Big Sur, CA

Address:Big Sur, California

Step from your car into a town so beautiful, you'll feel like you stepped into a postcard. The town is Big Sur on California's coast. A 90-mile stretch of ocean and mountain come together, offering beautiful sights, architectural splendor, rocky beaches and expansive state parks that include a waterfall on the Pacific Coast that plunges directly into the ocean. So as not to interrupt the natural beauty of Big Sur, there are no chain stores or supermarkets, however you can peruse the art galleries and shops or relax at a study/contemplation center. Lodging options are rustic cabins, motels, campgrounds, or five-star resorts, with little in between. Located on scenic Highway 1, it's easy to see how Big Sur draws 3 million visitors a year.

The many vista points along Highway 1 allow you to stop and enjoy the oneness of the mountains and ocean. Another sight to see as you come into Big Sur is Bixby Creek Bridge. Made of concrete and timber wood, this two-lane arch bridge, starting right outside Big Sur, is 260 ft. high and over 700 ft. long. An historic landmark, the Bixby Creek Bridge is one of the most photographed spots along the coast.

Big Sur is considered one of the most romantic places in California for a quiet getaway. The beaches are like the coast, rugged and rocky, making Big Sur's beaches popular walking spots instead of swimming spots. So, if you plan on walking the beaches, bring good shoes. Many beaches aren't suitable for swimming because of unpredictable currents and freezing temperatures.

For the adventurous type, Big Sur offers hiking, mountain climbing, and other activities in the surrounding Ventana Wilderness area and the Los Padres National Forest, where you are surrounded by famous California Redwood trees. In the midst of the redwoods on Highway 1 is the Henry Miller Memorial Library. Author and painter, Henry Miller, lived in Big Sur between 1944 and 1962. Of Big Sur, Miller said it's "The face of the earth as the Creator intended it to look." In the memorial library, you can enjoy free coffee, tea and Wi-Fi, or take pleasure in the beautiful redwoods and sculpted gardens surrounding the library. There are events here nearly every week. In the summer there's live music, poetry, a circus, and art. 10% of Big Sur's residents are artists, making Big Sur home to many art galleries and performing centers. You can shop in the art galleries and gift shops for hand crafted items.

Go for a short, but beautiful hike on the Canyon Trail in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park where you will see maple and redwood trees and an 80-foot waterfall that drops from granite cliffs into the ocean from the Overlook Trail. The cove underneath the waterfall makes for a beautiful spot to grab some time alone, and you can camp and picnic here. It's a small park, so try and visit when it's not crowded. In addition to recreational trails, Big Sur's nine state parks have many points of interest, like the ruins of a grand stone cliff-side house that was the region's first electrified house, and the only complete 19th century lighthouse in California open to the public. Many of the parks have campsites, and some require reservations.

Big Sur's accommodations are expensive in the summer. Most lodging and restaurants are clustered in the Big Sur River valley. From 4-star restaurants to local pubs, you have a wide variety of eating choices. Many eateries have spectacular views of the coast.

Typically, Big Sur has a mild climate year-round, with a sunny, dry summer and fall, and a cool, wet winter. The weather is best from spring to fall, but the coast may be shrouded in fog during mid-summer. Because Big Sur has many different climates you can see Red Wood trees right near cacti!

Big Sur starts about 160 miles south of San Francisco, between Carmel and San Simeon on the central California coast. There are several routes to Big Sur, so consult a map to see which route is best for you. Monterey-Salinas Transit bus makes several stops in Big Sur.