My boys told me I can't call it "San Fran"

While Abraham was living it up in Seattle, the rest of us headed in a more southerly direction, to San Francisco. It's a great drive, excluding much of Nevada, of course. :)  We stopped for a look at the Salt Flats on our way out of Utah.  We were so surprised to find them mostly covered with water!  Apparently this is normal in the Fall/Winter (we've only been there in the Summer before).  So we didn't do any car racing (ha ha) but we stood on the shores and gazed out at the alien landscape.

The light was beautiful

Ky pretended to be a hang glider

Small girl in front of big . . . world

We drove by way of Reno and then through the mountains to Lake Tahoe, where we stopped for a few minutes.  It's beautiful.  There were some changing leaves in the mountains there, and the water was really clear.

Junie enjoying the pebbly sand

Another lovely spot where we stopped for a picnic---in the mountains just over the California border

We stayed a few days in San Francisco and then went to a couple State Parks where we could see Redwoods.  It was a lovely mix of scenery and activity.  We (though we missed Abey) had such a good time!  A few highlights:

Japanese Garden at Golden Gate Park---I still remember this as my favorite thing in San Francisco when I went there the summer before 2nd grade.  I loved the moon bridge, and how everything was green.  This time it was smaller, but just as pretty, as I remembered it.

Views of the city from a glass elevator in our hotel---endlessly fascinating.  Whenever there was no one else in the elevator with us, we rode up and down several times. :)

Hot fudge sundae

Ky tries to pet a birdie---perhaps Sid?---but without success

Daisy was delighted with the cable cars (as were the others)

Boat ride under the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was chilly and windy at first, and the wind blew our hair (but we are grateful she has any hair to blow)

On the other side of the bay, the sun came out and warmed us up

Sebby got to drive the boat!

And he cuddled Junie, of course

There were birds everywhere, so of course Malachi pretended to be a birdie much of the time

Pretty light by the water

Riding the carousel---cat and ostrich (Daisy rode a frog)

Golden Gate Park Playground.  Seb and Ky loved riding pieces of cardboard down these cement slides.

The beach.  There were lots of dogs here.  I think it was a dog party.  (No, really.)  Oddly, there are no dogs in this shot.

We love the redwoods!  They are so awe-inspiring.  Sam and I have seen them before, but the kids haven't, and it was so fun to see their delight.

Great place for a picnic

Beautiful green mountain overlook