Treehouse Trails: The Queen Emma

The sweet coastal beach of California was calling our name the second we arrived.

And we're ever so thankful for our amazing California family for teaching and taking us surfing!

Our wetsuits kept us warm, but even at that, the February ocean water was bizarrely a fantastic temperature to go surfing in!

Once you get the feel of the waves under your board, the only thing to worry about are the fishes that try to nibble at your toes!

"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy." {Wyland}

We felt like movie stars ourselves touring the Hollywood Walk of Fame...

...and even got to walk on the red carpet they were setting up for the Oscars!

Hidden away from the crowded streets of LA, we discovered Griffith Park, where we went in search of the Batman Cave! Following the vague slightly sketchy directions from a hole in the wall website, we walked for quite a ways in the wrong direction, until we finally stopped to ask for help!

"I get up each day hoping to have a moment that will take my breath away."

Tucked preciously away into the Hollywood Hills, where it seems you have to almost accidentally find it, the Batman Cave remains a little known treasure that some adventurous hikers have searched for and never found.

But not only were we at the filming location of numerous classic TV shows and movies, but we saw one of the most phenomenal views of the Hollywood sign this side of LA.

Not brave enough to slide down the precarious loose dirt path that we'd walked up (Sarah in her heels), we opted for the only other option (and maybe just a little less appealing than the last...).

It was so great to meet you Matt! Thank you ever so much for using your sweet skills and ensuring our car, "The Queen Emma" is good for another few thousand miles!

"I get up for friends and family. There are many things I wake up for, but the number 1 reason is love."

A great big thank you goes to our spectacular Southern California family who were so kind to take in us strangers, go on some crazy fun adventures with us, and make sure Queen Emma was sparkling for the rest of our journey. You are both so wonderful! Can't wait to see you some day in Indiana!

"I'm not sure if I have a direct purpose for waking up each day, I guess I'm just excited about the journey and the adventures that lie ahead. Good times!"

"I get up each day just to hear what silly stories Dan's going to tell me today. Love and laughter, is there anything better."

Even though it meant a little bit of longer drive, the Pacific Coast Highway 1 brought to our car windows some of the most divine views of the West Coast that we've seen. The Big Sur just might possibly be our favorite stretch of road yet (and we've seen our fair share of roadway...).

Thanks to our SoCal family, we were on the hunt for the viewpoint along the Pacific Coast that is home to elephant seals! At first, we stopped off and walked to the edge, only to see a few baby seals (which were still pretty fascinating to us Indiana Girls!).

And then, following the rather loud vocalizations of the seals...we found an entire sandy beach covered in huge, loud, and wonderful elephant seals!

Much to her dismay, the girls would not let Jennifer stow one away to keep in the backseat as a pet...

The Pacific Coast Highway stays true to it's name in the sense that it is literally on the pacific coast, which is why we've vowed to ever only drive north on the road, because at least that means that we'll be on the inside lane!