Pacific Coast Highway. Weve always been planning to do a road trip in this part of California, so will be bookmarking this. Day 2. Day 1: San Francisco to Santa Cruz. Not many out-of-towners know this, but. The parking lot is large and yes, youll need to pay $10 (a common theme to use the beaches/parks in/near Big Sur). This will probably whet your appetite for more, so dont miss the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium as well. I LOVE Big Sur and Monterey its just so beautiful. Thats so cool youre a teacher! Afternoon 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. 4. 2. Guide contents. The museum exhibits have a few rooms depicting life during the mission days. This romantic drive is one of the best cross country road trip routes that couples must take together! Be sure to check the website as tours are not offered every day. It is highly recommended that a car or truck with high clearance would be better to drive through it. FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. You could spend 1-2 hours here and then continue on to Big Sur. Again, thank you! Despite all ocean views and beaches, theres not many safe spots for swimming. 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. The inside had the most beautiful design and the outside was just as lovely with tables and benches everywhere and live music playing. We loved the location and walked almost everywhere (except the places in Carmel and Big Sur). These are the most common ways to take a Big Sur road trip: Start and finish in Carmel-by-the-Sea but only drive as far as McWay Falls (78 miles of driving) Start in Carmel-by-the-Sea and finish in Morro Bay (120 miles of driving) We ate a quick breakfast at the hotel (one of the other perks of staying there) and then headed to the 5th Avenue Deli. Youll have an amazing time when you visit! The 72-mile portion that runs through Big Sur is an official American National Scenic Byway. We were able to order build your own sandwiches that came with a drink and chips. With an early head start to your day, you will have plenty of parking spaces to choose from if you stop for lunch here. Whether you are looking for a shopping trip, family getaway or romantic getaway we have just the travel itinerary for you! 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 stretch of highway connects Southern California with the Eastern Sierra mountains up north. Hi Sydney! Unfortunately, we had just missed the last shuttle and the next one wasnt leaving for quite awhile. A girls gotta eat, am I right? Sea Salt & Fog | National Park Itineraries & California Travel Planning Three tips for the Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops. Call ahead to ask about the exact time that the bagpipe player will be playing, as times change throughout the year. If you found this article useful, consider using the links within the article or below. I wanna go for sunset next time! It is definitely in a really romantic setting. Day 1 of Big Sur Itinerary: Carmel to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Driving distance and time: 33.9 miles, about 1 hour and 5 minutes Start your day early with coffee and a pastry at Carmel Bakery. We ended up booking the Hideaway an adorable boutique hotel. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. You can book a tour right on the wharf, but its possible that tickets might sell out. Answer 11 of 32: Hi all! (See that next!). Here is the Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur itinerary I followed for a long weekend getaway! Its such a unique spot on the coastline, and its only a .25 mile hike to get there! California History Books for Kids. Then walk across the street and indulge in a local favorite, Revival Ice Cream. Carmel-by-the-Sea has one art gallery for every 34 residents. We love to break up our Big Sur road trip with some cocktails and appetizers from Nepenthe. There is usually a very long line before the opening hour (10 AM) and no reservations, so plan ahead! Did you know? Dont go during the rain or after its just rained as the road is all dirt and can get quite muddy at times. Day Three: Monterey Morning Monterey is just a 10 minute drive from Carmel and a great area to explore for the day! You'll likely hit Carmel-By-The-Sea first, which is where you should bed down; the famed L'Auberge Carmel offers old-world luxury. Monterey, which is further north of Big Sur, is located no more than 1-1.5 hours away from most of the attractions that we recommend seeing on a Big Sur itinerary. And thankfully, everything is laid out quite well with proper signage, so theres no risk of getting lost. 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. Planning ahead: You can plan to picnic at the beach. In addition, since California is still somewhat in a drought, the falls may be quite dry during the summer months. Since you are now past the influx of traffic, you wont be in a rush to get into any of the popular sites. We decided to stop by Folktale Winery and Vineyards because it seriously looked like something from a fairy tale! I absolutely loved the houses in Pacific Grove. Read Next: 25+ Long Weekend Trips from San Francisco. 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. Do note there is no beach or ocean access, and its actually forbidden to go down there. After that, we walked past an island with hundreds of birds on it, which was so cool! Yes, its a gorgeous area! Fun for young and old, exploring the rocky coastline in search of creatures is a must-do. 10. I think we tried 7 different kinds of Clam Chowder and they literally all taste different because they have their own recipes and specialties. You will definitely get beautiful views here! Although I can definitely see why its just as beautiful and even the same style! You can also head to the water where you might be able to spot some marine life. The drive was nice and pretty straight forward and just took a little over an hour and a half. Fog usually disappears around 9 AM even though that sounds like a disappointing fact. McWay Falls Note that youll have to walk/hike about 100 steps or so to access the beach. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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 You managed to pack in so many must-see sights and unique experiences, all while keeping a great balance of relaxation and adventure. There are warm fires all over the place and lights hanging in the trees. 8. Morning I can now say that I absolutely loved that area and will definitely be coming back! Another thing I loved about Carmel Beach was how dog friendly it was. You could drive the famous 17-mile Pebble Beach drive en route. Its important to note that many businesses have shorter opening hours during the off-peak season. Big Sur Itinerary - Best View Points! You could spend all day in this area headed from winery to winery. Bixby Bridge is the epitome of Big Sur and its everything youd expect and more (but really, its the surrounding scenery that really steals the show). As you arrive, drive straight to the Sea Lion Point parking lot and you can start on the trail there, Cypress Grove Trail. There are definitely so many good spots for pictures that you cant get enough of! To discover all these buildings, be like the yellow brick road and follow the Path of Historys yellow tiles on the sidewalk. All the views all gorgeous on the coast, but these two have ample parking and suuuuuch great views of the coast all around! There were also lots of lawn games. I recommend anywhere from 1-3 days in Big Sur, kinda depending if you wanna go on a few hikes or just see the typical tourist Big Sur road trip stops. Head to Carmel, Monterey, or further south (Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay) if you wanna swim. The region is 90 miles long and begins south of Monterey and Santa Cruz. 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. I love how comprehensive this is Monterery and Big Sur look like such BEAUTIFUL places ! It is about 15 minutes from Monterey, spend at least 3 hours. I was looking for an itinerary for this area for a roadtrip and landed on your blog. Pacific Grove is a small area right on the edge of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary about a 10-minute drive from Fishermans Wharf. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a popular favorite as well! 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 only downside to visiting in the summertime is that July and August are the foggiest months. Have a great rest of your day. If this is your first time to the area dont rush it! Start your drive down the coast with snacks from Carmel Highlands General Store. 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. Three days would be even better so you can really relax and take your time. 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. I like to searchvia this sitein order to compare rental companies to see who has the best price. I'll be sharing a relaxed pace three-day itinerary, with overnight stops in both Monterey and Santa Barbara. Evening After Bixby Bridge, this is on everyones must see list during any Big Sur road trip. The marketplace is a certified farmers market so youll find local bakeries, craft vendors, and organic produce. End of Big Sur Itinerary Turnaround: On your way back, you can choose to pull off and snap a few pictures of the beautiful ocean down below. Why is Big Sur famous? Nov 2nd, 2021 3359 views. It was easy to find the area where we needed to take a shuttle to the rental car building. Pafoua writes from her numerous excursions about all things travel, from fun itineraries to creating memorable experiences on the road.
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