Jellyfish at the Aquarium, Kitesurfers on the Coast

We made a trip down to the Monterey Bay Aquarium at the end of July. The kids posed for the obligatory photo out front before we went inside to escape the overcast coastal weather.

The jellyfish exhibits were the main event. It’s always a little mesmerizing to stand in those dark rooms and just watch them float. They had tanks full of them, glowing red and translucent blue against the dark water. It's so quiet and hypnotic, and the kids were completely captivated.

Beyond the jellyfish, we spent some time in front of the huge kelp forest exhibit. It’s an impressive scale, watching the schools of fish move through the towering kelp from behind the massive window. You can see how many other people had the same idea.

After we left the aquarium, we found a spot along the coast to watch the water. It was a seriously windy day, and the ocean was packed with kitesurfers and windsurfers making the most of it. There were dozens of colorful sails and kites skimming across the waves against the cliffs. We finished the day with a short walk along the bluffs, looking out over the water before heading home.