Pismo Beach!!

 Before Christmas there was a cyber Monday special at the Sea Crest Resort where we always stay in Pismo.  We had a few holidays in January and February and picked last Thursday-Saturday to get away. Once we booked it we realized that they Thursday we were going to leave was Calissa's school  play.  So, we ended up on the road a little later than originally planned, but didn't hit any traffic!

We got in about midnight and went to bed.  Trav and I got up on Friday morning and went on a walk.  We usually head down the stairs and walk about 3/4 of a mile down to the pier.  As we got to the stairs, we realized that there was no beach!  The waves were in so far (and were so big) that we had to walk through town to get down to the pier. (Usually the waves don't even come into that big rock!)

 It was a gorgeous morning with very little wind.  We finally made it down to the beach and had to cross over several places where the waves were, but we made it to the pier.  The waves were huge (10-18 feet) and crashing into the end of the pier. 

 The pier was shaking as the big waves hit and we even got splashed from them!

The ocean is pretty amazing!  (And a little scary!)

 After getting back from our walk, we had breakfast by the fire and watched the waves.  We spotted dolphins in the water and I even saw several of them jump out of the water.

 After breakfast, we somehow convinced the kids to go on a bike ride.  We rented bikes at the hotel and were on our way. Calissa is in front of me and Conner and Trav are the black dots in the distance.

 We rode down to the Butterfly Grove.  The monarch butterflies winter over in Pismo. In December they had over 28,000 butterflies.  There were only about 9,000 or so left when we were there.

 Calissa checking them out in the trees.

 Conner

 and I taking an up close look at the butterflies.

 A butterfly that landed on the books they were selling there.

 Another beautiful one on the butterfly sign!

After leaving the butterfly grove, we headed down the road to Grover beach to look at the ocean and take a couple of pictures!

 Me and Calissa on our cruisers!

 Trav and Conner

 Then, it was time to head back. Me, in the shadow.  :)

 It was a little harder on the way back because there were some uphill spots, but we all had fun!

After we got back, we drove downtown for a BBQ lunch at Mo's, some window, shopping, and an ice cream cone. 

  We tried to take the kids onto the beach, but they closed the pier!  Guess it wasn't so safe for us to be on that morning, but I'm glad we got the chance earlier that day to be out there and experience the power of the waves!

 

 When we got back to the hotel, Trav and I relaxed on the rooftop terrace for a while and then took Calissa swimming. I went down, but didn't swim.  I wrapped myself in a towel because it was getting cold.  I decided to put my feet in the hot tub and one of the hotel employees came over and brought me a blanket. He thought I looked cold.  It was really nice of him!

That night we went for dinner at Old Juan's Cantina (where I accidentally left my credit card after paying for dinner) and then went to the Melodrama.  We saw "39 Steps," a funny 4 person play, in which they played over 150 different characters! During the 1st intermission, I realized I had left my credit card.  During the 2nd intermission, we went and got it.  Also, a man proposed to his girlfriend! (She said yes and we will forever be in the background of their proposal video!)

We made a lot of memories in our short trip, but we were so glad to get away and relax for a couple of days! Hopefully it won't be another year before we get to go back!