Point Reyes National Seashore

Today we took a drive to Point Reyes National Seashore.  Two of the more popular activities there are whale watching and elephant seal observing.  Since this is prime season for these attractions, the park runs a shuttle to the various observation locations.

Our first stop was the Drake Beach visitor center.  Here two elephant seals happened to be sitting on the beach right by the visitor center.

Joshua up close to the elephant seal.

Laura pretending to be an elephant seal.

After lunch, we boarded the shuttle to the lighthouse area which is the optimal whale watching location.  We saw some spouts from a whale's blowhole, but seeing the actual whale is more difficult.. Dave, Laura and Benjamin walked down the 308 steps to see the lighthouse (and then back up 308 steps).

Laura working on her Junior Ranger patch in the Lighthouse Visitor Center/Museum.  It discussed some of the shipwrecks prior to the building of the lighthouse.

Then we boarded the shuttle bus again and rode it to Chimney Rock which has an overlook to the beach with the elephant seals.

On the walk between the shuttle stop and the overlook, Laura spotted a centipede crossing the path.  Ever the animal lover, she insisted on moving it to safety (but she photographed it first).

ei

We could see at least 100 elephant seals testing on the beach.  We also saw a few frolicking in the water.

Scopes were available to get a closer view of the elephant seals.

Unfortunately we did not get back to the visitor center before it closed, so Laura did not receive her junior ranger patch.

Laura posing for a photo in front of the endangered Tule Elk that were reintroduced in this park 40 years ago.