Things To Do
Sightseeing the stunning Highway one!
(Seeing as there is super limited wifi and phone service in Big Sur, having printed maps, itineraries, and activities is a must!!) Explore the purple sand, unique rock formations, crystalline water, and peaceful atmosphere of Pfeiffer Beach! Worth the effort to drive down the narrow winding road to spend a few hours gazing at the Pacific Ocean–make sure to bring $15 in cash for parking! Stop at Nepenthe for lunch, a glass of wine, and amazing cliffside views. Take a quick sightseeing stop at the iconic Bixby Bridge! Tremendous feat of engineering and the views are to die for. Decent amount of parking on the north side. Worth a stop, albeit a fairly brief one! McWay Falls located at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is a required stop along the Big Sur coastal trip this park offers great ocean views with an incredible waterfall which lands right on the beach!
Dining at Carmel-by-the-Sea
If you know us, you know how much we enjoy good food & wine (almost as good as the company we keep). While Carmel has plenty of excellent options to pick from, here are some of our favorites: - Mission Bistro - Mission Ranch Restaurant (has a piano bar) - Carmel's Hidden Gem - A W Shucks Cocktail & Oyster Bar - Il Tegamino - Scratch Wines Carmel-by-the-Sea - Pelio Estate
Hiking Adventures
Favorite Options: Salmon Creek Trail: One of the most popular short hikes for locals, Salmon Creek Falls is just a quarter-mile round-trip hike from Highway 1. This amazing trail, which starts at a Highway 1 pullout just 3.6 miles north of Ragged Point (or 45 miles south of the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park entrance). Pacific Valley Bluff Trail: The breathtaking Pacific Valley Bluff Trail is a flat, 1.6-mile loop that is accessible to all skill levels and available to dogs on leash. Just a few miles north of Gorda, the Pacific Valley Bluff Trail provides panoramic ocean, beach, and bluff views, unique plant life, and lots of in-season wildflowers. San Carpoforo Creek Trail: Just 1½ miles south of Ragged Point, San Carpoforo Creek meets the Pacific Ocean. Here you’ll find a flat and easy one-mile trail that features views of local sea birds and in-season wildflowers. The San Carpoforo Creek Trail also offers swimming, fishing, and wind sailing opportunities, and a “secret” beach.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
As JD proposed at the aquarium in the California Academy of Sciences, it would be fitting to explore one of the most impressive aquariums in the world to observe the species that inhabit the Bay Area!
Admire Art
Nestled alongside the Big Sur highway are some unique and extraordinary art galleries! Hawthorne Art Gallery’s architecture is an art piece in of itself. Coast Gallery is not only a venue space, but it is also an art gallery! This building structure is also phenomenal with its barrel-like structure created out of redwood. Check out these art galleries to see artist’s work scattered throughout the Big Sur community and the West Coast.