Most people start this iconic road trip in L . Pfeiffer Beach will be the second turnout, There are many more options for Monterey ranging from the, If youd like to stay in Big Sur, there is the, Blanket or lawn chairs for hanging out at the beach, Bike if youd like to explore Monterey by bike. Here youll find multiple historic buildings including Californias First Theater, Colton Hall, the Stevenson House, and many more! From SF, Big Sur is about 2.5 hours south.
California CA Big Sur Carmel Monterey Coastline Postcard Old Vintage Its about an hour north of Monterey, and its a great place to get lunch or do some shopping. Patience is the only requirement, but binoculars are nice to have as well. Yes, youll definitely need to add these 2 to your list and drive along the 101 highway. The Big Sur River Inn is located about half way through the Big Sur viewpoints and a great spot to stop for lunch! The Perfect Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur Itinerary, Wizarding World of Harry Potter | Perfect Itinerary, Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party | Top 10, Utah in the Winter | 11 Magical Things to Do, Best Things to do in Jacksonville Florida, 20 Top Things to do in Iceland- The Ultimate Bucket List, Things to do in Kauai | Perfect Itinerary, Things to do in Seoul, South Korea | Top 20, Baja Cantina & Grill- quirky inside and outside, Mission Ranch Restaurant- popular spot for Brunch. This adorable general store is on the way to all of the stops on the Big Sur day trip. This romantic drive is one of the best cross country road trip routes that couples must take together! :p. Have you ever seen a beach with purple sand?! It is our home state, so hopefully we can do it soon." In addition, since California is still somewhat in a drought, the falls may be quite dry during the summer months. Famous for its narrow cobblestone lanes, little cottages dressed in flowers and plants, and enchanting shops that sell tons of local goodies, Carmel is a . Visit inside the Basilica (where Serras remains are laid to rest). The 72-mile portion that runs through Big Sur is an official American National Scenic Byway. I was in awe the entire time. Youll find plenty of sunny days over here! Big Sur Bakery is typically pretty crowded, but its worth the wait. If we get there earlier, we get saltwater taffy and enjoy them on our hikes/beach time. There are many different wines you can choose from (this area is really well known for their wineries in case you didnt know).
The Perfect Weekend in Carmel, CA - Miss Molly Mac This 11 mile road is what those back in the day had to use before the famed Highway One was complete! However, if you are here early, the pictures are still pretty amazing and youll miss the 9-10 AM traffic congestion so thats a win! They were so cute, I was squealing! Alternatively, you can take a bus.
Girls Trip: Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur 3 Day Itinerary Phils Fish Market & Eatery sounds so fun too! The road is narrow, so be extra careful when pulling over for the views (my advice only pull off in designated spots, theres plenty of them). With that being said, Im planning out this Big Sur road trip itinerary from north to south.
17-Mile Drive Tour | Big Sur Bike Tours & Rentals Monterey California Be sure and check out the view from both sides of the street, but be careful when crossing. Wow this place looks so similar to Malibu I swear!! We went on the Bird Island and China Cove trailhead first. Theres also some hiking in the state park, with sea lions and starfish in the tide pools nearby. Big Sur is most popular between April and October, when the weather is at its nicest. Big Sur isnt too far from Monterey and you get all the nature with it.
The Best Luxury Hotels in Big Sur - Culture Trip For a delicious Mediterranean style dinner, head over to Dametra Caf. Check the missions website for daily hours and admission prices. Tranquil. By this time, youll likely be hungry, so stop in at the Big Sur Roadhouse for their famous avo toast, or other wraps or sandwiches. The only downside to visiting in the summertime is that July and August are the foggiest months. The location is so perfect in between Cannery Row and Fishermans Wharf and just a ten minute walk to the aquarium.
Big Sur Weekend Road Trip Itinerary - Getaway Compass On arrival, our room wasnt quite ready so we had lunch at the hotels restaurant and I got clam chowder in a bread bowl! Ten interesting facts we learned on OurEDventure:
The Lone Cypress on the 17-mile drive is one of the most photographed trees in the world. Pafoua writes from her numerous excursions about all things travel, from fun itineraries to creating memorable experiences on the road. Definitely dont miss one of the most unforgettable stretches of majestic coastline in the world. Do note there is no beach or ocean access, and its actually forbidden to go down there.
17 Mile Drive: A Self-Guide Audio Tour of Pebble Beach's Historical Coast of California Day 3: 17-Mile Drive, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur, Pismo Beach Happy Friday, Everyone! Your attention to detail and organization truly made the trip come alive for me as I read about it. We chose the 17-mile ride and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our 3-hour outing. Thx!! Im going next year to visit a friend and we plan on road tripping so Im hoping Ill finally get to go! Another awesome part of the Monterey Plaza Hotel is that you can rent bikes for free! The perfect amount of time to see Monterey and Big Sur is 2-3 days. 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. I think you. 5. No one is allowed to go down to beach, so it's in pristine condition. We are visiting California from the UK in April, a rescheduled trip after we had to cancel in May 2020. Book now from $9.99! We chose the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey. This is definitely a place I would like to spend more time at if I head back to this area. General tips. Explore my other California guides here! This image is from Big Sur, a California State Park . Have so much fun when you visit! Psst: When people say theyre hiking to McWay Falls, theyre really just casually strolling down a paved path. This scenic drive is so rewarding with views of cute homes overlooking the never-ending Pacific ocean. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi I am Aubrie, thanks for stopping by! Carmel-by-the-Sea has one art gallery for every 34 residents. It will take you about 2 hours to drive right into Monterey. When shes not traveling, Pafoua loves a fun board game night with her friends or is snuggled up reading a good book. And thankfully, the parking lot has bathrooms! Likes Comments. Itineraries: Monterey Bay, Carmel, and Big Sur In a nutshell, this drive is all about the jaw-dropping scenery of the Pacific Coast. Yes please! Where did you drive from? This looks amazing. 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. This beach is known to be the most consistent wave producer for surfers, so if you are one of these talented people, bring your surfboard and have at it! After Bixby Bridge, this is on everyones must see list during any Big Sur road trip. Yes, you can leave from San Francisco to head south down the Central Coast on Highway 101. Pacific Grove is a small area right on the edge of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary about a 10-minute drive from Fishermans Wharf. Check out Lovers Point Beach where you can do all the water activities like surfing and kayaking. Basically, nature at its finest. And its large enough to split, for sure. Theres no real starting point. Monterey or Carmel to Big Sur The best place to stay if embarking upon a Big Sur day trip is Carmel or Monterey. When the opportunity came up to visit northern California, I was excited and really intrigued. From here, you can make a decision on what youre feeling but here are some recommendations! Be sure to checkout some of my blog posts which include information about travel, fashion, lifestyle and photography. And if the two resort pools with panoramic coastal views didnt do it for you, I bet the spa treatments in outdoor cabanas overlooking the redwood forest will. In the morning, after breakfast at your hotel, make your way to the quaint village of Carmel-by-the-Sea (4 miles, approximately 10 minutes), which became an artist's colony after the 1906 Great San Francisco Earthquake destroyed that city.Take a stroll along Ocean Ave. and admire the charming shops and galleries.
Big Sur Hotel Guide: Best Luxury Hotels in Big Sur, California | Observer Big Sur, located along Central California coast, is one of the best places to visit on the West Coast of USA. If you can settle for not actually staying in Big Sur itself, consider heading up north to Carmel or Monterey for less-than-astronomical prices. . Also, as mentioned before Carmel is known for their wineries so there are several you can head to for wine tastings. Professional wanderluster and trip planning aficionado. It was a quick ride to Fishermans Wharf and we set up our bikes with a lock on a bike rack. Note that parking is rather limited and costs $10, with restrooms available. Note:If you have time, Pfeiffer Beach, which is very close to this state park is worth a visit. Big Sur is one of my favorite places IN THE WORLD (hands down) and one of my favorite road trips from San Francisco. Expect a daytime high around 64F in March, and nighttime lows around 47F. In fact, they all have people outside of their cafes or restaurants giving out samples. Thanks for all the recommendations. READ MORE - Road trip from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe. Cannery Row is near where we dropped off our bikes so we just walked right over! Not many out-of-towners know this, but. Big Sur Itinerary Get away to Big Sur to decompress, lose your stress and soothe your soul.
The Ultimate Guide to Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary with 13 Stops You could drive the famous 17-mile Pebble Beach drive en route. California History Books for Kids. Yes! An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. I hope your travel planning takes you here soon! If youre from outta town, and by that not within driving distance, youll need to get yourself to SFO (San Francisco) first.