big sur carmel, monterey itinerary big sur carmel, monterey itinerary

The Bixby Bridge only cost $200,000 to construct. If you have time for more hiking and want to explore more of the Big Sur area on foot, check out this link for ideas. I was really excited to go here because I hadnt seen redwood trees since I was a little kid. 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. 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. Right outside of Carmel is Carmel Mission Basilica, dating clear back to the 1700s. Ive already put my favorites up above throughout the Big Sur road trip itinerary, but here are some more! We went on the Bird Island and China Cove trailhead first. Big Sur, located along Central California coast, is one of the best places to visit on the West Coast of USA. Details. Day 1 6pm After a thrilling drive along historic Highway One, you've arrived at the Big Sur Campground and Cabins for an authentically rustic Big Sur stay. Visitors pressed for time often make the drive from. I had always heard about the Monterrey Bay Aquarium and how great it was and how Finding Nemo was based on that aquarium! 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! If you are a morning person, you might want to head out earlier to avoid the other tourists. Distance: Approximately 430 miles. Winding turns. Youll be driving on private land, so you cant stop to take tooo many photos, but since its usually not crowded, feel free to stop in the middle of the road if you must for some shots. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D. 2 hr ago . Thank you! I LOVE Big Sur and Monterey its just so beautiful. Coast of California Day 3: 17-Mile Drive, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur, Pismo Beach Happy Friday, Everyone! There isnt an entrance fee, but they do ask for a $2 donation. Go hiking, walking, bird watching (pelicans frequent the area), scuba diving (yes, really! Traffic is really bad, please use public transport or other forms to reduce as much as possible. " Renting a Car:Note that youll undoubtedly need a car for this Big Sur road trip (it is a mini road trip after all!) You can easily park on the side of the road and forgo the paid parking, which is what most people do (Im not saying its a-okay just letting you know thats an option if the parking lot is full). They are a definite must on any Big Sur Itinerary. Bixby Bridge was built in 1932 and is one of the highest suspending bridges sitting at 260 feet above the bottom of the canyon below. Evening Day 1: Monterey. Not happening. Since the road to Big Sur is finally open again (after months of closure due to horrific mudslides), nows the time to visit! These little beauties return to Big Sur in October, and migrate north in January. Book lover? There is a scenic 17-mile drive you can pay to drive and see iconic spots such as the Lone Cypress and Pescadero Point. There were various cheeses, crackers, fruit and little sandwiches. It will take you about 2 hours to drive right into Monterey. Be sure and check out the view from both sides of the street, but be careful when crossing. Cocktails with a view? What is there to see between Monterey and Big Sur? Moon Monterey & Carmel - Stuart Thornton 2019-01-08 Quirky beach towns, deliciously fresh seafood, and dramatic hikes and drives: discover what the locals love with Moon Monterey & Carmel. The first stop in your Big Sur itinerary is Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, which is known as the crown jewel of all state parks in California, located just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. You can definitely complete this Big Sur itinerary in a day, but if you have more time, you can also spread it out over 2-3 days and spend more time in each place. Mmm! *Tidefall = a waterfall that drops directly into the ocean (I didnt know either). Likes Comments. I have yet to try Big Sur Bakery although Ive heard many good referrals about all the food from wood-fired sourdough to buttermilk biscuits and gravy. 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. This trail was amazing and we saw a cove with the most turquoise blue waters and baby sea lions down below. Glad to hear it! Despite all ocean views and beaches, theres not many safe spots for swimming. These are the items on our list that we are possibly looking to hit: Highway 1 Mcway Falls Bixby. Start your drive down the coast with snacks from Carmel Highlands General Store. Here is the Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur itinerary I followed for a long weekend getaway! We won't recommend it if we didn't love it! Most people start this iconic road trip in L . I totally agree, one of my favorite places to visit! We drove all the way south to the furthest location we wanted to see and then worked our way back north. Heres more California-related content I think youll love: Here is a quick glance at all my go-to travel tips and resources that I use to plan every trip! Be sure to check the website as tours are not offered every day. There are warm fires all over the place and lights hanging in the trees. 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! The grounds are incredibly beautiful and this place is definitely worth a stop for the gorgeous grounds and architecture. Filed Under: North America, USA Tagged With: big sur, california, central coast, pacific coast highway, Your email address will not be published. (7/19/18), "We were here in Spring of 2017 and, sadly, Big Sur was closed, but we still LOVED this area and can't wait to return one day. " Next up on your Monterey itinerary is Cannery Row, a waterfront area with old buildings filled with shopping, restaurants, and fun activities such as escape rooms, arcades, and the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium. Many people dont actually realize this, but Big Sur is not an actual city/town for that matter. Beautiful, post-card like views. Thankfully theres hot chocolate, tea, and/or coffee waiting for you. I discuss Nepenthe below as a must-visit stop on your Big Sur itinerary! There are many different wines you can choose from (this area is really well known for their wineries in case you didnt know). Carmel-by-the-Sea is probably one of the quaintest seaside towns in the world, which makes it a good starting point for your Big Sur road trip. Next up on this Big Sur road trip itinerary the Point Sur Lighthouse! Carmel is a quaint, coastal town in California, known for its fairytale-like cottages, top notch restaurants, and proximity to the beach. (7/19/18), "This area has been on my must-see/do list for years. Renting a Car : Note that you'll undoubtedly need a car for this Big Sur road trip (it is a mini road trip after all!) Read Next: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur! Theres a retro school bus selling ice cream right off the parking lot, which is perfect on a hot day. 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! They have a nice cafeteria there for lunch. Its such a pretty area! The Lone Cypress on the 17-mile drive is one of the most photographed trees in the world. Small and cozy and rustic and delicious. Big Sur looks truly incredible. all my favorite stops on the Pacific Coast Highway. I have visited California many times through out my life. Search for thecheapest car rentals over here! Looking for more California content? If the history doesnt draw you in, Point Lobos is also home to abundant wildlife, including 20 species of mammals such as gray foxes and mountain lions, various species of birds like the acorn woodpecker peregrine falcon, and of course, many species of marine life including sea otters, sea lions, and whales. One of my favorite parts of the park was all of the beautiful walking paths with wildflowers everywhere. Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur 3 Day Itinerary Day 1: Arrival Hotel check-in: Hofsas House Brophy's Tavern Mulligan Public House Dinner at Little Napoli Day 2: Monterey and Big Sur Highway One Drive in Big Sur Monterey, CA 17 Mile Drive Carmel Beach Dinner: Hog's Breath Inn Day 3: Carmel by the Sea Breakfast: The Tuck Box Carmel Belle Pfeiffer beach is best known for its amazing rock structures, sunsets and sometimes there is even purple sand! You would never imagine this town is in California, it feels like a fairy tale town in Germany. I'll be sharing a relaxed pace three-day itinerary, with overnight stops in both Monterey and Santa Barbara. Finding it can be a challenge in itself because the turn is not marked. A 75-room Big Sur boutique hotel just yards from the beach in a restored mansion built in 1905, La Playa Carmel was first constructed by artist Christian Jorgensen as a gift for his wife and had the first swimming pool in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea to San Simeon is 2 hours and 20 minutes of curvy, cliff-side driving. Whether you want to go fast, slow, solo, or with others, this year's Race for Open Space has something for you. If you didnt have time to pack a snack or breakfast, plan a stop at Big Sur Bakery before u-turning into the Pfeiffer Beach turn-off. While the entire reserve is beautiful, dont miss China Cove and Bird Island Lookout (on the southern part of the park). Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. (If you come between April-June, there are purple flowers all over the place in this area and Pacific Grove!). Then you can eat something while enjoying the waves! You managed to pack in so many must-see sights and unique experiences, all while keeping a great balance of relaxation and adventure. Absolutely spectacular and downright mesmerizing. There are souvenir shops, where I bought a super cute Monterey boat picture frame, theres a clam chowder stand, a cafe spot that I love and forget its name, and my favorite the Monterey Bay Creamery where theres a huge cow statue selling ice cream. Miles of misty coastline. It is the foggiest park even when some of the other parks are clear, youll want to make sure to check the weather as you wont be able to see much with the fog. Since the road to Big Sur is finally open again (after months of closure due to horrific mudslides), nows the time to visit! There are cute dogs all over the place! Woooo its finally time to get this Big Sur road trip itinerary under way! En route, you'll pitstop on the Monterey Peninsula before snaking along through the wilderness of Big Sur. Yes, you can leave from San Francisco to head south down the Central Coast on Highway 101. Carmel-by-the-Sea has one art gallery for every 34 residents. Start with the short film about Junipero Serra to learn about the history of this mission and also the start of all the California missions. Day 1: Big Sur Itinerary This Big Sur itinerary runs from north to south as we were leaving from Monterey. Dont go during the rain or after its just rained as the road is all dirt and can get quite muddy at times. Big Sur is one of my favorite places IN THE WORLD (hands down) and one of my favorite road trips from San Francisco. The Best California Road Trips & Itineraries | Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur to Santa Barbara California: Places to Visit North America California Road Trip: Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur and Santa Barbara FIRST POSTED: 4th June 2019 | LAST UPDATED: 7th August 2020 9 minute read We love to break up our Big Sur road trip with some cocktails and appetizers from Nepenthe. You will definitely get beautiful views here! We also think the service is really good, so you cant go wrong with this restaurant! The Bixby Creek Bridge If youve had enough of driving on your road trip, you can park near Carmel beach and walk the scenic path. My favorite part about it, however, was that it was literally right over the ocean. Here, youll find tips to help plan the perfect road trip for your Monterey and Big Sur itinerary. I personally love #doingallthethings at the beginning of my trips and then slowing down as I stay longer, but you can puzzle this Monterey and Big Sur itinerary out to best fit your weekend and travel style. Santa Cruz is a cute, funky surf town on the way to the San Jose airport. Drive over to Asilomar State Beach for some tide-pooling. Look out for them clustered in trees in the early morning, and flying around during the day. Time needed: 1 to 2 days. So exactly where is big sur located? Why is Big Sur famous? Another awesome part of the Monterey Plaza Hotel is that you can rent bikes for free! One of the greatest attractions to this park is McWay Falls, one of two tidefalls* in California. Not to be missed, youll need to visit the Point Pinos Lighthouse, which is the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast. Wrap Up Your Perfect Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary, link to Her Wanderful World's Instagram account, link to Her Wanderful World's Facebook account, link to Her Wanderful World's Pinterest account, link to Her Wanderful World's Twitter account, Teaching English Abroad Everything You Need to Know, California Coast Roadtrip | San Fran all the way to San Diego, Check the website for openings and reservations, 17 Fun Things to do in Santa Rosa, California, 20 Incredible Things to do in Petaluma, CA, 17 Charming Things to do in Cambria, California, 17 Best Coastal Sunset Spots in Central California. Sure, its the most expensive pastry Ive ever bought (at a whopping $8.50), but my husband and I both felt it was worth the hefty price tag. For a complete San Francisco to Big Sur day trip , start in San Francisco and make your way through Monterey and Carmel-By-The-Sea to Big Sur on Highway 1 and US-101. It was located in a building that looked like a castle. This looks like a very fun trip and the food looks amazing. Havent had enough of the great outdoors on your Big Sur road trip just yet? Day 5: Paso Robles/Cambria to Santa Ynez Valley. Left-wing Paranoia in Big Sur, Caramel, Monterey County, California Nov 2021 and Nov 2020. Some staple orders for us here are the steak and shrimp scampi, gnocchi with two sauces, and the grilled salmon filet. The view from the entrance to Old Coast Road isnt half bad either. And thankfully, the parking lot has bathrooms! Word spread and a large Chinese community settled in Point Lobos where today you can visit one of their homes turned museum, Whalers Cabin. The ambience at this place was amazing. Its about an hour north of Monterey, and its a great place to get lunch or do some shopping. Big Sur is most popular between April and October, when the weather is at its nicest. And it is a full itinerary! Afternoon I wanna go for sunset next time! Any tips/suggestions appreciated. Thank you for this helpful resource. 5. I had it recommended to me and I thought it would be the perfect place to pick up a picnic lunch for later. We ate a quick breakfast at the hotel (one of the other perks of staying there) and then headed to the 5th Avenue Deli. The location was great and we were able to walk all over town. Theres also some hiking in the state park, with sea lions and starfish in the tide pools nearby. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a popular favorite as well! We are surrounded by forest. We booked in advance and it was about $31 a day before adding gas and insurance if you want. This was our last stop heading down Highway 1 before we turned around and made some stops on the way back to Carmel. After Bixby Bridge, this is on everyones must see list during any Big Sur road trip. After Mcway Falls, we headed to Pfeiffer Burns State Park (not to be confused with Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park). There are a ton of walks and trails to choose from, with all difficulty levels. So if youre visiting the area (or live in the city and dont have access to a car), a car rental will be a necessity! When driving from Monterey to Big Sur, youll pass the small seaside town of Carmel-by-the Sea. It makes an excellent, However, if you wait until the summer rush is over and visit during either September or October, youll experience less crowds and actually better weather! There are twists and turns along the cliff, with most parts of the highway being only one lane in either direction. Please make reservation for dinner; No Dinner Wednesday/Thursday; Deetjen's Big Sur Inn is a non-profit dedicated to the preservation and rehabilitation of the historic Big Sur Inn at Castro Canyon. You can do a day trip to Big Sur or Monterey, but it takes at least 2 days to explore both Monterey and Big Sur properly. In fact, they all have people outside of their cafes or restaurants giving out samples. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Or Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey to San Francisco. With that being said, Im planning out this Big Sur road trip itinerary from north to south.