A Foggy San Francisco Beach Vacation Session

This was a rare family. Visiting from Texas mid-summer, they wanted something quiet and unspoiled — a true Northern California beach experience. I hesitated to suggest Gray Whale Cove; it’s exposed, rugged, and unpredictable. But it’s also one of the few places where, even on a summer morning, you might have the entire stretch of sand to yourself.

When I arrived, the fog was thick and the wind sharp off the Pacific. Despite the beauty, my heart sank a little — I wondered if this Texas family might struggle to embrace this version of summer.

“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”
(Apparently, Mark Twain never actually said that.)

My worries vanished the moment they tumbled out of the car — laughing, soon barefoot, racing toward the waves. The fog was a novelty, the chill a welcome change, the ocean an instant playground.

At one point, Mom was sipping salt water from a mussel shell, Dad was chasing the kids with a strand of kelp, and the kids were knee-deep in the surf, chasing the waves. By the end, everyone was soaked and glowing, laughter echoing up the cliffs as we made our way back to the parking lot.

I love families like this — the ones who dive in, literally and figuratively. Just thinking about that morning makes me smile. I can only imagine what these photos will mean to their kids in twenty years — proof of a magical childhood full of love, laughter, and curiosity.