I always look forward to our anniversary each year.  For us it means a new adventure and making valuable family memories.  I feel like it is so important to set aside time to vacation as a family and get away from the regular routine and chores of life.  This is important to me because then we can focus on what matters most and spend time becoming closer as a family the effects of which last much longer than the vacation itself.  It doesn’t have to be anything big.  Simple camping trips are often our favorites.

Our May 2016 family road trip began with a stop at Crater Lake.  The lake was formed around 7,700 years ago by the collapse of a volcano.  Crater Lake is famous for its deep blue color and the clarity of the water which is next to pure.  It is the deepest lake in the United States with no rivers flowing in or out of the lake.

As you can see there is still quite a bit of snow in May.   We were excited to arrive at our next destination in Crescent City and stay in a house directly across the street from Pebble Beach.This was our first stop in the Redwood Forest.  The trees and forests were incredible!Our first hike was to Fern Canyon.  We enjoyed splashing in the water, catching a giant frog, discovering banana slugs, and being surrounded by narrow walls covered in lush green ferns. Thankfully we didn’t run into any dinosaurs which could have seemed likely after this location was chosen by Steven Spielberg as a backdrop for the film Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World!  I love capturing the details that add to the magnificence of a place. We spent a lot of time hiking in these beautiful Redwood Forests!  This was one of my favorite trails!   We spent a fabulous day hiking to a beach which started at a trailhead with a warning to keep children close because of the abundance of bear and mountain lions.  The trail led us through thick lush green forests until we arrived at what would become one of our favorite beaches.  As we neared the beach we saw many large birds circling the sky.  My husband said, “what the heck are those”?  As we got closer we noticed they were feeding on a large stingray that had washed up on shore.  My five year old daughter responding to my husbands question said, “Actually dad those are turkey vultures”.  We laughed a little not doubting her and later looked them up discovering she was correct.  Thank you Wild Kratt’s!  We were the only ones on the beach and it felt as if we had landed on a deserted island.   The tide pools at the beach were incredible and we spent a lot of time finding all sorts of creatures.

This perfect trip marks being married to my wonderful husband for 11 years.  I am grateful for my family, the amazing memories we made and the hundreds of pictures to help us remember these amazing times and the relationship we have with each other.  Maybe I should post them all.  😉