Imperial Beach

We had our long awaited beach vacation this year.  We stayed in Imperial Beach which is the most southern beach in California.  We found the best place to stay!  It was a little condo across the street from the beach.  It was less than 5 minutes to go from our front door to the sand. We loved that everyone could come and go to the beach on their own schedule.  We didn't do anything but relax, swim, sleep and eat.  The kids were a little incredulous that we weren't going anywhere but after the first day they settled into the rhythm of just being in the water and sand.

The water was very warm and clear this year.  We could see lots of little fish (and some big ones) as we waded in.  There seemed to be lots of fish and birds that we hadn't noticed on earlier trips.  Carter got stung by a sting-ray the very first morning.  That was definitely the downside to the warm water.  We all learned to shuffle our feet so as not to surprise any rays.  Scott loved swimming past the breakers to swim in the calm water.  I especially enjoyed boogie boarding.  The warm water meant I could stay in the water for hours without getting cold! Carter, Bethany and Camille liked to boogie board as well. 

This was a "foodie" vacation.  We went out to eat every evening and had some Really Good food.  It also made it a true vacation for me.  I didn't feel any more responsible than anyone else to see that people were fed.  It was awesome.

We had the best fish tacos that I've ever tasted at IB Street Tacos!

I think that one of Ryan, Bethany and Carter's favorite parts was having soda almost every evening.

We loved that our beach was so big, wide and relatively empty.

We walked to the end of the pier one night and had fish and chips at the Tin Fish restaurant.

We went for many long walks alone and together.

On Scott's bucket list was to go explore a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that our local neighbors told us was famous for their pinto beans and tamales.  It's funny to me that the one car outing we had was for pinto beans...   Las Cuatro Milpas did not disappoint!  There is something so yummy about food made with lard.

It was also an awesome cultural experience for our family.  The restaurant is located in downtown San Diego and the patrons were from all walks of life.  There were construction workers, professionals, young and old people and lots of different skin colors.  Since there was a long line to order food we had a chance to talk to a few people.  We were impressed how patient and friendly everyone was.  One young couple let the line go around them as they comforted a despondent elderly homeless man.  It sound simplistic but this experience reinforced my confidence in humanity.