Did you know? Hi Jolayne! Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Highway 1 is one of the most scenic roads I have ever been on! You would never imagine this town is in California, it feels like a fairy tale town in Germany. The Best Big Sur Itinerary for an Epic Weekend Trip If you are planning a road trip to the coast of California, this Monterey and Big Sur itinerary is a perfect option for you, and its so convenient as they are about 30 minutes apart from one another. I know it is a chain, but I had never eaten there before and thought it would be fun to try it out! While youre planning your Monterey and Big Sur itinerary, check out these useful road trip gifts to have the best experience on the road! You can also opt to stay in a luxury glamping site with safari-style canvas tents under the redwoods if you feel so inclined. Jackie Jegat, the owner and founder, moved from his home in France to open his own restaurant on the California Coast when he was about 30 years old. Im going next year to visit a friend and we plan on road tripping so Im hoping Ill finally get to go! It will take you about 2 hours to drive right into Monterey. I had seen pictures of Mcway Falls for many years and had always dreamed of seeing them with my own eyes. Absolute paradise, albeit rather crowded at times. Our itineraries will help get you on your way to a memorable Monterey County experience. There are cute dogs all over the place! Since it was already the middle of the day, there were no parking spots down by the beach. 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. The ambience at this place was amazing. The Best Luxury Hotels in Big Sur - Culture Trip Mmm! The beach there was beautiful with views of the cliffs next to the ocean. Big Sur looks truly incredible. The 72-mile portion that runs through Big Sur is an official American National Scenic Byway. That just means you'll have to go back! I mean, its absolutely GORGEOUS. Big Sur Road Trip - Includes ALL the Best Viewpoints! Plus - you're a short drive away from Monterey and Big Sur! Here are my picks and notes, either personally tested by me, or recommended by fellow travelers: Be prepared to spend some big money for dining out in Big Sur. This was our last stop heading down Highway 1 before we turned around and made some stops on the way back to Carmel. Planning ahead: You can plan to picnic at the beach. In fact, they all have people outside of their cafes or restaurants giving out samples. Thank you! San Francisco to Monterey, Carmel-By-The-Sea and Big Sur. Walking on the wharf doesnt take any more than 30 minutes if you just want to do a walk-through, but youd be missing out! Hi MacKenzie! Thankfully theres hot chocolate, tea, and/or coffee waiting for you. Montereys Fishermans Wharf is an iconic stop for your Monterey itinerary. You may even see an orca and/or dolphin off the coast! Hi Shafinah! I feel the need to say this since youll be getting back in the car to continue on the 1: if youre the driver, please be responsible and limit yourself to one drink at most. 7 Best Stops on the San Francisco to Big Sur Road Trip - The World Was McWay Falls will be the last stop on your Big Sur Itinerary before turning around and making your way back to Carmel. AirBnB: Due to the higher-than-normal cost of accommodation in Big Sur, you may want to check out AirBnB for a less expensive option, many even with those ocean views were all swooning over (without the super hefty price tag). Hi, Im Jess. Yes and No. 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. Not to be missed, youll need to visit the Point Pinos Lighthouse, which is the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast. There is usually a very long line before the opening hour (10 AM) and no reservations, so plan ahead! Big Falls Trail near the south end of the range is a . Search for thecheapest car rentals over here! The town is very walkable and its honestly so much fun to just explore it at your own pace. Casinos like Harrah's in South Lake Tahoe regularly have big-name artists perform, so a concert night could be in the cards for your trip. This looks like a very fun trip and the food looks amazing. There was even a point in our war history where Point Lobos was part of secret military operations, too! Check the missions website for daily hours and admission prices. There was a river right behind the Inn with lots of cute chairs to sit on and relax and people were even tubing on the river! . Although I can definitely see why its just as beautiful and even the same style! 6. It was easy to find the area where we needed to take a shuttle to the rental car building. I think we tried 7 different kinds of Clam Chowder and they literally all taste different because they have their own recipes and specialties. The Mcway Falls trail is located at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Our favorite thing to get: almond croissant. The Post Ranch Inn is a Big Sur icon; the 100-acre property first opened in 1992, and in the years since, has cemented its spot as one of the top luxury hotels in . 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. It was nice to arrive at the hotel after a long day and just relax for a minute and eat some snacks! It makes an excellent weekend trip from San Francisco, thats for sure! 14 Best Road Trips in Northern California - LazyTrips Unfortunately, we had just missed the last shuttle and the next one wasnt leaving for quite awhile. It is still totally worth it to see this beautiful place. These 10 Hidden Gems Are California's Best-kept Secrets Public school whose 1931 auditorium served as Carmel's primary artistic, civic . 6 days / 5 nights / 4 rounds. Dont miss it its even surrounded by giant redwoods! I definitely recommend booking in advance. 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. A stay at Deetjen's is a step-back in time; you are immersing yourself in the unique historic . With that being said, Im planning out this Big Sur road trip itinerary from north to south. I got my ticket for the aquarium here. Epic Golf Travel would love to be your resource for all your golf travel needs! I was there for a penguin feeding and that was really fun! You can book a tour right on the wharf, but its possible that tickets might sell out. As always, thanks for the support. Makes me miss San Francisco! Quiet. I had always heard about the Monterrey Bay Aquarium and how great it was and how Finding Nemo was based on that aquarium! . After leaving the park, there was quite a bit of traffic to get back to Carmel. There are even more trails to explore such as the South Shore Trail, Cypress Grove Loop Trail, Pine Ridge Trail, and Lace Lichen Trail. Of courseeee this is when its most crowded, so if you hoping to have McWay Falls all to yourself, think again. Day 1: San Francisco to Santa Cruz. You will definitely get beautiful views here! We will be coming here mid-May and will definitely use your advice. The Barbacoa Beef tacos are insanely delicious! This scenic drive is so rewarding with views of cute homes overlooking the never-ending Pacific ocean. 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. Be sure to dabble your toes in the river at Big Sur River Inn and then end your day with a sunset dinner and ocean view at Pacific's Edge. 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. We won't recommend it if we didn't love it! If you found this article useful, consider using the links within the article or below. Big Sur is most popular between April and October, when the weather is at its nicest. Monterey Itineraries | Things to Do in Monterey | Monterey County CVB Fog usually disappears around 9 AM even though that sounds like a disappointing fact. I too hope that tourists can make the kind of choices that will benefit everyone." This stop is a definite must on your Big Sur Itinerary. Don't be me. Word spread and a large Chinese community settled in Point Lobos where today you can visit one of their homes turned museum, Whalers Cabin. However, you can also stop at a local restaurant for lunch too! Limekiln State Park may be juuust what youre looking for. Take along some warmer clothes as it gets quite chilly up at the top of the lighthouse! There were various cheeses, crackers, fruit and little sandwiches. Santa Cruz is a cute, funky surf town on the way to the San Jose airport. The Bixby Bridge looked amazing. Thankfully, getting to Big Sur is pretty easy, as long as you have a car. :p. Have you ever seen a beach with purple sand?! I think you. Big Sur Bakery is typically pretty crowded, but its worth the wait. We are visiting California from the UK in April, a rescheduled trip after we had to cancel in May 2020. Its so nice to just be surrounded by nature and kinda forget about the rest of the world for a little while! It is about a 20-minute drive from the Monterey area, but its named one of the Best Beach restaurants named by BBC Travel. Yes! For a complete San Francisco to Big Sur day trip , start in San Francisco and make your way through Monterey and Carmel-By-The-Sea to Big Sur on Highway 1 and US-101. Day 3. . We decided to stop by Folktale Winery and Vineyards because it seriously looked like something from a fairy tale! (7/19/18), "We were here in Spring of 2017 and, sadly, Big Sur was closed, but we still LOVED this area and can't wait to return one day. " 2. Tina Yen. 9. Book now from $9.99! I saw sea otters, seals and dolphins! Continue with Recommended Cookies. This stretch of highway connects Southern California with the Eastern Sierra mountains up north. Carmel is one of the most charming and quintessential towns I have ever been to. There are also hiking trails you can check out here, too, and if youre wanting a more rugged experience, camp out at the park. Monterey is a quaint, small town with attractions such as Fishermans Wharf and Monterey Bay Aquarium. Seaside cliffs. Youll be hungry after your ride, so head over to Hulas for a late lunch. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. PCH Road Trip Planning Essentials. Big Sur is one of my favorite places IN THE WORLD (hands down) and one of my favorite road trips from San Francisco. I ordered the Dungeness crab and N got fish and chipsalways so good. One weekend is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur along Highway 1. Hi Rosie! Visiting between the months of November to March? Its beautiful coastline views! California Coast Day 3: Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, & Pismo Theres a retro school bus selling ice cream right off the parking lot, which is perfect on a hot day. There are many different wines you can choose from (this area is really well known for their wineries in case you didnt know). Alternately, it's possible to just take Highway 1 all the way, though this takes a long time, about a 4 hours and 30 minutes drive to Cambria. From free coffee available and interesting and unusual titles for purchase, its worth spending a while here to soak up the Big Sur atmosphere. Tip: Driving it can be challenging, but well worth it. 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 . When you are ready, continue on your drive towards Pfeiffer Beach. These are the items on our list that we are possibly looking to hit: Highway 1 Mcway Falls Bixby. 15 Amazing Cheap Vacation Spots in California, Monterey + Big Sur Itinerary: The Perfect Road Trip, 2023 Her Wanderful World - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP. Drive about 2 miles to get to the ticket booth and have cash with you to pay for the $12 entry fee. Its important to note that many businesses have shorter opening hours during the off-peak season. I totally agree, one of my favorite places to visit! This road trip itinerary is designed to be done in one to two days depending on your timeline and how much you want to get out and see along the way. California's Springtime Road Trip: Exploring 10 Of The State's Best This Big Sur road trip will have you booking flights to California ASAP, promise! Be sure to check the website as tours are not offered every day. There are so many scenic look outs to stop at so feel free to stop as much as you want along the way! Cannery Row is filled with boutiques, restaurants and waterfront hotels. Named as one of the top 10 travel bloggers on Instagram by Kayak and short listed as the best travel influencer by FlightCentre. On your first morning, wake up early and by 8 AM start your Big Sur itinerary by heading south on Highway 1. Hi Linnea! If you have a map, you can plan out some of the places you want to stop before you head out! Here is the Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur itinerary I followed for a long weekend getaway! The Bixby Creek Bridge Be sure and check out the view from both sides of the street, but be careful when crossing. Price: $25-100. Seeing these trees was such a surreal experience! 3. Read Next: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur! I had a few places in mind I wanted to stop before we left, but I also thought it was fun to be spontaneous and stop whenever we saw something that interested us! Pacific Grove is a small area right on the edge of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary about a 10-minute drive from Fishermans Wharf. Planning a trip to Carmel/Big Sur? Help with Itinerary? - Monterey 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! They check out all the major websites, and you can customize what you need as well! We were able to order build your own sandwiches that came with a drink and chips. Yes, youll definitely need to add these 2 to your list and drive along the 101 highway. The Bixby Bridge only cost $200,000 to construct. Hi Faith! This 11 mile road is what those back in the day had to use before the famed Highway One was complete! 3-Day Dog Friendly Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur Itinerary. from $900. There is memorabilia from the movies all over! You can do a day trip to Big Sur or Monterey, but it takes at least 2 days to explore both Monterey and Big Sur properly. Ive been to California several times but I still havent visited Big Sur or Monterey.
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