Sand Dollar Beach

Sand Dollar Beach, is Clara's dream place, because even in the Day's Inn at Monterey, she prepared two plastic bags (another one for Noah!) to pick up the possible Sand Dollars. Sand Dollar Beach located just south of Gorda, and across the street from the sign of the Ranger Station of Los Padres National Forest. You may google map "Sand Dollar Beach, Monterey, California 93920", and clearly see the parking lot.


On the way to the Sand Dollar Beach, Lily has to carry Noah all the time. December 30^th, 2008.


North, Sand Dollar Beach. December 30^th, 2008.


Margaret and Clara were looking for sand dollar at Sand Dollar Beach, December 30^th, 2008.


South, Sand Dollar Beach. December 30^th, 2008.


South, Sand Dollar Beach. December 30^th, 2008.


South, Sand Dollar Beach. December 30^th, 2008.


Margaret and Clara climbed the rocks at Sand Dollar Beach. December 30^th, 2008.


Margaret and Clara on the top of a rock at Sand Dollar Beach. December 30^th, 2008.


Noah and me on a top of a rock at Sand Dollar Beach. December 30^th, 2008.


South, Sand Dollar Beach, another angle. December 30^th, 2008.


North, Sand Dollar Beach, another angle. December 30^th, 2008.

Caution: Sand Dollar Beach has spectacular view, but NO sand dollar! Period.

Vista Points Along the Coast

We were thrilled for the sunny weather and breath-taken scenic views, and the kids were enjoying the beaches.


Clara, Pacific Ocean Coast, around Big Sur, California. December 30^th, 2008.


View, Pacific Ocean Coast, around Big Sur, California. December 30^th, 2008.


Lily and Noah, Pacific Ocean Coast, around Big Sur, California. December 30^th, 2008.


Another Vista Point, Pacific Ocean Coast, around Big Sur, California. December 30^th, 2008.


Another angle, one vista point , Pacific Ocean Coast, around Big Sur, California. December 30^th, 2008.


One Vista Point, Pacific Ocean Coast, around Big Sur, California. December 30^th, 2008.


One Vista Point, Pacific Ocean Coast, around Big Sur, California. December 30^th, 2008.


Noah Li, Pacific Ocean Coast, around Big Sur, California. December 30^th, 2008.


Margaret, Pacific Ocean Coast, around Big Sur, California. December 30^th, 2008.


Pacific Ocean Coast, around Big Sur, California. December 30^th, 2008.

Pfeiffer Beach, A Hidden Treasure

(I should shout,) Pfeiffer Beach is a hidden treasure of the Big Sur.

Note: Pfeiffer Beach, NOT in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, is accessible only by Sycamore Canyon Road from Highway #1, 2 miles east of the exit. Caution! it's a very sharp turn! there is NO sign to mark the Sycamore Canyon Road or Pfeiffer Beach, but if you get it right, after 200 ft. from the exit, you would see a big sign on a stone wall "Pfeiffer Beach, 2 Miles". I think this is a intentional setup to hide it from the stranger weird tourists. But anyway, we found it, and enjoy the stay there.


After 2 miles easy driving, here is the Pfeiffer Beach fee station. December 30^th, 2008.



Lily and Noah had a nap there. Someone called the Park Ranger, reporting that there is maybe a case "baby left alone on the vehicle". When the park ranger came, everything looked perfectly fine because that guy did not see actually Lily also in the vehicle at the same time. December 30^th, 2008.


Pfeiffer Beach, December 30^th, 2008.


A man was surfing, Pfeiffer Beach, December 30^th, 2008.


The rocks on the Pfeiffer Beach, December 30^th, 2008.


Pfeiffer Beach is so romantic for someones, December 30^th, 2008.


Margaret and Clara were enjoying the Pfeiffer Beach, December 30^th, 2008.


Another rocks on the Pfeiffer Beach, December 30^th, 2008.


This portion of the Pfeiffer Beach is surfing-friendly. December 30^th, 2008.


Access point to the Pfeiffer Beach from Sycamore Canyon Road. December 30^th, 2008.


Margaret and Clara enjoying to build a sand castle at the Pfeiffer Beach, December 30^th, 2008.


Looking north at the Pfeiffer Beach, California. December 30^th, 2008.


We all enjoyed the Pfeiffer Beach, December 30^th, 2008.


At the Pfeiffer Beach parking lot, Margaret and Clara was playing with a butterfly, December 30^th, 2008.


Here is the home for most of the butterfly at Pfeiffer Beach, near the nature toilets, December 30^th, 2008.

Big Sur, Cabrillo Highway

December 30^th, 2008 is a beautiful sunny day. The 42 miles on the Cabrillo Highway (#1) from Camel to Lucia, in my personal humbler opinion, is the Most Picturesque Coast Highway Over The World.


10 miles south of Camel. You would see the Point Sur Lighthouse. December 30^th, 2008


Beautiful Pacific coast. December 30^th, 2008


Maybe everybody have seen this somewhere else (picture, movie or TV commercial) before, but it is still stunning to see it physically. December 30^th, 2008


Another frame of the stunning Pacific Ocean coastal view. December 30^th, 2008


Lily and Noah at the famous Pacific Ocean Coastal view point. December 30^th, 2008


Margaret Li at the famous Pacific Ocean Coastal view point. December 30^th, 2008


Point Sur Lighthouse, more information here. December 30^th, 2008

A interesting sideshow about California's Highway 1 is here.

Monterey Aquarium

Monterey Aquarium is a Top 10 U.S. Aquarium. We are so happy had the chance to go there with Tan Family and Nana Wang. Thank you very much Rachel and Cheoh for your friendship and kindness.


Monterey Bay, from Monterey Aquarium, December 29^th, 2008, 4:34 PM (PST).


Rocks at Monterey Bay, from Monterey Aquarium, December 29^th, 2008, 4:34 PM (PST).


Monterey Bay, from Monterey Aquarium, December 29^th, 2008, 4:39 PM (PST).


Tropical fishes at Monterey Aquarium, December 29^th, 2008, 4:40 PM (PST).


Are they Nemo? December 29^th, 2008, 4:42 PM (PST).


Tropical fishes at Monterey Aquarium, December 29^th, 2008, 4:42 PM (PST).


A tropical animal at Monterey Aquarium, December 29^th, 2008, 4:58 PM (PST).


A jelly fish at Monterey Aquarium, December 29^th, 2008, 5:09 PM (PST).


Jelly fishes at Monterey Aquarium, December 29^th, 2008, 5:11 PM (PST).


A jelly fish at Monterey Aquarium, December 29^th, 2008, 5:12 PM (PST).


Tropical fishes at Monterey Aquarium, December 29^th, 2008, 5:31 PM (PST).


We had the Dinner with Tan family at this up scale seafood restaurant in Cannery Row Monterey, California. Thank you Rachel and Cheoh. December 29^th, 2008, 6:05 PM (PST).