Day 3

Monterey Bay Aquarium


Our day begins at the aquarium — a whole underwater adventure of its own (you can read about that at the link below!).

Monterey


Afterward, we find a small coffee shop and settle in to wait for Mom and Dad to join us. It’s one of those simple, quiet travel moments — warm drink in hand, a little coastal breeze, and no real rush.


Lunch takes us to Bubba Gump, perched on its own mini pier. The food is great, but the birds? Bold. We become full-time food bodyguards, swatting away feathered thieves between bites. It's all part of the seaside charm, right?


Next stop: Capitola Beach.

Candy Row storefront sign with outdoor cafe seating along a city sidewalk.

Capitola


Jeremy practically leaps out of the car to change into flip-flops, ready to run straight into the ocean like some sort of coastal knight returning to his kingdom. One step into the February water and — surprise! — it’s icy. But we laugh, splash, and wander along the shoreline anyway. The sunset paints the horizon in soft golds and pinks, and watching it from the sand feels like being wrapped in something ancient and beautiful.


I’m captivated by the texture of the pier — sea-worn wood rough against the shimmer of water — and by the delicate patterns the waves leave in the sand. They look like tiny trees, like branching veins, and they remind me how deeply nature ties us all together.

Tranquil waterfront view with a pier and colorful buildings at sunset.
Person walking along the shoreline during sunset at a peaceful beach.
Underneath view of wooden pier posts creating dramatic perspective over ocean waves.
Person watching the ocean waves from beach near wooden fishing pier at dawn.
Long wooden pier extends into calm ocean waters under clear morning sky.
Coastal landscape at sunset with blue ocean waves rolling onto shore near rocky cliffs and trees.
Wooden pier pilings extend into calm blue waters under clear sky.
Silhouetted figure stands on wet beach reflecting sunset light near wooden pier.
Serene beach landscape at sunset with cliffs and trees overlooking calm ocean waters.
Abstract black and white pattern of tree-like erosion marks in sand or soil.

End of Day


When the light finally fades, we head to Santa Cruz for dinner on the pier at Stagnaro Bros. A perfect ending: ocean views, good food, and that salty wind that always seems to carry both nostalgia and possibility.


We loved wandering the little coastal towns of the West Coast — each one with its own character, rhythm, and surprises — and we already can’t wait to explore more on our next California trip.