Let's Go To The Beach!

Arriving at the hotel

Horses on the beach

Playa Conchal

Riding along the shore

Breathtaking views on the mountain side

I don't care how long we go on vacation for... one day, 2 days, a whole week or month. Vacation is vacation no matter how you slice it.

We decided to take a quick trip to the beach, a little family getaway right before Boobie was to begin school again. A last minute escape to soothe the tired muscles and relax the weary bones and quell unhappy voices. After much (2 days) planning and indecision, we decided on Guanacaste, where some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica are. It would be a long trip, but it was a trip worth taking, if only for one night.

We left late Saturday morning (Hubby was bringing a work friend along for the trip... a guy who has lived in Costa Rica 5 long years and had never made it to the beach once. At the age of 25, he had not been to the beach since he was 19).

Six and a half hours later, stopping for lunch in Miramar, we arrived in Guanacaste in Playa Conchal. Luck of the draw I guess, as we never really confirmed WHERE we would actually vacation. There are so many beaches in Guanacaste, you just have to take your pick. While searching for a place to stay (nothing fancy as our trip would only last an overnight), we had to drive through the ocean, literally. High tide had brought the sea rushing up onto the shore, to a part of the beach used as a road for vehicles. The only way to cross was through it and I was terrified. Our little car just did not seem up to the task. I just couldn't believe that people did that on a daily basis... but to our surprise it wasn't daily. High tide like that only happened once every three months and what are the odds that it happened on that very day we were there? We crossed and made it through effortlessly only to have to turn back around and cross the water again. But it was such a rush, it was the highlight of the trip.

We quickly found a nice little hotel to call our home away from home. At just around $68 for the night it offered everything we needed to feel comfortable. It was a small suite with a kitchenette, a refrigerator, a small living area with a futon couch and a dining table with 4 chairs. It had two decent sized bedrooms with 4 beds, one with two full size beds, the other, a bit smaller, with one full and one very small twin. That room was shared between Boobie and hubby's friend. The room also had Cable tv, ac, ceiling fans, a pool and it was a short 3 minute walk to the beach and all the restaurants. Not a bad price and more than modest, in my opinion.

The heat hit us like bricks. Guanacaste is known for it's hot weather, and it did not disapoint. The kids and I took a quick dip in the pool first thing, while hubby and his friend decided to take a stroll along the beach and check out our new surroundings. It was after 5 and we didn't want to waste a minute of our short vacation.

It was a small beach community... modest in it's set-up and littered with tourists, many of whom took advantage of the various beach activities available to them, like 4-wheeling or riding horses along the shore. There weren't a lot of restaurants to choose from, but the ones there had a variety of dishes and prices for every budget. The kids and I settled on an Ausatralian/outback themed restaurant for dinner while hubby and his friend chose a more Tico style place to dine.

Our Sunday and last day was spent on the beach. Breathtaking in one word, in all it's unspoiled beauty. I was in awe at nature at it's best. Photo's cannot do it justice, as only the human eye first hand can appreciate such a scenery. We enjoyed ourselves as we frolicked in the ocean, waves so strong they pushed and pulled you every which way and terrified my kids. The sand was tiny little sea shells, hence the name 'Playa Conchal', which means sea shell beach.

Though the trip was short, I think we were able to soak up all that the getaway had to offer. Even though we were all a little sick, the beach rejuvenated our beings and lifted our spirits. We were ready to come back home, ready to face our lives again. The short break gave us the energy we needed and satisfied my craving for a vacation. And even though traveling with kids can be stressful, it really wasn't. We all had fun, even the long car ride was an adventure.