Asilomar State Beach

Asilomar State Beach is a great place for a leisurely stroll, beautiful flowers and cool geology. Located at the edge of Pacific Grove, the one mile coastal trail atop the 100ma Santa Lucia Granodiorite offers splendid views and even has a couple of awesome small beaches perfect for a toddler that loves to taste the geologic results of weathering and erosion. For the architecture buffs, the conference grounds at the park boast buildings designed by the famed Julia Morgan.
Laura and Z arrive at the beach. Dad, I have to check out this invasive iceplant. Z's first steps under his own power on sand. Yeah, the ocean's cool and all, but I have this dead iceplant.
This can be yours for a mere $10.2 million. BIRDS! And WAVES! Laura listens to Z explain what he sees. RJH1895 RJH1897
Santa Lucia Granodiorite, dad! The 100Ma intrusive igneous rock that formed from subducting oceanic lithosphere that partially melted, rose through the asthenosphere and continental crust and cooled miles underground. Oh, then is was transported 1200 miles from near Baja, CA in 70 million years to its current location at this beach! Awesome! Dad! Look at the feldspar crystals and the birds! The various stages of weathering and the component minerals of the granodiorite. Z gives the rocks the old "taste test".
RJH1911 Tidepool appreciation. These guys were feeling a bit crabby. Again, yours for a cool $10.2 million. Crossing my fingers for the next mega bucks drawing.
Great view from a resting station on the trail. RJH1924 Laura loves the ocean. I'd look at the tsunami hazard map before purchasing this house.
This photo session ended a few seconds later as mom dove to keep the track star out of the water. He stayed mostly dry. So did she. Siren song of the waves. RJH1945 RJH1951
Dad, what we have here is an amazing piece of kelp.