4 Reasons Why I Have to Go Back to Costa Rica

Four years ago my husband and I reluctantly stepped back on US soil, with the echo of howler monkeys still ringing in our ears, the heavy dew of the rain forest still kissing our sun-soaked skin and our hearts full of every single happy, soulful person we met on our 2 week road trip across Costa Rica. The initial concept of a Costa Rican trip sprung from my brother, as a picture perfect locale to propose to his then girlfriend. When we were invited to go along and be a part of his surprise, life-changing moment, we simply asked, "When do we leave?!" 

Every second of our whirlwind 15 day trip was planned with an adventurous spirit. Having rented a four-wheel drive vehicle, we made a conscious decision to tackle the rugged interior jungle roads and washed out coastal passages head on with the confidence that the villages and the people and the eco-systems we would discover off the beaten track would be a thousand times better than any walled-off, all-inclusive resort. We were right.

I will warn you that the title of this blog is a bit misleading. As you scroll down, you might notice that three out of the four reasons appear to be the same: Adventure. But, I will tell you that the adventure that exists on the west coast surf town of Playa Negra is completely different from the adventure that awaits in the northern rainforests of Monteverde which is a complete one hundred and eighty degrees away from the adventure that we found on the more laid-back Caribbean coastal town of Puerto Viejo and the Panamanian border-town of Manzanillo.

Every single inch of the more than one thousand kilometers we traversed, was brimming with Pura Vida. I'm here to tell you that once you visit Costa Rica, it will live in your bones, your blood, your heart forever. We are dreaming of the day we will go back with our daughter, to introduce her to its wild jungles, watch her eyes widen at the sight of its majestic coasts, revel in its beautiful family-oriented culture and most of all inject her with a little of its happiness. Pura Vida! 

1 | Adventure

This is an awesome video my, now sister-in-law took as she and my brother zip-lined through the cloud rain forests of Monteverde, Costa Rica! My husband and I were right in front of them! It was a magical and exhilarating once-in-a-lifetime experience!

2 | Adventure

The surfing in Playa Negra is world class, the beaches are stunning and the villagers are warm and inviting!

3 | Adventure

The chances of walking 5 feet without a wildlife sighting is pretty low, in Costa Rica. One of my absolute favorite things while we were exploring the west coast was being woken up in the middle of the night by the howler monkeys. It was like a deep, melodic reminder that I was in the middle of the jungle. It's also a nice added bonus to have a professional photographer for a husband to capture all of the beauty we witnessed, so we can remember it for ever!

4 | Pura Vida

This totally out of focus and not-so-flattering picture of me and my hubby biking through the Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge on the southeastern most tip of Costa Rica pretty much sums up the pure joy and happiness we felt.

[Guest Blogger Series] Husband + Wife + 6 Kids x 1 Farm = Grand Outdoor Adventures by Fiona Cambouropoulos

Fiona and I met in the twitterverse about a year ago. It was a mutual admiration of the best kind; two outdoorsy moms, on two separate continents, doing their best to raise their kids wrapped in the loving arms of the great Mother Nature. With SIX kids, a farm to tend to and a business to run, Fiona and her husband are not only instilling in their family a deep respect of the land, they are also teaching them the value of hard work and bestowing upon them an immense understanding of what it means to be a steward of this great wide world. 

Twelve years ago we took the decision to quit corporate life with the long office hours and good pay, move our young family to the depth of Cornwall, take on a holiday business and a farm and change our life style forever.  Within two years we had doubled the family from 3 to 6 having triplets. Life would never be the same again in so many ways. Having 6 children in 6 years is hard, combine that with a new business too and my memories of those early years are sketchy. However I do know that family time was important, and that both Nick and I were always home for the children. If someone was poorly there was no need to take a day off work, or worry who would look after them, we were always here. If we wanted a family day out or to take advantage of a sunny day on the beach then we could do it with working time more flexible.

From the kid's perspective, the eldest was only four when we moved and even he has no memory pre Coombe Mill. For them every day brings the freedom and magic of outdoor play, a safe environment and thirty acres as their own back yard. In between school and the myriad of after school clubs they embrace farm life. There is always a camp to build, a river to play in,  animals to care for and friends to make by way of our visiting guests, many of whom return year after year. 

There are so many wooded sections at Coombe Mill that finding a secret area to build a camp is never hard. The children bounce ideas off each other and their camps can become small communities using all they find around them. One project took a whole weekend to make and became their hideout for games thereafter. They were torn between showing off their handy work and keeping it secret from me!

Our river can be dangerous in the height of a rainy spell in winter, it has even risen and broken its banks before and the children know the current is strong and not to venture near. However in the summer it can fall to just welly height and make an awesome place to take their surf boards and cool off on a sunny day.

When the river is off limits there is always dam building in the streams and tributaries

Our top lake is another favourite for water play

Every morning on our farm begins with a tractor ride where our own children and our guests are invited to join us to feed and care for the animals here. We have quite a selection and it is a real hands on experience. With no fear and years of practice my children can easily pick up a baby animal or flappy duck, much to the delight of our younger visitors who often haven't encountered such animals up close before. Free to return during the day it is a delight to watch children grow in confidence with the animals and countryside just on a week here at the farm.

When the holiday makers remark how lucky our children are to live here they just don't get it, for them this is the only life they know and they can't imagine living anywhere where running outside to play in nature's playground wasn't safe or normal. Their lifestyle is more like my own childhood where playing on the street or wondering off to the woods and parks alone with friends was deemed safe, I fear for many these days that is not the case. Traffic for starters in our cities and towns make crossing any road a challenge.

It's not all play though, Coombe Mill is a family business and that means all the children are expected to pull their weight. No one has pocket money for free and they are all developing a healthy business understanding as they grow up. With their age range now from 10 - 16 they really contribute to life on the farm. However don't feel too sorry for them, driving the tractor and giving train rides are just two of the fun jobs they have. Not a bad way to earn your pocket money!

If you fancy giving your family a taste of the freedom ours have at Coombe Mill, our holidays are designed with children in mind and offer a range of accommodation to suit every pocket. Hop aboard the morning tractor ride to help feed the animals with Farmer Nick and don't forget to finish the day with a train ride from Guy; a truly memorable holiday from a family who understands what matters to parents. www.coombemill.com 

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About the Author

Fiona Cambouropoulos, her husband and their SIX children moved to Coombe Mill in 2002, giving up the South East ‘rat race’ in favour of the ‘good life’ in the country. Coombe Mill is their business, their passion and their hobby and they live there in the heart of the estate. When Fiona has nothing else to do, she also blogs about her incredible adventures.

Family Adventure Travel: Finding Hiking Serenity at Point Lobos Nature Reserve

As we entered Point Lobos State Nature Reserve my 3 year old daughter and I were greeted with canopy of lichen-draped pine trees and rare and endangered Monterey Cypress, the shocking call of a red-tailed hawk soaring high above and the far-off boom of the crashing waves. We knew, right then and there, deep down in our bones, that this was going to be a day we wouldn't soon forget.

With over fourteen square miles of breathtakingly beautiful topography where the rocky central California coast meets the tremendous Pacific Ocean, Point Lobos State Nature Reserve was coined the crown jewel of the California State Park System. Its dramatic and sweeping views offer a perfect spot for sea otter and elephant seal watching and if you happen to be so lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the mighty grey whales as they make the long journey from their feeding grounds in northernmost Alaska all the way down to their sacred breeding grounds at the tip of the Baja Peninsula.

The first part of our day took us to Sea Lion Point and Carmelo Formation, a rock formation estimated to be a whopping 60 million years old! The sea lions did not disappoint, their joyful barking deepening our connection to the land even more. The jutting rocks lay in waiting and V scrambled her way up, down, over and under every single nook and cranny accessible to her, fervently observing and discussing the differences between the various rock formations, colors and textures. So many questions, so much to discover, so much to learn.

Where's V?

As we waved adieu to the starfish and the sea lions, we headed back around Headland Cove where we stopped to watch sea otters playing in the kelp before making our way past the coastal prairie scrub of the Old Veterans Trail and finally arriving at the Cypress Grove trail head. 

Hiking amidst some of the most majestic and magnificent trees, which included California Live Oaks as well as the endangered Monterey Cypress, we were reminded just how unique and meaningful an experience this was, given that the grove we were soaking in is only one of two naturally growing Monterey Cypress stands on Earth. What an honor. I felt so blessed to have the opportunity to show my daughter this pristine and important part of our ecosystem.

The California State Parks's staff does a stellar job of maintaining the trail, in conjunction with the Point Lobos Foundation who provides its visitors with extremely educational and glowing experiences. Their corps of volunteer docents are helpful, knowledgeable and so obviously in love with what they do, fueling a passion for future generations of stewards of this beautiful land, giving them the tools they will need to protect and provide for our Mother Nature.

An Urban Outdoor Adventure Guest Post for Rain or Shine Mamma

I must admit that I am a bit envious of my fellow nature lovers and outdoorsy families who live next to pristine nature preserves on the outskirts of breathtaking national parks, but alas, that is not the geographical landscape we live in here in Los Angeles. We live smack dab in the middle of a sprawling urban city and so, we must be creative and determined in our hunt for outdoor adventure. Here is a guest post I wrote for Linda at Rain or Shine Mamma, which details seven of our  family's most favorite outdoor urban activities, designed to you get you and your kids outside and into nature!

Adventures in Urban Hiking

Hiking in an urban setting can mean something as simple as stepping foot outside your door and making the decision to turn left or right. You'd be surprised how much there is to discover and learn with your children, just by making a trip around the block. Gather items like rocks, seed pods, berries and  leaves to use as tools for teaching how varied leaf textures can be or to open a discussion on the difference between metamorphic and sedentary rock formations. 

Urban hiking is a great way to start if you're a novice because it's easy. Let's face it, you're never too far from a restaurant or a store, so no need to buy a grappling hook or expensive high tech hiking boots. Just pack a light lunch, some water and use it as a way to take in the sights, study the surrounding architecture and reflect on the distinctions of the enveloping sounds. Better yet, on a nice warm evening, adventure out on a nighttime walk and allow your child  to examine how differently the world seems when the sun goes down.

Read the Full Article at Rain or Shine Mamma!