Cabrillo National Monument

Today we headed out to Point Loma and the Cabrillo National Monument.  We had so much fun exploring, taking pictures (shocking I know), and just spending the day together.

Eliza sitting up high above the bay, Coronado, and San Diego off in the distance.  We checked out some of the exhibits in the Visitor's Center and stopped for some smashed penny souvenirs for each of the girls.

Then we walked up the hill, to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse.  It was used from 1855 to 1891, but the low clouds and fog often obscured the light since it was so high above the water on the cliffs.  So they had to build a new lighthouse down below at the point.

Heading up the spiral stairs of the tower.

This is the view from the top of the ladder.  You can only go up all the way into the tower on 2 days of the year, so we'll have to try to go back then.

Dom and the girls outside the lighthouse.

Walking out from the lighthouse to the cliff's edge, we came across this big grey whale!  They can be seen from the cliffs during their migration between December and March.  

Audrey and Daddy

Audrey

Eliza

We hopped back in the car to drive down the road and check out the tidepools, which are protected by the National Parks.  We climbed down a steep path to the rocks below and the girls had fun checking out this cool cave.

Daddy and the girls on the rocky cliffs.

The girls and I watching some crabs.

Eliza was having so much fun stomping around in her boots!

Audrey and Daddy

Eliza leading the way fearlessly, while Daddy helped Audrey.

Oh how I love them!

Eliza and I climbed down to get a closer look.

Heading back up from the tidepools, we stopped for a few more pictures.

Audrey and I at the top looking out at the Pacific.

Signs of Fall on the cliffs

A cave we dubbed "crabby cave"

One of the larger residents of crabby cave

Velvet Ant - actually a wingless wasp that packs a painful sting

The newer lighthouse that is still in use today

What a terrific day!  We will definitely be heading back to check out the lighthouse tower on November 15th (the lighthouse anniversary) and the Grey Whale migration in the winter - plus we didn't get a chance to see the sea stars in the tidepools since we started from the far side, and didn't get down as close as we'd have liked.