Land’s End: Wind, Wonder, and What We Leave Behind

Bay Bound

We had a bit of time to kill before our flight, so instead of sitting around, we headed to one more stop: Lands End. And it ENDed up being the perfect closing chapter to our trip.

Lands End feels like a mix between a hidden treasure and an open-air museum- rugged cliffs, ocean spray, wind-swept trails, and stories etched into stone. Mai Boys immediately took off, climbing, jumping, and darting into every nook and cranny of the old structures like it was a real-life adventure map. Every lookout point became a jungle gym, every weathered wall a stage for imagination.

We followed the main trail, winding along the coast, with the ocean stretching out endlessly beside us. The breeze was just right- strong enough to keep us cool, but not enough to knock us over. The trees, shaped by years of constant wind, leaned sideways like they were frozen mid-dance, and it’s impossible not to stop and stare.

And then I saw it- a heart in the middle of the ocean, like it had been placed there on purpose. In that moment, I felt this deep, quiet reminder from God that life is still full of love and awe, even when we’re not looking for it. That we’re incredibly lucky to witness beauty like this, to explore with our kids, and to experience places that make your soul pause and smile.

But the magic wasn’t untouched. Alongside all the beauty, the trail was also marked with graffiti- on walls, rocks, and lookout points. Not art. Not stories. Just random scribbles that took away from the natural wonder of it all. Nature gives us so much; it deserves more respect than that.

A quick history detour: Lands End was once home to the Sutro Baths, a grand bathhouse built in 1896. Though the structure is long gone, the ruins remain, weathered and full of character. We explored what was left, ducking into its crevices, walking the edges, imagining what it once looked like.

We didn’t get to do it all- there’s a labyrinth at Eagle’s Point, secret beaches to find, and views we didn’t reach. But the time we did have was rich with laughter, wind in our hair, and wide-eyed wonder.