Don't Call Her Babe, it's Mommy: Monterey

Last Sunday we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium with our neighbors and good friends, the Andrade Family, Bette, Marcio and Leo. Leo is 2 and T loves to show him the ropes of being a big boy! It was a blustery, wet, rainy day, but our little boys paid no mind of course! When we arrived it was time to have lunch so we headed to a delicious BBQ restaurant, who's name escapes me, but when sweet potato fries are on the menu and "hickory smoked" describes every dish, you know the food is going to hit the spot! YUM! Off to the Spindrift Hotel where Marcio used to work many years ago, he stopped by to visit old co-workers, who were kind enough to show us their newly remodeled suites...waterfront private decks and master room ocean view, very impressive. When we arrived at the aquarium it was crazy crowded, but I believe within 30 min. it began to clear out fairly quickly...after all, past lunchtime/naps due/rain/and Sunday afternoon means people were headed home with their kiddos early. Hooray for us because the boys had a blast with all the open space and elbow room to play and explore. Highlights of the day were the River otters who were super active, T spent an hour in the water play area, he held a hermit crab for the first time, and attempted to touch a stingray - but his arms were too short!
We had a lovely day sharing the trip with some good friends and hope to go back with our new membership passes very soon! Oh, and they have an IMAX theater at Cannery Row that is showing that Prehistoric Sea Creatures movie that I attempted to see a month back when we decided to go to SF Zoo instead, so hopefully that will still be around when we go back!