the big sur drive

Big Sur is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. There are miles of land that stretch out along the coast, completely undisturbed by normal life. While some consider the road dangerous, slow and steady wins the race. You are surrounded by beautiful scenery at every turn from beach, to mountains, to forest, to plains of grass. There is always something new at every turn.

I recommend making a day or two out of the drive to get the full experience. Pack plenty of food as most restaurants are closed due to covid. It is also great to pull off and have a picnic. I recommend camping or staying at a hotel along the coast. For my trip I stayed one night north of Big Sur in Carmel and stayed south of Big Sur in Morro Bay. Going down the coast from north to south gives the best view point opportunities. Every mile or less there are magnificent turnouts with picturesque views from every angle. Here are some of my favorite stops:

17 Mile Drive: Although this is not in Big Sur it's a great stop if you're heading down the coast. Just about 30 minutes north of Big Sur the 17 Mile Drive is a gorgeous picturesque drive that Shows the true beauty of Monterey and Carmel. There are plenty of pullouts and great restaurants along the drive. It does cost around $10 to enter but you can spend many hours exploring the beautiful scenery and beaches.

North Big Sur Viewpoint: Just south of the Soberanes Creek on Highway 1 you will find multiple pull outs. Park your car and hike up the large stairs to find a gorgeous viewpoint. At the top of this hill there are benches to sit and relax as well as many other spots to sit and enjoy the view. Also try to find the Peace Tree up here! This was one of my favorite viewpoints.

Bixby Bridge: Make sure to pull off for Bixby Bridge. This is an iconic picture spot. I scaled part of the cliff to get a closer uninterrupted view! You can also cross the street to get a view from the back of the bridge. I have seen some people climb down to the beach but not sure how to do that or if it's safe. Let me know if you try it!

Nepenthe: This is one of the cutest shops I've ever seen! It is a mix of an art store, crystal shop, jewelry store, and more! They also have a really great cafe and restaurant. Lots of good views from this spot as well.

Partington Cove: Make sure to check out this cove! (you have to park on the side of the road so don’t miss it!) It is a bit of a hike down but it has the most stunning views. If you go to the left there is a bench at the cove with gorgeous views! I also climbed the rocks around to get a higher viewpoint. If you go to the right there is another cove full of rocks. We sat at the coves for hours and listened to the waves crash while we soaked up the sun. Definitely one of my favorite stops!

McWay Falls: Last but not least is the iconic Big Sur waterfall. This for us was a short stop as it was fairly crowded here. You are able to hike closer to the waterfall but we chose a higher viewpoint to check it out. I recommend spending a little bit of time here and heading south to find a different viewpoint and picnic spot!

Book your next Big Sur adventure with me! I would love to help you have the best time!

https://reagandoherty.inteletravel.com