We knew when we got the kids their Camelbaks for Christmas that we wanted to do at least one hike during out time in California, and I wanted it to have ocean views. Danny did some research and decided to take us north for the day. We ended up in Crystal Cove State Park, right by Newport Beach and Irvine where my niece Rose served her mission! I loved the drive, which took us through quaint and totally touristy beach towns. I think I could live the hippie beach life and be pretty happy. :)
Danny decided on Moro Ridge Trail, which would give us a mix of "mountain" and ocean views. It was a beautiful hike, though a bit of a challenge during the middle part. We had to ascend to the top of the ridge in order to get our ocean views, and it was more of a steady incline that the girls are used to. But it's good to push our boundaries, and the girls did awesome!
And when we finally made it to the top, the views were worth every bit of the effort. The girls thought it deserved "Megan's Mountain Pose"! Sophie loved (and pointed out) every bit of cacti we came across...silly girl. Joey loved being in his pack, and we all loved chatting and eating our hiking snacks. The kids LOVE their new Camelbaks and, well, the hike just couldn't have been any more perfect. We felt like we were on top of the world, and looking out into the expanse of glittery ocean was awe-inspiring. Definitely one of our favorite hikes yet.
The coolest part of this hike was the the parking was set between the trail head and the beach access. The trail was also a loop, so when we finished the hike we were back at the car. We changed into our suits right there in the suburban and then walked through the tunnel at the end of the parking lot and voila!, we were at the beach!! Seriously. Perfect. It was another beautiful afternoon, and even though Danny and I thought it a bit cold to be in the water the kids loved it!
Since traffic was going to be a nightmare, we decided to take our time getting home. Danny realized that the Newport Beach Temple was just a few minutes from where we were, so we detoured that direction. We alway take any opportunity we can to see a temple! And my was this one worth the detour. I think it might be the most beautiful temple grounds I've ever seen. It looked like a little Spanish mission oasis. Hopefully we'll have cause to come back for Rose and Noah's wedding in the near future... :)
Once we finally made it back to the resort, we got the kids bathed and to bed. We had one more full day in our beloved Carlsbad...
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