Located about two hours south of San Francisco and about five hours north of Los Angeles, this rugged coastline is famous for many things. Thanks for stopping by! Big Sur isnt too far from Monterey and you get all the nature with it. Evening With more ocean views than you ever thought possible, eco-friendly and luxurious hotel stays, wooded hiking trails and nature for days, I can never get enough of this stretch of the coastline. The entire 6-mile loop takes approximately three hours, but guests can enjoy as much or as little as they like as all trails intersect at various points and all paths are clearly marked. With an early head start to your day, you will have plenty of parking spaces to choose from if you stop for lunch here. (Keep this in mind if you are headed off to the airport so that you give yourself plenty of time.). This was a great place to end the day in Carmel. On the opposite side of the road, there is a dirt road known as Old Coast Road. If youre not in a rush on your Big Sur road trip, why not make the extra stop? You can also opt to stay in a luxury glamping site with safari-style canvas tents under the redwoods if you feel so inclined. Where we stayed: And yes, theres so much history in this little area. Can you swim in Big Sur? Thats so cool youre a teacher! Living in Utah, our family vacations were always to Southern California. Big sur is definitely on my bucket list of places to travel to. Loading. Its pretty secluded and kinda secret (aka not on all the typical things to do in Big Sur posts), so I hope you enjoy it as much as we did! March 3, 2023. This weekend itinerary will immerse you in the Big Sur experience. The Andrew Molera State Park is located in Big Sur and is a relatively undeveloped park in the area. Another awesome part of the Monterey Plaza Hotel is that you can rent bikes for free! Three types of whales frequent the Big Sur coastline: If youre visiting Big Sur in the winter months between October and December, youre in for a real treat tons of monarch butterflies! Sign up for AirBnB with my link and get up to $40 off your first stay! Montereys Fishermans Wharf is an iconic stop for your Monterey itinerary. Hi Christina! And if theres still orchids and wildflowers out, youll think youre in Hawaii. 4. Finding it can be a challenge in itself because the turn is not marked. I cant recommend this place enough! Total Distance: 217 miles ; One-Way Driving Time: 4 hours and 45 minutes ; Route: San Francisco Half Moon Bay Santa Cruz Monterey Carmel-by-the-Sea Big Sur San Simeon ; The drive between San Francisco and San Simeon is more appealing than one might imagine. As part of a longer visit we hoped to drive up to Cambria from Anaheim on 21 April, stay overnight then. The entire area is pricey, so expect to pay big city prices (~$15ish for a cocktail, ~$20-30ish for an entree). The parking near this bridge is somewhat limited. 1. Afternoon I ordered the Dungeness crab and N got fish and chipsalways so good. Again, theres a toilet here! Theyve also got some wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and avocado toast if youre still hungry after Big Sur River Inn. Then continue heading south along Hwy 1 to take in some of the famous sites. I would love to visit all of the beautiful beaches, go on those hikes and eat the saltwater taffy and ice cream! All these spots make it easy to photograph. (7/16/18), "It just opened yesterday! The beach down below was beautiful; however, hiking down to the beach is not advisable as the cliffs are unstable and there is no clear path. Have a great rest of your day. Be sure to dabble your toes in the river at Big Sur River Inn and then end your day with a sunset dinner and ocean view at Pacific's Edge. Next up on this Big Sur road trip itinerary the Point Sur Lighthouse! Monterey State Historic Park. About this rental. Hi Rosie! Cannery Row is filled with boutiques, restaurants and waterfront hotels. Day 3: Carmel to Big Sur. The airport is small and easy to navigate. You can always put your feet in if youd like! We also think the service is really good, so you cant go wrong with this restaurant! Then you can eat something while enjoying the waves! The colors over the water were absolutely spectacular! On the other hand, Big Sur is full of naturebeaches, hiking trails, and beautiful cliffside views. Okay, so we just discovered this spot off the side of the highway on our last visit to Big Sur, and I cannot believe I never noticed it before! Big Sur Carmel Carmel Valley Castroville Marina Monterey Moss Landing Pacific Grove Pebble Beach Salinas Seaside . Here is the Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur itinerary I followed for a long weekend getaway! Just be careful to watch out for other vehicles coming and livestock roaming around! I wanna go for sunset next time! There are plenty of other beaches to hang around, so do your part and just stay where youre supposed to be. This state park is absolutely beautiful and is full of wildlife everywhere! Day 1: Big Sur Itinerary This Big Sur itinerary runs from north to south as we were leaving from Monterey. This sample itinerary aims to show how you can cover the two towns of Monterey or Carmel in as little as 2 days. Happy planning! You may even see an orca and/or dolphin off the coast! How to get here: When youre heading southbound (recommended), take the 2nd right after you see the Big Sur Station. FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. Treebones Resort features seven ocean view tent campsites, along with 16 yurts with great views of the Pacific at Cape San Martin! My photographer heart would absolutely some of those vistas. There is memorabilia from the movies all over! Not many out-of-towners know this, but coastal fog is another downside of a Big sur road trip during summertime; it can hang around as late as midday! I have visited California many times through out my life. And if you venture a bit further south from the city before you hit Carmel, you can enjoy the splendours of the 17-mile-drive a coastal route that is considered to be one of the most scenic drives in the entirety of the US. Be sure to checkout some of my blog posts which include information about travel, fashion, lifestyle and photography. Thanks for stopping by! There is a small parking lot off the north end of Bixby Bridge where you can step out and take some iconic photos of it. Is driving to Big Sur dangerous? This can be easily done as a weekend trip out from the Bay Area or as part of a wider trip tracing California's coastline. Since youre on the coast, keep in mind that there may be a cold breeze, so youll want to dress in layers and have a light jacket like this one or that one. Best things to See: Iconic Bixby Bridge, Ragged Point, McWay Falls, Keyhole Arch at Pfeiffer Beach. There is so much nature and the small city feels to explore in Monterey and Big Sur! The Bixby Creek Bridge Thankfully theres hot chocolate, tea, and/or coffee waiting for you. Its about an hour north of Monterey, and its a great place to get lunch or do some shopping. 17 Mile Drive is said to be one of the most beautiful drives in the U.S. Bring a blanket and a cooler with your favorite sandwich to enjoy, which we wish we had done. In the Big Sur region, hop on the Pacific Coast Highway (or PCH; part of California State Route 1), one of the state's most scenic routes, and take your pick of any of the stunning coastal towns. Mmm! Psst: When people say theyre hiking to McWay Falls, theyre really just casually strolling down a paved path. I would advise sharing a sundae with your BFF as the portions are huge, but its delicious nonetheless. Keep that in mind when you head out on your road trip. This scenic drive is so rewarding with views of cute homes overlooking the never-ending Pacific ocean. Phils Fish Market & Eatery sounds so fun too! Courtesy of La Playa Carmel / Expedia. Sign up for AirBnB with my link and get up to $40 off your first stay! Many different types of vegetation can be found here as well such as wildflowers, shrubs, and fungi, but most importantly the Monterey Cypress which is local to the area. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D. 2 hr ago . This will probably whet your appetite for more, so dont miss the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium as well. Manage Settings GROUP PEBBLE BEACH GOLF TRIP PROPOSAL. We definitely have gone back multiple times and found new places to explore every time! 7. Then head over to the Carmel Mission. Thanks for your support! Hi Shafinah! After Fishermans Wharf, we decided to leave Monterey to explore Carmel-by-the-sea. The Mcway Falls trail is located at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. We loved the location and walked almost everywhere (except the places in Carmel and Big Sur). Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail & State Beach, 7. To see ratings, other places to visit, photos, and more tourist information, read Big Sur trip itinerary planning site. Winding turns. Definitely dont miss one of the most unforgettable stretches of majestic coastline in the world. I heard a few state parks in Big Sur are open now! If you happen to be visiting Big Sur between February and early April, you NEED to make a short pit stop at Calla Lily Valley! Some of the overgrown trails are known to have poison oak to get to the beach views, so make sure to protect yourself if you want to get to the water. I saw sea otters, seals and dolphins! Day 4: Big Sur to Paso Robles or Cambria. They are even bigger than you can imagine! AirBnB: Due to the higher-than-normal cost of accommodation in Big Sur, you may want to check out AirBnB for a less expensive option, many even with those ocean views were all swooning over (without the super hefty price tag). If you're going to drive all of the Big Sur coastline in a day, coming from the Bay Area, you'll want to be prepared for at least 5 hours of driving each way, a total of 10 hours on the road. Famous for fairytale-like cottages and shops, great art, dining, charming B&B and boutique hotels, and of course the beautiful and exclusive pebble beach golf course. However, you can also stop at a local restaurant for lunch too! It is about a 20-minute drive from the Monterey area, but its named one of the Best Beach restaurants named by BBC Travel. 5. Day 2. 3-day Big Sur itinerary. We're currently planning a full trip to the Carmel/ Monterey/ Big Sur area but was wondering if our itinerary is to full? From here, you can make a decision on what youre feeling but here are some recommendations! September 10, 2024 - September 15, 2024. Nightly bagpipe performances have taken place every day since 1987 at Spanish Bay in Carmel. Options for Dinner on Your Monterey Itinerary, Added Excursions for Your Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary, Map of Places for Your Monterey and Big Sur Road Trip, Where to Stay on Your Monterey and Big Sur Road Trip, More Places to Eat on Your Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary, Phils Fish Market & Eatery in Moss Landing, What to Pack for Your Monterey and Big Sur Road Trip, FAQs About Your Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary. Day 1: Monterey. Bring a blanket and some snacks and plan to stay for awhile. The trail will take you less than an hour as its about 0.8 miles long and will bring you to the beautiful shorelines where you might even spot a sea otter! And yes, we always have a great time in Monterey! It was a quick ride to Fishermans Wharf and we set up our bikes with a lock on a bike rack. Thank you for such a great recounting of your trip. It's $10.50 entrance per car to see the iconic views. Your attention to detail and organization truly made the trip come alive for me as I read about it. I stopped at this state park on the way back to Carmel and I really loved it! You dont really need your bathing suit here as the water is waaaay too cold. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Itineraries: Monterey Bay, Carmel, and Big Sur In a nutshell, this drive is all about the jaw-dropping scenery of the Pacific Coast. We chose the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey. For a special end to your day, drive over to the Spanish Inn to listen to the live bagpipe player, and sip a glass of wine as you watch the sunset. Whether youre driving down the entirety of the California coast or just making the short drive from SF, youre in luck. I feel oh so lucky to only live a few hours north, which means we typically make it to Big Sur at least once a year! BIG SUR ADVENTURES. Weve always been planning to do a road trip in this part of California, so will be bookmarking this. While the entire reserve is beautiful, dont miss China Cove and Bird Island Lookout (on the southern part of the park). There is plenty to see and do in Monterey County outside of meeting room walls. California History Books for Kids. Highway 1 is one of the most scenic roads I have ever been on! I mean, its absolutely GORGEOUS. The view from the entrance to Old Coast Road isnt half bad either. Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary Carmel-by-the-Sea Start your Big Sur Road Trip in the charming small town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The location of the Carmel Mission isn't the original spot. Youll get a really nice view of the beach. Right outside of Carmel is Carmel Mission Basilica, dating clear back to the 1700s. Unfortunately, when I was there, you could only go on part of the trail and since it is only a small pathway where you can see the falls, it was pretty crowded. If youre from outta town, and by that not within driving distance, youll need to get yourself to SFO (San Francisco) first. Book now from $9.99! When you are ready, continue on your drive towards Pfeiffer Beach. Yes and No. The 72-mile portion that runs through Big Sur is an official American National Scenic Byway. Comment below. Whether it's sipping your way through Carmel Valley's boutique wine tasting rooms or hopping on an unforgettable whale watching excursion, Monterey County provides meeting attendees with a variety of extracurricular activities. While youll see monarchs all around Big Sur, Andrew Molera State Park is the place to be to spot the most! The drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea to San Simeon is 2 hours and 20 minutes of curvy, cliff-side driving. No matter what time of year youre visiting Big Sur, youll always want to be on the lookout for whales off the California coast. Day One 15 Amazing Cheap Vacation Spots in California, Monterey + Big Sur Itinerary: The Perfect Road Trip, 2023 Her Wanderful World - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP. Carmel is a quaint, coastal town in California, known for its fairytale-like cottages, top notch restaurants, and proximity to the beach. You can stop in Santa Cruz if youd like. I hope youll have the same great time while visiting! The perfect amount of time to see Monterey and Big Sur is 2-3 days. We chose the 17-mile ride and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our 3-hour outing. These are the most common ways to take a Big Sur road trip: Start and finish in Carmel-by-the-Sea but only drive as far as McWay Falls (78 miles of driving) Start in Carmel-by-the-Sea and finish in Morro Bay (120 miles of driving) It is a charming little area that also has some good marine life sighting spots. We decided to stop by Folktale Winery and Vineyards because it seriously looked like something from a fairy tale!
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