A Sunny, Windswept Beach Day by the Golden Gate

A late April Saturday in 2009 called for a beach day. We met up with some friends at one of the small, rocky beaches that dot the coastline right near the Golden Gate Bridge. It was sunny and bright, but definitely had that crisp, windy quality that's so typical of the area, especially by the water.

We found a spot against a large rock formation which gave us a bit of a windbreak. The kids got right to work with the pile of plastic buckets and shovels we brought. One was in a very practical, if fancy, blue princess dress for the occasion, while the other wore a colorful chevron-striped dress. They seemed perfectly content just digging and arranging the sand.

We had a picnic basket and a kite, though I don't think the kite ever actually made it into the air. The adults mostly sat on blankets and watched the kids play against the backdrop of the bay and the hills of the Marin Headlands in the distance. It was just a simple, pleasant afternoon spent outdoors, soaking up some sun before it was time to head home.