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The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of those places that you can't got to Monterey and not see. It is amazing!! We really enjoyed our time there. Unfortunately, most of it was dimly lit, so I wasn't able to get very many pictures at all. Hope you enjoy these!

Part of the aquarium was built in one of the old sardine canneries in historic Monterey. So they had a tank with sardines (aka anchovies) in it.

Kelp forest





The architecture on Cannery Row is so cool!

They were so good...they slept through all the noise and activity!

I wish I had more (and better) pictures of the sea otters...they are SO adorable and hilarious!!




This otter got in the bucket and had a great time. :)

I had no idea there were that many different kinds of sea horses!



Yes, that weird leafy looking thing is a sea horse!


The octopus was HUGE. They are rather fascinating creatures.





We saw this in Salinas, actually, on our way to visit...

...our dear friends who we call Uncle Dale and Aunt Gladys!
Uncle Dale was a realtor, and when my parents were in Monterey he sold them their first house! My family has stayed in touch with them ever since (they are the dearest people!) and they have sent Sarah and me presents every single birthday and Christmas since we were born.
They drove out to Mississippi (and then up to Iowa for a family reunion, and back to California!) last summer, and after that we decided we'd really better get out there to see them. So they are the biggest reason we took this trip!
They treated us like family...out of the 7 days we were there, they had us over for a meal 5 times. And they are both such good cooks!
Thank you, Uncle Dale and Aunt Gladys! We love and miss you!!

The moon was beautiful on the way home one night!
For the love of travel,
Rebekah