the Cabrillo S parking lot right off Highway 1 (vault toilets available here) and then walk north along a pedestrian walkway and follow the stairs down to the beach. From the beach, walk under the bridge (Highway 1 runs overtop) and you’ll see the trailhead. Using the pedestrian walkway to the beach path is much safer than trying to run across Highway 1 on foot 😬

❌ No dogs on this hike

🌲Butano State Park in Pescadero was created in

Have you been to Pescadero? Here’s a roundup of

Have you been to Pescadero? Here’s a roundup of the best things to do in this charming coastal town about an hour south of San Francisco:

🌊 Explore the expansive beaches
🌲 Hike among the redwoods at Butano State Park or through the wetlands at Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve
⚓️ Explore Pigeon Point where you’ll find California’s tallest lighthouse
🐐 Visit the goats at Harley Farms
🍓 Go berry picking
🍔 Stop downtown for lunch or just grab a coffee

✨Click on the link in my bio for all the details!

#pescadero #pescaderocalifornia #sanmateocounty #bayareadaytrip #roadtripcalifornia

The week after Christmas I went on my first post-o

The week after Christmas I went on my first post-op hike at Pulgas Ridge in Redwood City 🥾We stuck to the paved trail on the way out, but decided to try the dirt trail on the way back and my foot did great 🙌🏻 I did a total of about 2.5 miles with some elevation gain. My doctor said I could start building up my mileage, but I’m not sure he meant hiking - so even though I didn’t feel like it was too much, I was glad not to run into him on the trail! As of February 1st, I can start doing whatever exercise I want! I’m so excited to start pushing myself again and enjoying all the local trails.

I also can’t wait to go back here and see how much greener everything is after 9 atmospheric rivers 🌿🌿🌿

Finally! A break in the rain! There is nothing but

Finally! A break in the rain! There is nothing but ☀️☀️☀️ in my 10-day forecast! I wouldn’t mind storm after storm as long as the ground could effectively absorb all the rain and we could skip the flooding, damage and loss of life.

We’ve been staying off the trails since New Year’s. Many of our parks and the roads have been closed due to flooding, sinkholes, mudslides & fallen trees. And truthfully, I just haven’t felt like getting in the way or driving anywhere that isn’t necessary.

Looking forward to the sun drying everything out so I can get back out on the trails! Because in addition to the sun being out, my foot is healed and I’ve been cleared by my doctor to start building up my mileage! 🥾🏃‍♀️

One of the things I get asked for most often is re

One of the things I get asked for most often is recommendations for dog friendly hikes on the peninsula 🦮

There are hundreds of hikes in the Bay Area, but not all of them are dog friendly. Our dog loves to hike so we are always looking for trails that not only welcome her, but also have something for us - like great views, waterfalls, or a good cardio workout.

Gray Whale Cove Loop Trail in Moss Beach was a stunning find! This trail is located in McNee Ranch on Montara Mountain. All the trails in the park are dog friendly. The Loop Trail is relatively short (1.9 miles) but is amazing with spectacular views up & down the coast for most of the hike. The downside was a steep hill in the middle (which our dog didn’t seem to mind, but our kids did) and there was not a lot of shade, but the cooler coastal temps kept us from getting too hot - even in the summer. I loved the views from this hike so next time I would look to add on another trail to make it a little longer 🌊 🥾🐳

For more dog friendly hikes in San Mateo County, check out my new blog post which details 15 great hikes between Daly City & Woodside. We’re always trying new hikes so check back often for more ideas!

I had foot surgery at the end of October. It was e

I had foot surgery at the end of October. It was elective - I had a bunion removed from my left foot - it was causing pain and beginning to limit my physical activity. The recovery process has been more slow-going than I had hoped for. While I feel like I could be doing more than I am physically, I don’t want to do something dumb and risk reinjuring myself. I hope in the long run, this temporary setback will make hiking, running, and any activity where I have to bend my big toe much more tolerable. 🏃‍♀️🥾🚴🏻‍♀️

In 2020, I was training to run the Chicago Marathon and as I began to really build up my weekly mileage my toe began to hurt. My plan was to train through the pain, but the marathon was ultimately canceled. I had run many marathons & half marathons prior to this and I knew I’d never be able to complete my training without getting my foot fixed.

@chimarathon gave us 3 years to defer our race entry - through 2023. I deferred the first 2 years and finally decided to schedule my surgery so I could run in 2023. This past October, I accepted my 2023 race entry and had the surgery. It’s going to be a long road to get to the Chicago starting line in October 2023, but I hope it’s the motivation I need to work hard and get back in shape.

Today, I get to ditch my boot and start walking in a regular shoe. I have a feeling this will feel like both a step forward and a step back. The boot has provided support and cushioning to make walking easier and less painful - it’s also a great conversation starter 😂 Without the boot, my foot will take on more stress and I’ll likely have to cut back on my steps and begin building back up again.

My doctor told me that if I just stopped running I could slow the progression of my bunion and may never have needed the surgery. That was never an option for me. Running, hiking, biking, and basically any activity outside brings me so much joy - I would never give that up by choice!

Rules to survive in San Francisco from @secret_san

Rules to survive in San Francisco from @secret_sanfrancisco. I didn’t agree with them all, especially “Man cannot live on burritos alone” 🌯🌯but here are a few of my favorites!

🥵Even if it’s uphill to get there it’s still uphill on the way back

✈️ SF is “The City,” SFO is the airport

❌ Don’t call it Frisco unless you are born and raised in Frisco (Don’t call it San Fran either!!)

✅ It’s pronounced “Gauff”

😎Summer is two weeks in October (or September…debatable)

🧣Always bring a hoodie when leaving the house. Doesn’t matter if it’s sunny. Always bring the hoodie

🚗 Drive in the middle lane

⛰Curb your wheels when parking on a slope (I know people who have gotten tickets for “not curbing wheels ENOUGH!”)

🚙 If you find a parking spot it’s probably not a legal spot (or it’s street cleaning)

❌ Never, under any circumstances, leave anything in your car

Last month Kate’s soccer team played in a tourna

Last month Kate’s soccer team played in a tournament in Virginia. While soccer was the primary purpose of the trip, I can’t help but explore when we travel. Luckily, the other families on her team felt the same way - these girls played some amazing soccer, but also had so much fun exploring the Richmond, Virginia area.

🍔We had fun team dinners out in Stafford & Richmond
👻They went to a super creepy haunted house @redveinhaunt
⚓️Took a boat tour of the James River & Kanawha Canal along downtown Richmond’s historic Canal Walk. We learned about the canal system, saw a Triple Crossing Railroad & old tobacco warehouses.

We rented 2 boats for $150 each from @venturerichmond and put the girls on one boat and the parents on the other. We brought dinner & drinks which we set up on a table in the middle of the boat and enjoyed as we cruised along. A fun & relatively cheap group outing 🙌🏻

These 17 teammates walked away from the weekend a stronger and more cohesive group. They played against some of the top U16 teams in Virigina and left feeling more confident as a team and as individual players ⚽️ But I think it was these extra local opportunities that gave the girls the time they needed to create deeper bonds & friendships with each other.

The best part was by the end of the weekend, the girls were all making plans for their next travel tournament. Where to next?? 🤣

Yay! We are getting some much needed rain in the B

Yay! We are getting some much needed rain in the Bay Area!! 🌧🌂

One of my favorite hikes after a rain is the Cowell-Purisima Trail in Half Moon Bay.

This trail is well maintained with ocean views the entire time. It’s an out-and-back trail (3.6 miles one way), but you can turn around at any point. The trail is mostly wide, gravel, and flat.

There is a northern & southern trailhead. We start at the northern trailhead (at the Cowell Ranch Beach Trailhead). It’s about a half a mile walk from the parking lot to the trailhead. About 2 miles into the hike, the trail narrows and dips down into a little valley where the trail crosses Purisima Creek - this would be a good spot to turn around if it’s muddy. However, we saw a bunch of banana slugs along this part which is always a good time! 💛

This trail is bike friendly and also wheelchair accessible (except for that middle part). The southern trailhead has an accessible restroom as well as parking for a full-size van. No dogs allowed.

❄️❄️Winter is Coming❄️❄️ Don’t

❄️❄️Winter is Coming❄️❄️

Don’t get me wrong - I will always choose sunny & warm over cold & snowy. But I do get excited about winter rains & snow and the coziness of sitting by a fire under a pile of blankets 🌧☕️🧣This will last a couple of weeks and then I’ll be over it and ready for summer again ☀️🌴🏖

Anyone else?

Have you ever had a day where your world changed c

Have you ever had a day where your world changed completely and unexpectedly between the time you woke up and the time you went to bed?

That was my day one year ago today.

I woke up that morning to learn that my dad, who had been fighting an aggressive cancer, had slipped into a coma. My sister and I flew from California to South Carolina, and my brother drove up from Florida, all as fast as we could. But all 3 of us arrived too late.

Part of me feels like that was forever ago….and part of me can’t believe it has already been a whole year.

Slowly over the last year, when I think of my dad, my first reaction has morphed from tears of sadness to mostly a warmth in my heart and a smile on my face. Though milestone dates, like today, are undoubtedly tough.

But instead of feeling sorry for what I lost, I’d rather spend today celebrating my dad’s life. Losing him too soon has certainly made me re-evaluate priorities. But what I cherish is how much he influenced me while he was actually here.

My parents divorced when I was young and my sister & I spent weekends with my dad hiking in Marin. I hated it. And then he moved abroad and we spent our summers exploring other countries and experiencing other cultures (and hiking). It wasn’t until I was older that I realized how much my dad influenced my love of hiking, traveling, exploring & learning. What I hated as a kid, I love as an adult, and now I torture my own children with the same things. I tell myself one day they will love it, appreciate it, seek it out on their own, and thank me, like I now thank my dad.

I cannot hike in Marin and look out at views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Mt Tam without thinking of my dad. I cannot travel to another country without thinking of him. I cannot go more than a couple of days without one of his ridiculous sayings rolling off the end of my tongue and watching my kids roll their eyes at me the same way I used to roll my eyes at him. Even though he’s not here physically, he’s still here with me. That’s an amazing gift ❤️

**My dad, sister & I hiking in Marin circa 1989. This is one of the pictures my dad always had framed in his house

🍁Hillwood Estate & Gardens |Washington, DC 🍁

🍁Hillwood Estate & Gardens |Washington, DC 🍁

Kate surprised me recently when she told me that touring old homes is one of her favorite things to do when we travel!

Over the years we’ve taken the kids through a variety of old homes, plantations, farms & castles. I always choose places that I think they will find some value in - running around pretty gardens, exploring castle ruins, walking through old kitchens, and learning a little history too. But I had no idea one of my kids actually enjoyed it so much!

So when we were in the DC area for a long weekend last month, I wanted to find an old home to tour after our redeye. We have been wanting to go to @dumbartonoaks for awhile but it always seems to be closed when we have time to go. Instead my SIL found @hillwoodmuseum which worked perfectly with our schedule. It’s always so interesting to learn about the people who lived in these homes and how they lived - in this case, Marjorie Merriweather Post, a successful businesswoman who owned the Post cereal empire. My favorite parts of these estates are usually the kitchen & gardens - and this was no exception. This 25-acre estate is tucked into a DC neighborhood yet we felt like we were in the middle of nowhere!

It’s satisfying to learn that your kids have gained an appreciation for something you’ve exposed them to. This is my reminder to keep at it - if they don’t tell me they hate it, maybe they secretly love it! 🤓

Happy Halloween 🕸🕷 Kate and I had an aftern

Happy Halloween 🕸🕷

Kate and I had an afternoon in Georgetown earlier this month before we flew home after a soccer tournament. Many of her teammates rushed around seeing the monuments, but we opted for a leisurely lunch at Filomena and then strolled through the streets looking at Halloween decorations 🎃👻

#visitwashingtondc #exploredc #exploredmv #washingtondctravel #georgetowndc #dchalloween #experiencedc #filomenaristorante #familyadventure #explorewithkids #chooseadventure #adventureswithkids

Why do people climb mountains? 🏔 Because there

Why do people climb mountains? 🏔

Because there’s no better feeling than pushing through what you thought were your limits…or what your kid thought were their limits. 🙌🏻🙌🏻

Plus, the view is always better from the top 🤩

#sanfranciscobayarea #santacruzmountains #sfpeninsula #mtum #mtumunhum #sierraazul #bayarearidgetrail #sixpackofpeaksnorcal #explorecalifornia #bayareatrails #hikingwithkids #kidswhohike #adventureswithkids #hikecalifornia #explorewithkids #californiahiking #bayareahikes #bayareahiking #hikebayarea #explorebayarea #californiacaptures #outdoorfamily #familyadventure #goadventuretogether #bayareakids #chooseadventure #adventurefamily #adventuremom #discovercalifornia #bayareafamily

Sweeney Ridge is quickly becoming one of my favori

Sweeney Ridge is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to hike. Here’s why:

🌿 There are multiple routes ranging from moderate to challenging climbs
🦮 Dog Friendly
🌊 It’s along a ridge with views on both sides: Pacific Ocean to the west and the Bay to the east
🥾 Entrances from Skyline College & Highway 1 in Pacifica and Sneath Lane in San Bruno
🌿Trails are not crowded (the few times we’ve been we’ve only run into a handful of other hikers)
🪧Trails are marked clearly and well-maintained

3 AWESOME TRAIL OPTIONS:
1️⃣ The first time we hiked Sweeney Ridge we started from Skyline College and took the Notch Trail to Sweeney Ridge Trail all the way to the SF Peninsula Watershed gate (~5 miles total out-and-back). We hiked in spring and the Notch Trail was really pretty - very green with spring wildflowers. The trail ascended and descended through little valleys with views toward the bay. My then 11yo was easily able to keep up.

2️⃣ Mike and I went back without the kids this summer and started from the Shelldance Nursery on Highway 1. This route was much more strenuous as it begins uphill on the Mori Ridge Trail gaining +1000 feet in the first mile. It was completely foggy the day we went which was great because the trail is very exposed and hiking this trail in the sun would make it harder. We loved the challenging climb but agreed our kids would have complained the whole way up making it less enjoyable for us! Mori Ridge Trail meets up with Sweeney Ridge Trail and we took it almost all the way to the SF Peninsula Watershed gate (~5 miles out-and-back). The fog burned off as we hiked along Sweeney Ridge and we had great views of SFO & the bay before we turned around and headed back into the fog!

3️⃣ Next time, we plan to make it extra-challenging. We’d like to start at the Shelldance Nursery again, taking the Mori Ridge Trail to Sweeney Ridge, but then return via the Baquiano Trail and finish by hiking through Mori Point back to the start at the nursery (~7 miles)

📍Arata’s Pumpkin Farm in Half Moon Bay 🎃

📍Arata’s Pumpkin Farm in Half Moon Bay

🎃We’ve tried most of the pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay, and many along the peninsula, in the east bay, and even as far as Dixon! Arata’s in the one my kids consistently ask to go back to! Mostly because of the hay maze, but also because of the enormous selection of pumpkins and, as we learned this year, it’s dog friendly 🦮

#sanfranciscobayarea #sfpeninsula #hwy1 #arataspumpkinfarm #visithalfmoonbay #sanmateocounty #halfmoonbaycalifornia #bayareapumpkinpatch #bayareafall #bayareahalloween #bayareafamilyfun #halfmoonbaypumpkins #thingstodoinbayarea #bayareablogger #outdoorfamily #californiacaptures #bayareamoms #californiaadventures #bayareakids #bestofbayarea #adventuremom #explorebayarea #discovercalifornia #adventurefamily #7x7bayarea #bayareafamily #explorecalifornia

🎃Much to my delight, my 15yo recently asked to

🎃Much to my delight, my 15yo recently asked to go to @arataspumpkinfarm in Half Moon Bay. If you’re looking for a pumpkin patch that accommodates a wide range of ages (littles to teens) this is a great one!

Oh how I Ioved to dress up my kids in cute Halloween shirts 👻when they were little and spend the afternoon at a pumpkin patch. There are some great ones, but many of them simply cater to little kids leaving teens & tweens feeling out of place and like they’re too old for the holiday. 🕷🧙💀BUT OLDER KIDS LOVE HALLOWEEN TOO: the decorations, carving pumpkins, picking out costumes, dressing up, trick-or-treating, getting candy, and hanging out with their friends! 🍬🍭

Why did my daughter request Arata’s? Because in addition to a ton of colorful pumpkins & gourds to choose from, they have a challenging 2-acre hay maze and haunted barn - and it’s dog friendly! For the younger set, they also have a hayride, playground, mini-hay maze, pony & train rides, and a petting zoo.

** We were so excited to find the Minotaur in the middle of the hay maze. Not so excited to find him a third & fourth time trying to find our way out! Also, did you spot our dog? She blends in well with the hay! 🐶

Do kids really need hiking gear? When I post pict

Do kids really need hiking gear?

When I post pictures of my kids out on the trails you will often see them wearing sweats, leggings, and plenty of cotton while wearing Vans and other inappropriate shoes 👠 Is this the best? Definitely not. Do I pick my battles? I sure do. Most of the time I’d rather spend my energy getting them out on the trails rather than worrying about what they’re wearing!

BUT there are some times I’m a stickler for the right gear and this is why I’ve earned the title “Fun Killer” in the family.

💦 Water: Every kid in our family needs to carry their own water - my packing mule days are over. On a short hike, they’ll often opt to carry a water bottle, on longer hikes they each have a hydration pack they can wear which holds more water and keeps their hands free.

🥾Hiking Shoes: Vans and everyday athletic shoes are fine when we’re hiking on flat, paved, or well-groomed trails. But once we’re on a trail that’s uneven, slippery, steep, muddy, or unstable those athletic shoes may not offer enough support or traction. Ask my daughter about the time she insisted on wearing Converse high tops while on a bush walk in Kenya and a large thorn went right through the sole of her shoe into her foot.

👖Hiking Pants: My California kids just don’t wear a lot of pants and if they do they are generally in sweats or leggings which snag easily on bushes, retain moisture if wet and are hot! These days I can pretty much only get my youngest to wear hiking pants but I promise you he’s the most comfortable.

😎 Sun protection: Hats, sunglasses & sunscreen! My kids all have my fair coloring and sensitivity to the sun. Both of my parents have had skin cancer and I am considered high risk (I see the dermatologist 4x a year for a skin check!!) so wearing sunscreen and preventing sun exposure on our faces especially is non-negotiable for me!

✅Check out the link in my bio for a list of more of our essential kids' hiking gear & favorite brands.

San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area are kno

San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area are known for summer fog 🌫 It might be 59 degrees in San Francisco in July while the surrounding areas just 10 miles in any direction are likely 20-30 degrees warmer!

FUN FOG FACTS!
🌁 Fog actually occurs throughout the year, but it mostly occurs when hot inland temperatures create a low pressure zone over the Central Valley. This hot air rises and the heavier cool coastal air comes rushing in. This flow pulls the fog through the Golden Gate passage and over the coastal hills into the Bay

🌫 The daily rhythm of fog moving in & out helps keep the coast cool. Most coastal homes don’t have air conditioning

🌲The majestic coastal redwoods depend on the moisture from fog to survive the dry summers as California gets almost no rain from mid-spring through mid-fall

🌫 When the fog moves in, the iconic foghorns blare (on average for 2.5 hours a day - up to 5 hours or more in summer!)

⚾️ Every Giants home run & win at Oracle Park is met with a blast from a foghorn!

🌁 The SF fog even has it’s own instagram account with over 250k followers: @karlthefog

#hwy1 #sanfranciscobayarea #santacruzcounty #moripoint #northerncaliforniacoast #thesfpeninsula #californiacoastline #sanmateocounty #pacificacalifornia #sanfranciscocalifornia #bonnydoonbeach #davenportcalifornia #visitsanfrancisco #exploresanfrancisco #explorecaliforniacoast #sfhikes #bayareahikes #karlthefog #bayareafog #marinelayer #fogtober #7x7bayarea #discovercalifornia #californiaadventures #explorecalifornia #californiaoutdoors #westcoastadventures #ourgoldenstate #highway1dreaming #californiatravelguide

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