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

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for California CA Big Sur Carmel Monterey Coastline Postcard Old Vintage Card View at the best online prices at eBay! Many people dont actually realize this, but Big Sur is not an actual city/town for that matter. Located just a smidge south of Pfieffer beach is Big Sur Bakery, which is actually a 1930s ranch-style home. Hi Shafinah! We won't recommend it if we didn't love it! Visit inside the Basilica (where Serras remains are laid to rest). In those early days, abalone harvesting became very popular when the Chinese realized the lucrative business of harvesting fish and started commercializing seafood. When the opportunity came up to visit northern California, I was excited and really intrigued. Cozy. We chose the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey. In addition, since California is still somewhat in a drought, the falls may be quite dry during the summer months. : Sand dollar beach does indeed have sand dollars! And yes, theres so much history in this little area. That waterfall on Julia Pfeiffer Burns is incredible!!! 1. Eating fresh clam chowder is a must on any Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary! Youll find a parking lot on the east side of the road with an underground tunnel for walking over to the trail. And if theres still orchids and wildflowers out, youll think youre in Hawaii. However, you can also stop at a local restaurant for lunch too! While the entire reserve is beautiful, dont miss China Cove and Bird Island Lookout (on the southern part of the park). The Pacific Coast Highway is the longest state route in California. The Big Sur River Inn is located about half way through the Big Sur viewpoints and a great spot to stop for lunch! Treebones Resort: Looking for something a bit different? Theres typically some traffic, so if youre just driving through, expect it to take at least 3 hours. I would love to go back! As always, thanks for the support. Grab Life by the Moments Itineraries Highlights Itinerary Outdoors Itinerary Family Itinerary Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary Golf Itinerary Finding it can be a challenge in itself because the turn is not marked. Afternoon Carmel is a must for any Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary! We decided the best way to get there was the scenic route! Even if you decide to end here and make this a San Francisco to Monterey drive, you won't be missing out. I totally agree, one of my favorite places to visit! Thanks for all the recommendations. It makes an excellent weekend trip from San Francisco, thats for sure! 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). Montereys Fishermans Wharf is an iconic stop for your Monterey itinerary. Our other option is to do Monterey/Carmel on Tuesday (aquarium, 17-mile drive, etc), and then Big Sur first thing Wednesday morning (July 4th). Havent had enough of the great outdoors on your Big Sur road trip just yet? While youll see monarchs all around Big Sur, Andrew Molera State Park is the place to be to spot the most! Then head to California Highway 1 to begin your Big Sur road trip! 1. 2023 Cultural & Theme Tours in Monterey & Carmel: Check out reviews and photos of the 17 Mile Drive: A Self-Guide Audio Tour of Pebble Beach's Historical Highlights. Treebones Resort features seven ocean view tent campsites, along with 16 yurts with great views of the Pacific at Cape San Martin! Evening This looks like a very fun trip and the food looks amazing. Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary Stop 1: Carmel-by-the-Sea Stop 2: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve Stop 3: Garrapata State Park Stop 4: Kasler Point Stop 5: Rocky Creek Bridge Stop 6: Bixby Creek Bridge Stop 7: Andrew Molera State Park Stop 8: Pfeiffer Beach Stop 9: McWay Falls Stop 10: Limekiln State Park Stop 11: Sand Dollar Beach Whats your favorite local spot? 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! 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! One of the greatest attractions to this park is McWay Falls, one of two tidefalls* in California. Thankfully theres hot chocolate, tea, and/or coffee waiting for you. Whether you want to go fast, slow, solo, or with others, this year's Race for Open Space has something for you. Big Sur, located along Central California coast, is one of the best places to visit on the West Coast of USA. Fishermans Wharf is full of cute candy shops and tons of Clam Chowder restaurants! Thank you! Ill receive a small commission when you purchase from my links (at no extra cost to you), which Ill totally blow on adult things like boba tea and avocado toast. 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. The clam chowder here is also amazing! Reading and seeing these photos makes me miss it a whole lot. On the other hand, Big Sur is full of naturebeaches, hiking trails, and beautiful cliffside views. The airport is small and easy to navigate. 2. General tips. Both are definitely worth getting out for and photographing. Aubrie is a Utah based blogger/content creator. . 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 Let's talk travel, teaching abroad, and travel blogging.I also love sharing about my love for Asian dramas and #allthethings to create memorable experiences! The Whisky Club in Monterey hosts trivia on the first and third Thursday each . If seeing a whale is on your bucket list, Fishermans Wharf is where you need to be. Morning 4. In every way, shape, and form. La Playa Carmel. They are a definite must on any Big Sur Itinerary. A short 15 minute walk along the cliffs with beautiful views of the coast and even a waterfall! Their island-inspired menu has plenty to choose from including burgers, tacos, fish and chicken platters. Take along some warmer clothes as it gets quite chilly up at the top of the lighthouse! You can book a tour right on the wharf, but its possible that tickets might sell out. I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed with your itinerary. And yes, we always have a great time in Monterey! Bubba Gumps has such a fun atmosphere that seems to mesh perfectly with Monterrey! When you visit Point Lobos, youll be amazed by its natural beauty, but please make sure to stay on trails as erosion is currently harming plants and wildlife in the area. I heard a few state parks in Big Sur are open now! I had always heard about the Monterrey Bay Aquarium and how great it was and how Finding Nemo was based on that aquarium! I really enjoyed Spanish Bay Beach, Fanshell Beach overlook, Cypress Point Lookout and the Lone Cypress. Evening 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. Big Sur Itinerary - Best View Points! Hi Linnea! Swimming is not recommended at this beach because there are a lot of rock formations that could cause harm if a strong wave pulled a swimmer the wrong way (and there were a lot of waves crashing through the rock formations), but you could also stay near the sandy area and dip your feet in the Pacific Ocean. From free coffee available and interesting and unusual titles for purchase, its worth spending a while here to soak up the Big Sur atmosphere. 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. We are visiting California from the UK in April, a rescheduled trip after we had to cancel in May 2020. They are even bigger than you can imagine! Our favorite thing to get: almond croissant. Big Sur road trip itinerary: You could do Big Sur in a day or the entire California coast in 2-3 days if you really wanted to, but it will be much more enjoyable if you do it slowly! Patience is the only requirement, but binoculars are nice to have as well. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'herwanderfulworld_com-sky-4','ezslot_26',145,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-herwanderfulworld_com-sky-4-0');A beautiful state park, Garrapata State Park has views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Soberanes Canyon. You can read all about how this area came to be here. If you and your group aren't ready to slow down yet, take this time to explore the shops on Fisherman's Wharf or Cannery Row. Yes, you can leave from San Francisco to head south down the Central Coast on Highway 101. 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. Hi Rosie! Squeezing all the hot spots into just three days might be a challenging task, but this perfect three-day itinerary will keep you on track. Begin your day with breakfast at From Scratch Restaurant in Carmel by-the-Sea. Welcome back to the California Coast road trip series. Since Big Sur is located between Carmel-by-the-Sea and San Simeon, its best to start from either of these (and finish in the other) if you wanna experience the entire coastline of Big Sur. Thats so cool youre a teacher! Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. (7/16/18), "Enjoy and let me know how it goes!" Big Sur is the 90 mile stretch of California coast, nestled between Monterey and San Luis Obispo that is as breathtakingly beautiful and unreal as a dream, with the waves of the Pacific ocean crashing along its rugged shores, simply begging for a visit. When you purchase something through our links, we earn a small fee (but you still pay the same)! I can now say that I absolutely loved that area and will definitely be coming back! Book now from $9.99! We decided to stop by Folktale Winery and Vineyards because it seriously looked like something from a fairy tale! I was looking for an itinerary for this area for a roadtrip and landed on your blog. Since you are now past the influx of traffic, you wont be in a rush to get into any of the popular sites. Have you seen the photos?! Hi Christina! I think you. Youll get a really nice view of the beach. Day 5: Paso Robles/Cambria to Santa Ynez Valley. Ive been to California several times but I still havent visited Big Sur or Monterey. With that being said, Im planning out this Big Sur road trip itinerary from north to south. No matter what time of year youre visiting Big Sur, youll always want to be on the lookout for whales off the California coast. Keep that in mind when you head out on your road trip. This area is one of my favorites in CA. All these spots make it easy to photograph. Any Big Sur road trip aint complete without a stop at iconic Bixby Bridge, one of the most photographed spots in Big Sur (which Im sure youve seen alllll over instagram and pinterest). Our guide Johnathon was knowledgeable about the area telling us interesting facts along the route. We also went on the Cyprus Grove Trail and we loved that one too. Thankfully, getting to Big Sur is pretty easy, as long as you have a car. Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur! Sea otters help kelp forests flourish by keeping the sea urchin population in check. Looks like you had a wonderful time too. $8,790.00 USD per person. 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. The ocean is a short walk away. Looking for more California content? 10. A great option for lunch in Big Sur is Nepenthe and Cafe Kevah. Harbor seals can dive 300 feet and stay underwater for up to 28 minutes! When visiting, youll want to hike the Soberanes Canyon Trailas its restored and in great condition. 15 Amazing Cheap Vacation Spots in California, Monterey + Big Sur Itinerary: The Perfect Road Trip, 2023 Her Wanderful World - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP. It was quite busy at the time we arrived and we probably waited in line for 30 minutes-1 hour so make sure to add this in when planning your itinerary! 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. 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! To discover all these buildings, be like the yellow brick road and follow the Path of Historys yellow tiles on the sidewalk. There was a trail for bikes all along the beach and it was a really beautiful place to end for sunset. A Carmel to Big Sur road trip can take anywhere from one hour to five, depending on how many stops . Temps are mild year round, ranging from a cool 60 degrees to a balmy 75 degrees F. Its always wise to bring along a jacket no matter what month youll be frolicking around Big Sur, as it never gets particularly hot hot hot, and temperatures are always cooler on the coast than in the mountains nearby. Call before you go so you aren't driving hours for nothing. This takes 3 hours and 30 minutes to the lowest point of Big Sur, Cambria, where you can start this itinerary (in reverse order from how it's posted). You could drive the famous 17-mile Pebble Beach drive en route. Pace yourself its all beautiful. 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. It could take as little as 2 hours (if you dont stop at all), or 2 days if you make all the stops for the views, foods, and hikes. This state park is absolutely beautiful and is full of wildlife everywhere! Carmel is a small, beautiful, and charming seaside town tucked between Big Sur and Monterey on the central coast of California. It is still totally worth it to see this beautiful place. Not many out-of-towners know this, but. Key: Purple Big Sur Itinerary | Blue Monterey Itinerary | Orange Other excursions | Yellow Places to stay. We would like to thank Big Sur Adventures for providing discounted tickets for us to experience their e-bike tour. Bubba Gumps specializes in seafood- specifically shrimp and if you have ever seen Forest Gump- this place will be really fun for you! Hours: 9 am - 6 pm (7 pm on Saturdays) daily at the Pacific Grove shops. It was nice to arrive at the hotel after a long day and just relax for a minute and eat some snacks! And trust me, theres enough things to do in Big Sur to fill an entire weekend and then some. Your attention to detail and organization truly made the trip come alive for me as I read about it. like a Big Sur Monterey California Coast McWay Falls One Day Tour from San Jose.. Alternatively, you can take the Monterey-Salinas Transit Line 22 from Carmel or Monterey, which will take you all the way to Nepenthe Restaurant when heading south.