The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Specialties: World-famous Breakfast served Daily 8:00am-noon; Dinner Friday-Tuesday starting at 5:30pm. This Monterey to Big Sur itinerary is planned so it is possible to start in San Francisco and experience the whole road trip itinerary without backtracking at all. We chose the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey. This stop is a definite must on your Big Sur Itinerary. They sometimes even host concerts, cultural events, and film nights as well. ), all while taking in the magnificent views! Arrive as early as possible on your first day so that you can maximize your time. Looks like such an awesome road trip. Pick-up from centrally located hotels between 7:30am - 8:30am Duration: 11 hours Transportation: Comfortable Motorcoach Includes: Complimentary pickup/dropoff from centrally located hotels Youll have an amazing time when you visit! Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D. 2 hr ago . Comment below. I had seen pictures of Mcway Falls for many years and had always dreamed of seeing them with my own eyes. We are surrounded by forest. There are even more trails to explore such as the South Shore Trail, Cypress Grove Loop Trail, Pine Ridge Trail, and Lace Lichen Trail. Once here, you can hike down to this spectacular crescent-shaped beach and relax. Visitors pressed for time often make the drive from. The banana bread is great too, but now that weve had the almond croissant, I dont think well ever be getting anything else. Distance: 143 miles, 3 hours. This Monterey and Big Sur itinerary is incredibly helpful. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Today, he has a wholesale warehouse where he provides his delicious fresh-baked pastries to hotels and restaurants around the area. Carmel is a must for any Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary! Enjoy your ice cream on the wharf and enjoy watching all the puppies greet each other as their owners walk them up and down the pier. The clam chowder here is also amazing! for current highway conditions before your drive. Hi Desiree! You are able to do wine tastings inside or if you dont drink, there is also a full service restaurant as well. There is a small parking area located on the east side of the highway. Keep that in mind when you head out on your road trip. The grounds are incredibly beautiful and this place is definitely worth a stop for the gorgeous grounds and architecture. Inside you'll nd: Flexible, strategic itineraries including long weekends in Monterey, Carmel, and Santa Cruz, and a three-day road trip from Big Sur to Being Big Surs largest beach, as long as the tide is low, youll find plenty of space to lay your towel down and relax. I was looking for an itinerary for this area for a roadtrip and landed on your blog. In the months of October-February, you will also be in time to see the Monarch butterflies clustering at Monarch Grove Butterly Sanctuary. Next up on your Monterey itinerary is Old Downtown Monterey located on Alvarado street and named after Juan Bautista Alvarado who was the former governor of Alta California. Look out for them clustered in trees in the early morning, and flying around during the day. Hi Linnea! Carmel Valley is full of vineyards and wineries. Highway 1 is a one lane highway that winds along the coast. Lovely post! To discover all these buildings, be like the yellow brick road and follow the Path of Historys yellow tiles on the sidewalk. Then head to California Highway 1 to begin your Big Sur road trip! Planning ahead: You can plan to picnic at the beach. 4. Bedroom3; Baths2; Property typePrivate Vacation Home; Max Sleeps6; Love golf Pebble Beach golf courses are among some of the best in the world; Carmel-by-the-Sea renowned for its art galleries, many restaurants & sandy white beaches; Big Sur has campsites, high-cliff beaches, superb hiking trails & world-class views on the Pacific Ocean, and Monterey is known for the famous . Note that parking costs $10 to enter the park, Gray Whales: December to February (migrating south to Mexico), and February to April (returning north; easier to spot as they are closer to the shore), Humpback Whales: late April to early December, With that being said, the hotels in Big Sur really are quite special, and if you can splurge for one night on your. This mesmerizing stretch of coastline is located between Carmel (about ~45 min drive north) and San Simeon (roughly 1.5 hours drive south). PCH Road Trip Planning Essentials. Yes, its a gorgeous area! 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. They also have bikes you can rent as well. Recommended accommodation options in Monterey and Carmel that wont break the bank: With that being said, the hotels in Big Sur really are quite special, and if you can splurge for one night on your California Coast road trip, these are the best places to do it: Post Ranch Inn: Offering 3 pools, one being an infinity hot tub, you can spend the bulk of your time here overlooking the stunning California coastline. It costs $10 once you make your way a bit, but its well worth it once you get to the beach. Traffic is really bad, please use public transport or other forms to reduce as much as possible. " 2. Big Sur looks truly incredible. Yes, you can leave from San Francisco to head south down the Central Coast on Highway 101. 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. On one side, youll see the quaint houses up close and on the other side, youll have a clear view of the iconic Carmel beach down below. We rode past Point Pinos Lighthouse and ended up on a trail to Asilomar State Beach. When visiting, youll want to hike the Soberanes Canyon Trailas its restored and in great condition. 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! Details. Thx!! I always love getting cheese plates! I LOVE Big Sur and Monterey its just so beautiful. Any tips/suggestions appreciated. Then the trail led down to this amazing white sandy beach with no one else around. When is the Best Time to Visit Monterey and Big Sur? I have only ever been to San Francisco but would love to see these amazing views and spend the night. Purple sand (yup!). Big Sur Coast is known for its rocky beaches, spectacular sunsets, and sheer natural beauty. Day Two September 10, 2024 - September 15, 2024. In nearby Monterey, uncrowded beaches like Del Monte Beach . Yes and No. Traveling by car from Carmel to Big Sur takes an hour. As you start your Big Sur road trip down from San Francisco (after exploring Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea prior), youre first official stop should be Point Lobos! Have so much fun when you visit! After checking out Cannery Row, we walked to Big Sur Adventuresabout 5 minutes away to rent bikes. Additionally, Big Sur is hard to reach and necessitates either a long drive out-and-back or loop to see the whole area. As well as (chive and cheddar) scones and strudels and coffees and cream-filled donuts. If you squint really hard, youll see the falls between the rocks going directly into the ocean in the photo below. Welcome back to the California Coast road trip series. We won't recommend it if we didn't love it! Nearest Cities: Monterey and Carmel to the north (40 minute drive), San Simeon and Cambria to the south (1.5 hour drive) Closest International Airports: San Jose International Airport (SJC) - 1.5 hour drive | Oakland International Airport (OAK) - 2 hour drive | San Francisco (SFO) - 2.5 hour drive Best Time to Visit: April through October, early fall is best Word spread and a large Chinese community settled in Point Lobos where today you can visit one of their homes turned museum, Whalers Cabin. 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. Day 1. And yes, theres so much history in this little area. Yes! I really thought this was a great aquarium and I loved seeing all of the conservation efforts they had put into place. There are BARRELS of salt water taffy with flavors ranging from caramel apple to blueberry cheesecake its incredible! Aww, thank you so much! Hi MacKenzie! For the photographers heart, the iconic Keyhole Arch makes for a stunning sunset spot in Central California during the golden hour! Whether you are looking for a shopping trip, family getaway or romantic getaway we have just the travel itinerary for you! This area is gorgeous where you can easily spend a couple of hours hanging out. And thankfully, neither are too strenuous or long (perfect if you dont have all day). 5. And just one reason its on every list of the most beautiful places in California. One of the greatest attractions to this park is McWay Falls, one of two tidefalls* in California. Theres really no way around it. It is the perfect place to fill up on gas and get any last minute snacks. 4 Golfers. A stay at Deetjen's is a step-back in time; you are immersing yourself in the unique historic . This was our last stop heading down Highway 1 before we turned around and made some stops on the way back to Carmel. We were able to order build your own sandwiches that came with a drink and chips. The people that worked there were friendly and gave us a map of the nearby trail and tips on places they recommended seeing. Johnathon was easy-going and the time we spent with Big Sur Adventures was the highlight of our weekend. and not many tourists know about it just yet! Limekiln State Park may be juuust what youre looking for. If this is your first time to the area dont rush it! Tip: Driving it can be challenging, but well worth it. Start your drive down the coast with snacks from Carmel Highlands General Store. You wont miss it, promise, as its just a short 15 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Thanks for sharing your journey with us! On arrival, our room wasnt quite ready so we had lunch at the hotels restaurant and I got clam chowder in a bread bowl! This Big Sur road trip will have you booking flights to California ASAP, promise! On the opposite side of the road, there is a dirt road known as Old Coast Road. Its important to note that many businesses have shorter opening hours during the off-peak season. Miles of misty coastline. Dont miss it its even surrounded by giant redwoods! Make sure to have these essentials on your list: The best time to visit Monterey and Big Sur is in the fall during the months of September to November or in the spring during the months of April to May. Looking for more California content? After a full morning of activity and then a satisfying afternoon meal, we were ready for a restful and low-key afternoon. 3. As you arrive, drive straight to the Sea Lion Point parking lot and you can start on the trail there, Cypress Grove Trail. Read Next: 25+ Long Weekend Trips from San Francisco. The United States flag was first raised in Monterey in 1846 claiming California for the United States. Its such a pretty area! The Barbacoa Beef tacos are insanely delicious! Grab Life by the Moments Itineraries Highlights Itinerary Outdoors Itinerary Family Itinerary Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary Golf Itinerary Big Sur and Monterey/Carmel I'll be spending this upcoming weekend on a road trip from Los Angeles to Monterey and thought I'd post my general itinerary and pose a few questions for the Big. I had remembered going to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk when I was a kid so I was excited to go back. . (See that next!). The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a popular favorite as well! Big Sur guide. Thank you for such a great recounting of your trip. Hi.. we are driving in from Santa Barbara and wanted to plan a Big Sur , Monterey trip where should we stop first where would u stay if u want to see Carmel too? Day 2. There are a lot of incredible eateries in Carmel. Use caution while driving as the road is rather windy and narrow! (10/12/18), "Thank you Kelsey for your words of advise. And so is Nepenthe! We also went on the Cyprus Grove Trail and we loved that one too. Its more of a state of mind rather than a specific point on a map, encompassing about 90 sunny Californian miles down the Pacific Coast Highway. If youve been thinking about a weekend get-a-way to one of California's best destinations, then look no further than this 3-day itinerary celebrating the best that Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur have to offer. . Bring your binoculars for wildlife viewing! Evening Three tips for the Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops. Youll be hungry after your ride, so head over to Hulas for a late lunch. If youre planning on hanging out on the beach, pack your swimsuit or a wetsuit to surf. If you have a map, you can plan out some of the places you want to stop before you head out! We pulled into this area where you can park and then pay to take a shuttle to the beach. While youre hiking, youll want to have closed-toe shoes with a good grip to keep yourself safe, literally speaking from experience. Dont go during the rain or after its just rained as the road is all dirt and can get quite muddy at times. Begin your day with a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Caf Lumiere in Monterey. It was nice to arrive at the hotel after a long day and just relax for a minute and eat some snacks! We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Glad to hear it! (10/13/18). As you drive up to this area, the ocean turns to the most pretty turquoise color! Nightly bagpipe performances have taken place every day since 1987 at Spanish Bay in Carmel. My favorites in that area include: Carmel Beach, Lovers Point Park, Pavels Bakerei, the 17 mile drive, and whale watching! Read on for the most perfect Big Sur road trip itinerary! There are all types of shops including antique shops, fudge shops, oh and dont forget dog shops! It will take you about 2 hours to drive right into Monterey. 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. With an early head start to your day, you will have plenty of parking spaces to choose from if you stop for lunch here. Time needed: 1 to 2 days. Don't be me. The eatery has indoor and outdoor seating, but if you would like to sit on the beach and enjoy the waves while you eat, bring a blanket or some lawn chairs with you as you get beach access from the restaurant. That just means you'll have to go back! Evening 3 hours 20 minutes (150 miles) Difficulty level: Easy The actual name of the mission is Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo. Why is Big Sur famous? 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. There is also the Old Downtown Marketplace every Tuesday from 4 -7 PM in the fall and 4 8 PM in the summer. We loved the location and walked almost everywhere (except the places in Carmel and Big Sur). Thanks for stopping by! An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. One of our favorite spots here is the Pepper Palace where we buy dry rubs and sauces to make our legendary wings. Did you know? Thank you for sharing! If you choose to visit Big Sur as an out-and-back road trip from San Francisco, you can follow California Highway 1 south from the city past Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, and the Monterey Peninsula - then back up. Her Wanderful World is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I only have three more posts to go after this one. The Lone Cypress is actually over 250 years old! Drive over to Asilomar State Beach for some tide-pooling. Hi Faith! There are warm fires all over the place and lights hanging in the trees. If youre a fan of seafood, Cafe Kevahs Egg Benedict has Dungeness crab and is delicious; the regular egg benedict is also a top pick. Big Sur is most popular between April and October, when the weather is at its nicest. . Sea Salt & Fog | National Park Itineraries & California Travel Planning And plus, the water is chilly over here! Absolute paradise, albeit rather crowded at times. Even if you decide to end here and make this a San Francisco to Monterey drive, you won't be missing out. 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. 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. There are so many scenic look outs to stop at so feel free to stop as much as you want along the way! End: Mammoth Lakes. 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. It was going on right when we arrived at the hotel. . Psst: If youre visiting in early spring, dont miss Calla Lily Valley right near Garrapata Beach (different location than the Bluff Trail). And I do love my crab from Phils! And plus, Im from San Francisco so Im typically driving down the coast, not up. This looks like a very fun trip and the food looks amazing. If we get there earlier, we get saltwater taffy and enjoy them on our hikes/beach time. 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. Youll find a parking lot on the east side of the road with an underground tunnel for walking over to the trail. The scenic pull-offs are along the coast, and driving north to south provides the easiest access to these. Winding turns. Sign up for itinerary inspiration, travel tips, and more! Filed Under: North America, USA Tagged With: big sur, california, central coast, pacific coast highway, Your email address will not be published. There are cute dogs all over the place! Again, thank you! This image is from Big Sur, a California State Park . I was really excited to go here because I hadnt seen redwood trees since I was a little kid. Makes me miss San Francisco! There were also lots of lawn games. Bubba Gumps specializes in seafood- specifically shrimp and if you have ever seen Forest Gump- this place will be really fun for you! 1. They currently offer brunch and lunch; however, because they are so small they highly recommend making reservations instead of just showing up. There is so much you can do and see while you are in Carmel. 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. When researching where to eat, I had Forge in the Forest recommend several times. I love Monterey! It is a charming little area that also has some good marine life sighting spots. General tips. Here, youll find tips to help plan the perfect road trip for your Monterey and Big Sur itinerary. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'herwanderfulworld_com-sky-3','ezslot_25',144,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-herwanderfulworld_com-sky-3-0');As one of the top 20 best places to retire in California, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a charming small town you need to check out. The area was filled with flowers and they have gigantic succulents everywhere! Afternoon Treebones Resort: Looking for something a bit different? (7/15/18), "It's such a kid-friendly area, and I just heard that the entire Hwy 1 is now opened." Sign up for AirBnB with my link and get up to $40 off your first stay! Three days would be even better so you can really relax and take your time. The town is truly tiny at only one square mile, but it is absolutely packed with amazing things. You can book a tour right on the wharf, but its possible that tickets might sell out. Thats so cool youre a teacher! Heading to California and cant wait to check off all the stops on this Big Sur road trip itinerary? 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! I hope youll have the same great time while visiting! Tina Yen. Definitely adding this road trip to my bucket list. Be sure to checkout some of my blog posts which include information about travel, fashion, lifestyle and photography. There are twists and turns along the cliff, with most parts of the highway being only one lane in either direction. Havent had enough of the great outdoors on your Big Sur road trip just yet? One of my favorite parts of the park was all of the beautiful walking paths with wildflowers everywhere. 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. They have a nice cafeteria there for lunch. At an early hour, you might be too early for Nepenthe the restaurant upstairs, but Cafe Kevah down below has a delicious selection for brunch. And plus, whats cooler than a cone from a bus? Aubrie is a Utah based blogger/content creator. 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. We enjoyed a little downtime at our hotel. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Professional wanderluster and trip planning aficionado. It could be difficult to drive a large vehicle or RV through this area as it is one lane and very narrow. My favorite part about it, however, was that it was literally right over the ocean. READ MORE - Road trip from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe. 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. The waves are unpredictable and pretty rough. While youre planning your Monterey and Big Sur itinerary, check out these useful road trip gifts to have the best experience on the road! I heard a few state parks in Big Sur are open now! Win-win! The high season in this area is during the summer months, just after May and through August, so you may want to avoid these months if you dont want to be around the crowds. Day 1: Big Sur Itinerary This Big Sur itinerary runs from north to south as we were leaving from Monterey. The inside had the most beautiful design and the outside was just as lovely with tables and benches everywhere and live music playing. bismarck funeral home,

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