I can now say that I absolutely loved that area and will definitely be coming back! 8 Epic San Francisco Road Trips to Plan Right Now Then head over to the Carmel Mission. Keep that in mind when you head out on your road trip. We were able to order build your own sandwiches that came with a drink and chips. 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! We love to break up our Big Sur road trip with some cocktails and appetizers from Nepenthe. Be sure to checkout some of my blog posts which include information about travel, fashion, lifestyle and photography. If you choose to visit Big Sur as an out-and-back road trip from San Francisco, you can follow California Highway 1 south from the city past Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, and the Monterey Peninsula - then back up. Oh, and the bakery has public restrooms available, which is always good to know on a road trip without much service! There are a lot of really good options of places to stay in Carmel. I was in awe the entire time. With an early head start to your day, you will have plenty of parking spaces to choose from if you stop for lunch here. And if theres still orchids and wildflowers out, youll think youre in Hawaii. We drove all the way south to the furthest location we wanted to see and then worked our way back north. This trail was amazing and we saw a cove with the most turquoise blue waters and baby sea lions down below. I mean, its absolutely GORGEOUS. Psst: If youre visiting in early spring, dont miss Calla Lily Valley right near Garrapata Beach (different location than the Bluff Trail). 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. You could spend all day in this area headed from winery to winery. It's $10.50 entrance per car to see the iconic views. Hours: 9 am - 6 pm (7 pm on Saturdays) daily at the Pacific Grove shops. 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! We loved visiting the Whalers Cabin in Whalers Cove and thought the scenery was the most spectacular around Bluefish Cove. Here youll find multiple historic buildings including Californias First Theater, Colton Hall, the Stevenson House, and many more! 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 . I recommend the shrimp mac and cheese! Price: $25-100. Continue driving south on Hwy 1 towards your next stop in this Big Sur itinerary: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which is not to be confused with Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Tours cost $15 per person. Next up on your Monterey itinerary is Cannery Row, a waterfront area with old buildings filled with shopping, restaurants, and fun activities such as escape rooms, arcades, and the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium. Just a few of the things Big Sur is well-known for. Read Next: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur! The Perfect Weekend in Carmel, CA - Miss Molly Mac This Big Sur road trip will have you booking flights to California ASAP, promise! Want the scenic route? Day 3: Carmel to Big Sur. Distance: Approximately 430 miles. How to Spend One Day in Big Sur: Day Trip Guide from the Bay Area And its large enough to split, for sure. Options for Dinner on Your Monterey Itinerary, Added Excursions for Your Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary, Map of Places for Your Monterey and Big Sur Road Trip, Where to Stay on Your Monterey and Big Sur Road Trip, More Places to Eat on Your Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary, Phils Fish Market & Eatery in Moss Landing, What to Pack for Your Monterey and Big Sur Road Trip, FAQs About Your Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary. 2022 text, 2021 Big Sur Drinking Fountain Image and Ghiradelli Cannery Row Image, 2020 Carmel . The entire road is comprised of redwood groves, babbling brooks, rolling hills, and lots of no trespassing signs. Make sure to have these essentials on your list: The best time to visit Monterey and Big Sur is in the fall during the months of September to November or in the spring during the months of April to May. If youve had enough of driving on your road trip, you can park near Carmel beach and walk the scenic path. And Im jealous of you already. Arrive- Pick up Rental Car and Drive to Monterey I flew into the San Jose, California airport on a flight arriving around 12:00 in the afternoon. Monterey, Big Sur and Carmel-by-the-Sea Bus Tour from San Francisco There is so much to see, this is only the tip of it! Have a great rest of your day. The people that worked there were friendly and gave us a map of the nearby trail and tips on places they recommended seeing. 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). This stretch of highway connects Southern California with the Eastern Sierra mountains up north. BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA: LOGISTICS. Planning ahead: You can plan to picnic at the beach. Its a cute town, and there is a long sandy beach. Not having lunch at the Big Sur River Inn. Then head over to the American Tin Cannery Outlets and meet up with Big Sur Adventures for an e-bike tour of the coast. Big Sur Itinerary Get away to Big Sur to decompress, lose your stress and soothe your soul. As always, thanks for the support. I LOVE Big Sur and Monterey its just so beautiful. And yes, we always have a great time in Monterey! Fishermans Wharf is full of cute candy shops and tons of Clam Chowder restaurants! I was an ex-pat and now still trying to re-pat. There were all sorts of cute alleys you could go down to find more hidden gems. I have visited California many times through out my life. I definitely need to add that this is one of the most dog friendly places I have ever been. Purple sand (yup!). There is a lot to discover and experience on this route, with breathtaking coastal views, lovely beach towns, and . Click here to skip back to the top. 47900 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920. I know it is a chain, but I had never eaten there before and thought it would be fun to try it out! Cozy. Find a place to park and spend some time enjoying the many art galleries and boutiques. It is located towards the end of the wharf, so beware that you may be tempted to stop at one of the restaurants before it. If youre looking to take a much longer trip down the PCH, check out all my favorite stops on the Pacific Coast Highway yes, all 75 of them! This place is absolutely perfect for lunch! In those early days, abalone harvesting became very popular when the Chinese realized the lucrative business of harvesting fish and started commercializing seafood. National Register of Historic Places listings in Monterey County Hi Kate! Aww, thank you so much! Hi Desiree! I love how comprehensive this is Monterery and Big Sur look like such BEAUTIFUL places ! 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! Oh la la, Crepes! There is plenty to see and do in Monterey County outside of meeting room walls. 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. Carmel is one of the most charming and quintessential towns I have ever been to. Looking for more California content? Hi Rosie! Unfortunately, when I was there, you could only go on part of the trail and since it is only a small pathway where you can see the falls, it was pretty crowded. 10 Things You Should Know About The Brando Resort in Tetiaroa, A First-timer's Trip to Australia; Sydney, the Whitsundays and the Central Coast, Paradise in the Dominican Republic: The Samana Peninsula, Explore the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, A 3-Day Itinerary for Charleston, South Carolina, How to Spend 3 Days in Nashville, TN - A Girls' Trip, Balboa Island in Newport Beach,California, Carmel, Monterey & Big Sur - A Perfect 3-Day Itinerary, Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo, "I've actually been meaning to take the kids on this road trip. Even more than that, Point Lobos doesnt classify itself as a state park, but rather as a natural reserve with the highest protection for nature and wildlife found here. It is a charming little area that also has some good marine life sighting spots. Our itineraries will help get you on your way to a memorable Monterey County experience. The Ultimate Guide to Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary with 13 Stops California Coast Day 3: Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, & Pismo A PCH Road Trip to Monterey and Big Sur | Cond Nast Traveler I absolutely loved the houses in Pacific Grove. Bring a blanket and a cooler with your favorite sandwich to enjoy, which we wish we had done. Dont fret if you dont drink, they have tons of snacks you can eat as well! I would advise sharing a sundae with your BFF as the portions are huge, but its delicious nonetheless. We chose the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey. Thankfully, getting to Big Sur is pretty easy, as long as you have a car. Do take note of the tide schedule though high tide can essentially make the sandy beach disappear, making it difficult to find a place to sit. Call before you go so you aren't driving hours for nothing. Finding it can be a challenge in itself because the turn is not marked. Make sure to bring a light jacket since it gets a little bit chillier at night. 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. I hope your travel planning takes you here soon! ), all while taking in the magnificent views! You are able to do wine tastings inside or if you dont drink, there is also a full service restaurant as well. When researching where to eat, I had Forge in the Forest recommend several times. Then continue heading south along Hwy 1 to take in some of the famous sites. 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 Thanks for sharing your journey with us! This was a great place to end the day in Carmel. Have so much fun when you visit! We rode past Point Pinos Lighthouse and ended up on a trail to Asilomar State Beach. Fun fact: Bixby Bridge was built 5 years before the road was paved to connect Carmel to San Luis Obispo! Day 3. . To eat here though, you definitely pay for the cliffside views. The drive was nice and pretty straight forward and just took a little over an hour and a half. Epic Golf Travel would love to be your resource for all your golf travel needs! Tip: Driving it can be challenging, but well worth it. Whether you are looking for a shopping trip, family getaway or romantic getaway we have just the travel itinerary for you! Did you know? : Sand dollar beach does indeed have sand dollars! Theyre my two favorite spots in Point Lobos, and you wont find clearer waters. September 10, 2024 - September 15, 2024. from $900. 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). Grab Life by the Moments Itineraries Highlights Itinerary Outdoors Itinerary Family Itinerary Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary Golf Itinerary I had it recommended to me and I thought it would be the perfect place to pick up a picnic lunch for later. Most people are surprised at how little civilization is around here no traffic lights, strip malls, or banks. Book now from $9.99! March 3, 2023. Answer 11 of 11: Hello I'm hoping for some advice. This image is from Big Sur, a California State Park . 14 Best Road Trips in Northern California - LazyTrips Check out Lovers Point Beach where you can do all the water activities like surfing and kayaking. 6. Thanks for the inspiration to put it on the top of my travel list." 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! If you are a morning person, you might want to head out earlier to avoid the other tourists. Cannery Row is near where we dropped off our bikes so we just walked right over! You could easily spend a few hours admiring the keyhole and rock formations on the beach. Whether it's sipping your way through Carmel Valley's boutique wine tasting rooms or hopping on an unforgettable whale watching excursion, Monterey County provides meeting attendees with a variety of extracurricular activities. Your email address will not be published. Just be careful to watch out for other vehicles coming and livestock roaming around! Theres typically some traffic, so if youre just driving through, expect it to take at least 3 hours. We ate a quick breakfast at the hotel (one of the other perks of staying there) and then headed to the 5th Avenue Deli. The 20 Best Day Trips From San Francisco (Without a Car) The Lone Cypress on the 17-mile drive is one of the most photographed trees in the world. Today, he has a wholesale warehouse where he provides his delicious fresh-baked pastries to hotels and restaurants around the area. The beach there was beautiful with views of the cliffs next to the ocean. Sea Salt & Fog | National Park Itineraries & California Travel Planning and not many tourists know about it just yet! (7/16/18), "It just opened yesterday! Pfeiffer Beach will be the second turnout, There are many more options for Monterey ranging from the, If youd like to stay in Big Sur, there is the, Blanket or lawn chairs for hanging out at the beach, Bike if youd like to explore Monterey by bike. We then stopped atPerkins Park spontaneously because of the unique Cyprus trees, the rocky shoreline and the purple flowers everywhere! Check the missions website for daily hours and admission prices. Day 5: Paso Robles/Cambria to Santa Ynez Valley. 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! On arrival, our room wasnt quite ready so we had lunch at the hotels restaurant and I got clam chowder in a bread bowl! Visiting between the months of November to March? Stay for sunset as the rock formations on the beach make for some epic scenery! Not to mention, its adorable, so its a really fun place to stop for photos! I really thought this was a great aquarium and I loved seeing all of the conservation efforts they had put into place. Not as expensive as the other two, so check out Treebones if youd like to give your wallet a bit of a break! They are a definite must on any Big Sur Itinerary. Some staple orders for us here are the steak and shrimp scampi, gnocchi with two sauces, and the grilled salmon filet. Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail & State Beach, 7. 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. Loading. If you do not have a high-clearance vehicle, you can still cross the street and take pictures from the other side of Bixby Bridge. We would like to thank Big Sur Adventures for providing discounted tickets for us to experience their e-bike tour. Looking for sand dollars might result in a disappointment, but youll easily find muscles, crabs, sea anemone, and kelp beds while exploring the nearby rocks during low tide. Pin it for later or share it! This shop was really cute and had lots of yummy treats and great customer service. In fact, they all have people outside of their cafes or restaurants giving out samples. It is the perfect place to fill up on gas and get any last minute snacks. There are numerous places to eat and drink in Big Sur, although some are definitely better than others. Mmm! Thank you for sharing! Bixby Bridge was one of my favorite stops on my Big Sur Itinerary! While the entire reserve is beautiful, dont miss China Cove and Bird Island Lookout (on the southern part of the park). Be aware that the trail is sometimes blocked off due to erosion, and you may not be able to get that picture perfect view. 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! Afternoon
Check the website for openings and reservations. The Ultimate Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary (All The Best Stops!) This mountain range, just inland from the not-so-hidden gem that is Big Sur, runs from below Monterey and Carmel down to about San Luis Obispo. Weekend Big Sur itinerary. Ive already put my favorites up above throughout the Big Sur road trip itinerary, but here are some more! One of the greatest attractions to this park is McWay Falls, one of two tidefalls* in California. From here, you can make a decision on what youre feeling but here are some recommendations! If you happen to be visiting Big Sur between February and early April, you NEED to make a short pit stop at Calla Lily Valley! It was a quick ride to Fishermans Wharf and we set up our bikes with a lock on a bike rack. You dont really need your bathing suit here as the water is waaaay too cold. Three tips for the Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops. First things first, if youve never been to Carmel or Monterey, I highly recommend spending at least a day discovering both. Ive been to California several times but I still havent visited Big Sur or Monterey. On the other hand, Big Sur is full of naturebeaches, hiking trails, and beautiful cliffside views. We went on an amazing trail past a gorgeous river and into a meadow with giant redwood trees everywhere. We also really liked the friendly service and beautiful atrium. Sign up for itinerary inspiration, travel tips, and more! Read Next: 25+ Long Weekend Trips from San Francisco. This was one of my favorite stops on this trip. If seeing a whale is on your bucket list, Fishermans Wharf is where you need to be. How to get here: When youre heading southbound (recommended), take the 2nd right after you see the Big Sur Station. Pafoua is the author and creator of Her Wanderful World. My favorite part about it, however, was that it was literally right over the ocean. The Barbacoa Beef tacos are insanely delicious! Monterey or Carmel to Big Sur The best place to stay if embarking upon a Big Sur day trip is Carmel or Monterey. The only downside to visiting in the summertime is that July and August are the foggiest months.