Blog Post

Big Sur is the name given to the 90 or so miles of stunning coastline directly south of Carmel in California. The drive takes about 2 – 3 hours so even with many stops can easily be completed in a day.

We drove through Big Sur from north to south as this meant we were hugging the coast the whole way and could easily pull over to take photos. Having perused the menus of the restaurants in Big Sur the night before, I had discovered that all the food options in Big Sur were very expensive and so we decided to have lunch in Carmel before we set out.  Island Taco, in a shopping center just off route 1 and shortly before the start of Big Sur, was a good choice and we enjoyed our fish tacos. Another option would be to grab a Subway (also just off the 1) and stop and enjoy it along the drive.

Gas stations in Big Sur are few and far between – and pricey, so we made sure to fill up on the outskirts of Carmel. One more thing to note before you head out of civilization – you will probably have no cell service until you return to civilization.

For our first stop we pulled over at one of the pullovers for Garrapata State Park  and enjoyed a pleasant walk toward the sea. This was the vegetation we walked through.

Of course we couldn’t drive over Bixby Bridge without Piers taking a photo. This bridge has featured in various movies and TV shows and has also been commemorated on a postage stamp.

The road curves inland and for a short stretch there are a number of restaurants and stores in very picturesque building. We didn’t stop but I am sure those who enjoy shopping would enjoy spending some time here.

The Henry Miller Memorial Library is an artsy bookstore/cultural center with a gorgeous cat, free coffee, a Mac with internet connection and a bathroom.

About thirty minutes further along you will see signs for Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and follow the pathway for a view of the Macway falls which cascade on to an inaccessible beach which was formed as the result of a landslide . Benches overlooking the beach are perfectly situated to tempt you to stop a while and just enjoy the view.

The road continues to wind along the coast and if you did bring a picnic lunch, there are plenty of places to pull over over and appreciate the coastline while you eat.

The final part of the drive has the most hairpin bends I have been on in a while. You ascend and then descend overlooking the water and the beaches far below. Eventually back at sea level we were glad to get out and stretch our legs at the Elephant Seal View Point and  joined hundreds of other tourists getting a close view of these rather ugly and comical creatures.

Just outside of Big Sur is the pretty town of Cambria and we stopped for coffee – the perfect ending to our drive.