Asheville
We spent two nights with great friends in Asheville NC. Heather and Jimmy graciously welcomed us despite the chaos of home renovations going on. We didn't do many touristy things and that was just perfect. The kids all played, biked, did performances and had fun. We ate pizza and drank beers on their deck high on a hill looking over Asheville. Wednesday we worked around the house spreading wood chips and trying to set up their zip line. We went downtown to Farm Burger where we ate outside. It is a very cool city with a lot of expansion going on. The kids played around and then we hit up,a great play ground and then the pool. We came back home and ate out on the deck again, this time enjoying beers around the fire pit. Thursday am we had a quick breakfast and headed out. It was great to relax in a cool city and hang with good friends.
Family Visit in Raleigh
Monday we left VA and drove to Raleigh to visit James's family Barbara and Bob and his cousins Tim and Becky. 
They have a dog, Caribou, that the girls loved. We took Caribou to a nearby pond to throw the ball and let her swim. The kids couldn't stand to watch Caribou swim and not get wet themselves. What started as dipping toes in ended in cannonballs off the end of the dock. The kids loved it. We went back to the house and had a bbq feast. Molly and Barbara ran to the store together so molly could pick out a birthday cake. We all sang and topped off the feast with cake. Tuesday morning we went to a few playgrounds and then Barbara and Bob brought us to a park where the kids could ride a very old carousle, a small train and little boats. The kids had a ball. 
It was a great visit with family members that we don't get to see often enough. Off to Ashville.
Eastern Shore MD and VA
On Saturday we left Baltimore and headed to the Eastern shore of MD. We explored some sleepy fishing towns like Oxford and Cambridge. In Cambridge we saw another light house, and James bought steamed crabs from a placed called Kool Ice. We took the crabs to a playground and started to eat them but we didn't really know how to so we googled it like total rookies. 
A storm started coming in so we took off. We arrived at our friends house in Salisbury, MD in the early evening. Kate and Chris have three kids our guys age and they all hit it off right away. They were running around playing war with nerf darts all night. We had some delicious pizza and beers and caught up. The kids all slept in the same room. Sunday morning the kids were at it again and had water balloon fights. We took off after breakfast and headed to Chincateague island in Virginia. The kids know about this island from the book Misty of Chincateague. We were able to spot a pack of the wild ponies but they were far off. The kids looked through the binoculars to see them. Then we parked and did another bike and jog out to the beach. It was pretty gorgeous. James finished his crabs on the beach while kids swam. There have been a lot of shark attacks recently so I was stressed. After a few hours we biked back to the car and headed out. We have not had a bike ride yet on this trip without molly crashing. This time she and julia tried to race and crossed tires and molly went down hard. She's got quite a few band aids on her. We made a stop at a great ice cream place where everyone had ice cream for lunch. 
Everyone snoozed and we headed south to Virginia Beach. We drove over and under the 16 mile bridge/tunnel. We went to the First Landing State Park in Norfolk, VA to camp for the night. We set up our tent and then went to the beach for a late swim. The beach was at the opening of the Chesapeake Bay and we saw a number of huge container ships go by. 
The swim helped cool us down before climbing into the tent for the night. The kids were pretty wired and took a long time to fall asleep. They played games and made shadow puppets. Monday we woke up and drove into Virginia Beach. We got Dunkin for breakfast at Molly's request since it was her birthday! Molly wanted to bike to the playground so she and James went and we drove the car down. The kids goofed around for a bit then we got suits on and swam at the beach for an hour and a half. It was a great day. We could hear and see the military jets going overhead constantly. We wanted to see if we could tour a base but it was no open to the public. We parked the car at the end of the runways and watched a lot of planes land right over our heads and saw some take off as well. 
It was very cool to see them so close and it was so loud. Molly wanted pizza and French fries for lunch so we drove around and found a spot with both. The people were so nice and put candles in her pizza. After our lunch we drove out to Raleigh.
Baltimore
We took off for our annual summer road trip on Friday, June 26th. An easy four hour drive, and we arrived at Fort McHenry in Baltimore. The battle that took place here in 1814 against the British was the inspiration for our National Anthem. We enjoyed checking it out and seeing the huge cannons and ducking in and out of all the tunnels and nooks. 
It was pretty hot out so we didn't stay for too long. We drove into the Inner Harbor and checked into our hotel. The kids seem to go bananas anytime we are in a hotel room. Always jumping from bed to bed and wreaking havoc. We let them get some energy out before hopping into the car and heading to Camden Yards. This was the first time James or I had ever been to Baltimore. Through a connection we were set up with a VIP tour of Camden Yards and had the best seats in the house.
Our kids saw their first professional sporting event from the front row and will forever be spoiled!! We got to go onto the field for batting practice and were allowed to hang out in the dug out.
James and I were stunned and loving it. The kids were given gift bags and had no clue how special it was. They liked getting cups of Gatorade from the coolers on the bench. We met two players including their star, Manny Machado. After BP we got some food and sat in our seats right behind the on deck circle. We didn't expect the kids to last very long but they did so well. 
We got them snacks every two innings which helped! Molly flirted with the 10 year old boy in the seat behind her and drew a picture for him. It was hysterical. We saw a great game in which the O's came from behind to win it late in the game. It was also lucky that once a month they do fireworks during the summer and that night we stayed in our seats and saw a great firework show. We went home late and Everyone crashed at the hotel.
Saturday morning we went out in the rain and explored the harbor. The kids were on their bikes and we jogged. The harbor area is very cool and reminded us of Boston a little bit. There were old ships, submarines, lighthouses, and fountains to explore with a nice path for biking and running. We were out early and combined with the rain it was not crowded. Molly rode her bike through the water fountains that spurt up. We went up and down all the piers and checked everything out. All told the kids rode about 6 miles. We went back to the hotel and the kids got into the pool for a quick dip before checking out. It was the worlds smallest pool! We got a traveling lunch (2 baguettes and some cheese) and hit the road for the Eastern shore of MD.
San Francisco
June 24, 2014: We just spent the last four nights of our vacation in San Francisco and now it is time to head home. We drove from Tahoe to Mill Valley on Friday the 20th. About an hour outside of the city we stopped in Fairfield, CA at the Jelly Belly factory.
We had to wait in a pretty long line to go on the factory tour but it was free and the kids were excited. James took them through the candy store while I waited in line. Everyone has to wear funny paper hats on their heads for the tour. It started out with several iconic pieces of art work that have been recreated using jelly beans.
Then we walked around the entire factory from elevated hallways looking down on the workers.
I find factories very interesting with all of the machinery and conveyor belts getting the work done. Afterwards we continued the last hour on to Jordan's house in Mill Valley. The kids started playing immediately and were so happy for buddies and toys. James and I worked quickly to unpack the camper and clean it. We left all the kids and fought the Friday traffic to return the camper and pick up a small rental for our remaining days. We used an awesome company called FlightCar that I highly recommend to anyone for a cheap rental. When we finally made it back to Jordan's we rushed into our running clothes, kissed the kids goodnight and left them with Jordan's sitter. We met up at the running store and went for a beautiful 10k summer solstice fun run.
James and I were the only ones to do the 10k and not the 5k, the views were fantastic from the hills. The running store had a big party afterwards with local beers, a taco truck and they showed a movie about a local ultra runner doing her first 100 miler at the Western States. There was a skate ramp in the back that James had fun on.
Later a bunch of my oldest friends all went back to Jordan's and sat around the chimenea. Saturday June 21, we left the kids with a sitter again and went to wine country for the day. We all met up with Robin and Clark and piled into their mini van for the drive to Healdsburg. Our first stop was the Donelan's where Trip met us and gave us the grand tour.
With champagne on the way up and Trip pouring heavy glasses, we were well on our way to a fun day. We went to three other vineyards in Healdsburg and had a delicious lunch at the general store there. On the way home the car died and we were stranded on the highway waiting for a taxi. We made it home and everyone we knew came over to Jordan's for a big bbq. It is so fun to get to see so many old friends in one place. Sunday June 22 James and I took the kids into San Francisco for some sight seeing. We walked along the waterfront, watched street performers, rode a double decker carousel which the kids thought was very exciting,and we tried to go to Alcatraz but it was sold out until mid-July! We walked through Chinatown and the kids thought it was so interesting looking into the fish places with weird looking fish, frogs, turtles, and shrimp for sale. We had pizza on the street, rode on the trolley, where we got to hang out of the side for part of the ride, we walked down Lombard Street because it is now closed to car traffic, stopped in Sausilito for ice cream and then headed home.
Monday June 23 I went for a long run in the morning and James took the kids to walk on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Afterwards we met Wes in Sausilito and went for a boat ride. It turned out to be very windy and we went behind Angel Island and went out to look at Alcatraz but turned around because it was very cold and choppy.
We had lunch on the water and checked out the seals. Afterwards we took the kids to Golden Gate Park to ride the old carousel there. Then we headed home for packing and dinner.
We had to wait in a pretty long line to go on the factory tour but it was free and the kids were excited. James took them through the candy store while I waited in line. Everyone has to wear funny paper hats on their heads for the tour. It started out with several iconic pieces of art work that have been recreated using jelly beans.
Then we walked around the entire factory from elevated hallways looking down on the workers.
I find factories very interesting with all of the machinery and conveyor belts getting the work done. Afterwards we continued the last hour on to Jordan's house in Mill Valley. The kids started playing immediately and were so happy for buddies and toys. James and I worked quickly to unpack the camper and clean it. We left all the kids and fought the Friday traffic to return the camper and pick up a small rental for our remaining days. We used an awesome company called FlightCar that I highly recommend to anyone for a cheap rental. When we finally made it back to Jordan's we rushed into our running clothes, kissed the kids goodnight and left them with Jordan's sitter. We met up at the running store and went for a beautiful 10k summer solstice fun run.
James and I were the only ones to do the 10k and not the 5k, the views were fantastic from the hills. The running store had a big party afterwards with local beers, a taco truck and they showed a movie about a local ultra runner doing her first 100 miler at the Western States. There was a skate ramp in the back that James had fun on.
Later a bunch of my oldest friends all went back to Jordan's and sat around the chimenea. Saturday June 21, we left the kids with a sitter again and went to wine country for the day. We all met up with Robin and Clark and piled into their mini van for the drive to Healdsburg. Our first stop was the Donelan's where Trip met us and gave us the grand tour.
With champagne on the way up and Trip pouring heavy glasses, we were well on our way to a fun day. We went to three other vineyards in Healdsburg and had a delicious lunch at the general store there. On the way home the car died and we were stranded on the highway waiting for a taxi. We made it home and everyone we knew came over to Jordan's for a big bbq. It is so fun to get to see so many old friends in one place. Sunday June 22 James and I took the kids into San Francisco for some sight seeing. We walked along the waterfront, watched street performers, rode a double decker carousel which the kids thought was very exciting,and we tried to go to Alcatraz but it was sold out until mid-July! We walked through Chinatown and the kids thought it was so interesting looking into the fish places with weird looking fish, frogs, turtles, and shrimp for sale. We had pizza on the street, rode on the trolley, where we got to hang out of the side for part of the ride, we walked down Lombard Street because it is now closed to car traffic, stopped in Sausilito for ice cream and then headed home.
Monday June 23 I went for a long run in the morning and James took the kids to walk on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Afterwards we met Wes in Sausilito and went for a boat ride. It turned out to be very windy and we went behind Angel Island and went out to look at Alcatraz but turned around because it was very cold and choppy.
We had lunch on the water and checked out the seals. Afterwards we took the kids to Golden Gate Park to ride the old carousel there. Then we headed home for packing and dinner.
Lake Tahoe
Wednesday June 18: we woke up from our campground and excitedly folded up the roof tent and inside bed for the last time. We drove straight through to Tahoe City, via Nevada. Neither of us have ever been here before and I was excited to see it. The lake is really beautiful. We stopped for groceries in town and headed towards the mountain. When we arrived at my friends house we took a little while to just relax and enjoy being in a home again. I went for a long run and James took the girls hiking up the ski mountain which is just outside the door. 
They hiked straight up the mountain and had a snow ball fight at the top.
We all met up back at the house and enjoyed a soak in the hot tub and our first shower in too long!
It was nice to sleep in beds and spread out a bit. Thursday morning the girls and I planned a surprise Father's Day celebration since we did not celebrate it on the real day. We made cards and a big breakfast with pancakes, eggs, toast, bacon, cereal and strawberries. The kids played and we relaxed. James even took a couch nap. Around 10:30 we headed to the beach in town. There is a playground right on the lake and the kids went out in a rubber raft on the lake.
We came home for lunch and naps then went back out again with the raft. This time we put it in the Truckee river. We tried having them float for James down to met but it wasn't fun enough so James decided to swim along with them as they floated and I drove down river to meet them. Molly bailed out at the last minute and joined me. They floated for about 45 minutes until we saw them round the bend and helped pull them out.
We made a nice dinner and started packing and getting ready for our next and last stop,of this trip in San Francisco.
Yosemite National Park
Sunday June 15 we arrived at Yosemite in the late afternoon. We were lucky to get a camp site at Bridalveil Campground which is off of Glacier Point road at about 8,000 feet. We set up camp then went for a short hike to Sentinal Dome. This was such a great hike. The top is a rocky dome that has amazing views of the entire Yosemite Valley.
The kids enjoyed looking at the different waterfalls and rock faces through the binoculars. We went home for dinner and a fire and off to a chilly nights sleep. James and Casey have slept on top in the tent each night and are much colder than the rest of us in the car. Monday June 16 we went out for our longest hike yet; an 8 mile out and back through McGurk Meadow to Dewey Point. The high mountain meadows are really very pretty with windflowers and we saw about 4 mule deer grazing. When we eventually got to Dewey Point we were rewarded with great views of the valley once again.
We took our time and had lots of water and snack breaks. Molly has impressed us so much with how much hiking she has done. It has been a 180 from last summer where she barely took a single step. She hiked all the way to Dewey point and most of the way back, often refusing to take a ride on our shoulders.
Such a trooper! We had quiet time back at camp and I read James and The Giant Peach to the kids outside. Later that afternoon we went on a short hike to the Taft Point fissures.
These are sheer cliff faces with no railings. James and I were terrified and had the kids in death grips.
Molly and julia both fell asleep in our arms on the hike back to the car. We had run out of dinner supplies so we had oatmeal and hot chocolate for dinner by the campfire and we read more of James and the giant peach.
Tuesday June 17th we headed down into to the Yosemite valley. Our first stop was the market to stock up on food and then we hit the Mist Trail to hike to the top of Vernal Falls. We were very glad we got an early start becaue by the time we were hiking down the trail was packed. This is a steep 2 mile hike to a long waterfall. The waterfall hits rocks and gives off a mist that gets you wet as you hike the stone steps next to it and also gives off rainbows everywhere which the girls loved.
There is a cool area up above to rest and look around. We hiked up a bit more to see Nevada falls but then turned back.
Being on the crowded trail and in the crowded valley was not very enjoyable compared to the quiet we have had thus far. We went and had some ice cream and lunch over at El Capitan, a famous rock face for climbers. A park ranger was there with telescopes to show you climbers and answer questions about climbing. The kids earned their junior park ranger badges and we left the valley. We drove to the north eastern corner of the park and explored Toulumne Meadows for a while before heading on. These high mountain meadows are beautiful.
They have a nice stream, and unbelievable snow capped mountains all around. We left Yosemite and had a picnic dinner of hot dogs by Mono Lake with its tufu spires.
We camped at a campground nearby and left for tahoe the next morning.
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