A Real Family Vacation!

We went somewhere and it was not on the way to family's homes or to family or because of family! It was just us! Because we wanted to!!

We ran away to San Francisco (without going into the city this trip), slept in a hotel and ate out every meal! Thats right! I did not have a PB&J station in the car!! Wahoo!!

After our 3 1/2 hour car ride we drove strait to the Golden Gate Bridge and saw the iconic bridge in the fog and rain! 5 out of 6 of us had not seen it before!

We then started towards our hotel in San Rafael but had to stop when we saw the signs for a Mission. I have always loved seeing different California Missions. I grew up near the Mission San Luis Rey and frequently visited the Mission San Juan Capistrano growing up. This one was quite beautiful too.

The next morning we headed over to the Richmond Docks, it was pouring when we ran in but beautiful once we came out!

We went to the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Park! It was a great museum and we even learned how to tie a real Rosie bandana!

Leili earned her Jr. Ranger Badge!

Also at the Richmond Docks we got to tour a ship that was built there during the Rosie the Riveter era. We met some great Veterans who showed us some amazing things!!

After our day's adventures we went for another look at the bridge since it was not raining. So very beautiful!

We saved the best for last! I have always dreamed of seeing the redwoods so we went to Muir Woods National Park and I got to touch a redwood!!

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Riley and I left everyone else and hiked up further into the woods where it was peaceful and quiet, and we found this really neat bridge!

And Leili earned another Jr. Ranger Badge! Her third one this year! 

After the woods and a good lunch we drove out on the Marin Headlands, we say old battlements where cannon and guns were mounted to protect the harbor, we saw seals, and happened upon the Point Bonita Lighthouse! And it was open! We had to walk a suspension bridge out to it which was swinging a bit in the wind! 

After all this adventuring and museum going and hotel rooming we needed to have a little free time so we found a beach! Rodeo Beach, it use to be an army base. The barracks had an ocean view and were yards from the beach!

It was an amazing trip and on the way home I hit a farm stand and came home with bags of citrus and persimmons! Next time we will do the city!!