Visitors pressed for time often make the drive from. When booking your Monterey to Big Sur car rental online, I recommend using Discover Cars. Today, he has a wholesale warehouse where he provides his delicious fresh-baked pastries to hotels and restaurants around the area. Call before you go so you aren't driving hours for nothing. And thankfully, neither are too strenuous or long (perfect if you dont have all day). Just be careful to watch out for other vehicles coming and livestock roaming around! California History Books for Kids. Absolutely spectacular and downright mesmerizing. You could easily spend a few hours admiring the keyhole and rock formations on the beach. which is a favorite local hotspot and should not be missed when planning your Big Sur itinerary. They have a nice cafeteria there for lunch. Heading to California and cant wait to check off all the stops on this Big Sur road trip itinerary? When researching where to eat, I had Forge in the Forest recommend several times. The colors over the water were absolutely spectacular! Parking is open all along the street and a parking lot is also located on the south side of Cannery Row. Yes, its a gorgeous area! Psst: If youre visiting in early spring, dont miss Calla Lily Valley right near Garrapata Beach (different location than the Bluff Trail). Yes! I know it is a chain, but I had never eaten there before and thought it would be fun to try it out! Courtesy of La Playa Carmel / Expedia. Here is the Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur itinerary I followed for a long weekend getaway! Weve always been planning to do a road trip in this part of California, so will be bookmarking this. There are a lot of really good options of places to stay in Carmel. This part of the bike trail was a lot busier. I always love getting cheese plates! View Full Itinerary At a Glance Called the most beautiful meeting of land and water on the face of the earth, Monterey Bay, the legendary Pacific coast and sun-drenched Carmel Valley mark a convergence of currents, cultures and creators that make the area one of the country's most fascinating places. We are surrounded by forest. We rode past Point Pinos Lighthouse and ended up on a trail to Asilomar State Beach. Day 3. . Wow this place looks so similar to Malibu I swear!! Constructed in 1931, and standing over 250 feet high, many people consider this bridge to be the gateway to Big Sur. The Lone Cypress is actually over 250 years old! With binoculars you can see sea otters and sea lions. That just means you'll have to go back! Carmel-by-the-Sea. Many different types of vegetation can be found here as well such as wildflowers, shrubs, and fungi, but most importantly the Monterey Cypress which is local to the area. Saving this guide for later! I guess we'll have to plan another trip." Ablonetti Bar and Grill is located on Fishermans Wharf and is our all-time favorite restaurant. 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. 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! You can read all about how this area came to be here. Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur! Beautiful, post-card like views. 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. First things first, if youve never been to Carmel or Monterey, I highly recommend spending at least a day discovering both. Heres more California-related content I think youll love: Here is a quick glance at all my go-to travel tips and resources that I use to plan every trip! There are warm fires all over the place and lights hanging in the trees. Day Two 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. Where does the Big Sur drive start? Key: Purple Big Sur Itinerary | Blue Monterey Itinerary | Orange Other excursions | Yellow Places to stay. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D. 2 hr ago . 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 . The Bixby Bridge only cost $200,000 to construct. No matter what time of year youre visiting Big Sur, youll always want to be on the lookout for whales off the California coast. Yes, its that impressive. To eat here though, you definitely pay for the cliffside views. The path to get to the lookout for the falls is very short and flat. Pace yourself its all beautiful. 10. There is so much you can do and see while you are in Carmel. Again, thank you! Swimming is not recommended at this beach because there are a lot of rock formations that could cause harm if a strong wave pulled a swimmer the wrong way (and there were a lot of waves crashing through the rock formations), but you could also stay near the sandy area and dip your feet in the Pacific Ocean. Then we'd be driving from Mc Way Falls back up to Monterey and then down to Arroyo Grande where we're staying Wednesday night. In the morning, after breakfast at your hotel, make your way to the quaint village of Carmel-by-the-Sea (4 miles, approximately 10 minutes), which became an artist's colony after the 1906 Great San Francisco Earthquake destroyed that city.Take a stroll along Ocean Ave. and admire the charming shops and galleries. The only downside to visiting in the summertime is that July and August are the foggiest months. Admission is $10.50 per vehicle and when you arrive at the entrance they give you a map of all of the scenic stops and designated places to see. Seeing these trees was such a surreal experience! This will probably whet your appetite for more, so dont miss the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium as well. , Point Lobos looks absolutely stunning! Left-wing Paranoia in Big Sur, Caramel, Monterey County, California Nov 2021 and Nov 2020. Manage Settings There are cute dogs all over the place! It is highly recommended that a car or truck with high clearance would be better to drive through it. Details. Thank you for this helpful resource. Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail is an 18-mile trail that runs from Pacific Grove up north to Castroville and alongside the old Southern Pacific Railway. Be warned, traffic can slow along this stretch (especially south bound) during the summer, so its best to visit Bixby in the early AM! 8. 15 Amazing Cheap Vacation Spots in California, Monterey + Big Sur Itinerary: The Perfect Road Trip, 2023 Her Wanderful World - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Homewood Suites by Hilton in San Jose Four Points by Sheraton Hotels in San Jose Aloft Hotels in San Jose InterContinental (IHG) Hotels in San Jose Extended Stay America Hotels in San Jose Residence Inns in San Jose Choice Hotels in San Jose Best Western Hotels in San Jose Motel 6 Hotels in San Jose Fairfield Inns in San Jose Four Points by Sheraton Hotels Youll be able to come back to a small town and enjoy a night on the town after you explore the nature scenes of Big Sur. Epic Golf Travel would love to be your resource for all your golf travel needs! The airport is small and easy to navigate. It is the foggiest park even when some of the other parks are clear, youll want to make sure to check the weather as you wont be able to see much with the fog. Day 3: Carmel to Big Sur. Her Wanderful World is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. You can stop in Santa Cruz if youd like. If seeing a whale is on your bucket list, Fishermans Wharf is where you need to be. Three days would be even better so you can really relax and take your time. You can also head to the water where you might be able to spot some marine life. If you are a morning person, you might want to head out earlier to avoid the other tourists. You will definitely get beautiful views here! 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! 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. Unfortunately, we had just missed the last shuttle and the next one wasnt leaving for quite awhile. While the entire reserve is beautiful, dont miss China Cove and Bird Island Lookout (on the southern part of the park). It ends near San Simeon. Drive about 2 miles to get to the ticket booth and have cash with you to pay for the $12 entry fee. On arrival, our room wasnt quite ready so we had lunch at the hotels restaurant and I got clam chowder in a bread bowl! Next up on the Big Sur Itinerary: Stopping at Big Sur River Inn for a much needed icecream break! I cant recommend this place enough! (7/19/18), "This area has been on my must-see/do list for years. Thankfully, getting to Big Sur is pretty easy, as long as you have a car. Fun fact: Bixby Bridge was built 5 years before the road was paved to connect Carmel to San Luis Obispo! There were all sorts of cute alleys you could go down to find more hidden gems. They sometimes even host concerts, cultural events, and film nights as well. It is our home state, so hopefully we can do it soon." 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. Once here, you can hike down to this spectacular crescent-shaped beach and relax. 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. 2023 Cultural & Theme Tours in Monterey & Carmel: Check out reviews and photos of the 17 Mile Drive: A Self-Guide Audio Tour of Pebble Beach's Historical Highlights. This area is one of my favorite places in California to visit. Whether youre driving down the entirety of the California coast or just making the short drive from SF, youre in luck. Where did you drive from? The best way to get from Monterey to Big Sur is by renting a car. like a Big Sur Monterey California Coast McWay Falls One Day Tour from San Jose.. Alternatively, you can take the Monterey-Salinas Transit Line 22 from Carmel or Monterey, which will take you all the way to Nepenthe Restaurant when heading south. Hungry? Riding bikes was definitely a blast and I highly recommend everyone ride bikes along this trail. Day 1. We went on an amazing trail past a gorgeous river and into a meadow with giant redwood trees everywhere. Of courseeee this is when its most crowded, so if you hoping to have McWay Falls all to yourself, think again. However, if you are here early, the pictures are still pretty amazing and youll miss the 9-10 AM traffic congestion so thats a win! It was easy to find the area where we needed to take a shuttle to the rental car building. The fog is usually gone by early Fall, and you can even witness whales and butterflies this time of year (yes, really, if you know where to look!). Theyre my two favorite spots in Point Lobos, and you wont find clearer waters. You can walk, jog, or bike on this trail. Visit inside the Basilica (where Serras remains are laid to rest). San Francisco to Monterey, Carmel-By-The-Sea and Big Sur. After we walked back from the aquarium to the hotel, we decided it would be fun to ride bikes over to Fishermans Wharf! Hi Shafinah! This is a popular street located in the heart of Monterey. There was a trail for bikes all along the beach and it was a really beautiful place to end for sunset. There are plenty of other beaches to hang around, so do your part and just stay where youre supposed to be. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. I got my ticket for the aquarium here. Ive already put my favorites up above throughout the Big Sur road trip itinerary, but here are some more! Yes and No. Just a few of the things Big Sur is well-known for. (Keep this in mind if you are headed off to the airport so that you give yourself plenty of time.). Definitely dont miss one of the most unforgettable stretches of majestic coastline in the world. Evening Evening Our itineraries will help get you on your way to a memorable Monterey County experience. Planning ahead: You can plan to picnic at the beach. This Monterey and Big Sur itinerary is incredibly helpful. I definitely need to add that this is one of the most dog friendly places I have ever been. I have yet to try Big Sur Bakery although Ive heard many good referrals about all the food from wood-fired sourdough to buttermilk biscuits and gravy. Thanks for the inspiration to put it on the top of my travel list." No one is allowed to go down to beach, so it's in pristine condition. Some staple orders for us here are the steak and shrimp scampi, gnocchi with two sauces, and the grilled salmon filet. I flew into the San Jose, California airport on a flight arriving around 12:00 in the afternoon. Can you swim in Big Sur? It is a charming little area that also has some good marine life sighting spots. One of the best features of the hotel was the Happy Hour that happened every day from 4-6. Once you get to Pacific Grove, everything is accessible by foot or bike. Hi Sydney! Click here to skip back to the top. And I do love my crab from Phils! A short 10 minute walk from the parking lot will get you to a beautiful waterfall crashing directly into the Pacific Oceans emerald water. This was our last stop heading down Highway 1 before we turned around and made some stops on the way back to Carmel. Coast of California Day 3: 17-Mile Drive, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur, Pismo Beach Happy Friday, Everyone! The town is very walkable and its honestly so much fun to just explore it at your own pace. I would love to visit all of the beautiful beaches, go on those hikes and eat the saltwater taffy and ice cream! Santa Cruz is a cute, funky surf town on the way to the San Jose airport. That waterfall on Julia Pfeiffer Burns is incredible!!! Monterey is a quaint, small town with attractions such as Fishermans Wharf and Monterey Bay Aquarium. Then the trail led down to this amazing white sandy beach with no one else around. Located at the mouth of the Big Sur River, the park has gorgeous panoramic views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. There is a scenic 17-mile drive you can pay to drive and see iconic spots such as the Lone Cypress and Pescadero Point. We ate a quick breakfast at the hotel (one of the other perks of staying there) and then headed to the 5th Avenue Deli. Cruises currently run for 4 hours at 10 AM or 3 hours at 2:30 PM (morning tours are recommended) so youll need to plan your time wisely if you are wanting to include this activity in your itinerary. READ NEXT: 25+ Best Road Trips from San Francisco. This state park is absolutely beautiful and is full of wildlife everywhere! Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. If youve had enough of driving on your road trip, you can park near Carmel beach and walk the scenic path. We then stopped atPerkins Park spontaneously because of the unique Cyprus trees, the rocky shoreline and the purple flowers everywhere! If you and your group aren't ready to slow down yet, take this time to explore the shops on Fisherman's Wharf or Cannery Row. This area is gorgeous where you can easily spend a couple of hours hanging out. You can definitely complete this Big Sur itinerary in a day, but if you have more time, you can also spread it out over 2-3 days and spend more time in each place. We love to break up our Big Sur road trip with some cocktails and appetizers from Nepenthe. Read Next: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur! And Im jealous of you already. Weve just started looking for ideas for travel this year. I really thought this was a great aquarium and I loved seeing all of the conservation efforts they had put into place. Look out for them clustered in trees in the early morning, and flying around during the day. I recommend booking your whale-watching tickets in advance. If you can settle for not actually staying in Big Sur itself, consider heading up north to Carmel or Monterey for less-than-astronomical prices. Youll most likely be coming from the airport if youre visiting, so aim to pick up your car rental from SFO. Alternatively, you can take a bus. 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. I have visited California many times through out my life. Hi Christina! About this rental. Distance: Approximately 430 miles. Dont fret if you dont drink, they have tons of snacks you can eat as well! 2. You can find her on Instagram @herwanderfulworld. The hottest month in Monterey is September when high temperatures are around 67F and lows are 55F. It was located in a building that looked like a castle. Many people dont actually realize this, but Big Sur is not an actual city/town for that matter. And if you venture a bit further south from the city before you hit Carmel, you can enjoy the splendours of the 17-mile-drive a coastal route that is considered to be one of the most scenic drives in the entirety of the US. I had it recommended to me and I thought it would be the perfect place to pick up a picnic lunch for later. Hi Desiree! Afternoon Big Sur Coast is known for its rocky beaches, spectacular sunsets, and sheer natural beauty. I teach 9-5 professionals how to maximize their limited time off with carefully planned out itineraries, long weekend inspiration, and general travel planning tips. BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA: LOGISTICS. Not to mention, its adorable, so its a really fun place to stop for photos! The airport is small and easy to navigate. Book lover? Then walk through the main entrance, purchase a $2 map and head out on your hike. In the months of October-February, you will also be in time to see the Monarch butterflies clustering at Monarch Grove Butterly Sanctuary. Another favorite thing we like to do here is to stop at the first shop on the right (also didnt pay attention to its name), grab a little red basket, and have a go at the saltwater taffy. Expect a daytime high around 64F in March, and nighttime lows around 47F. On your first morning, wake up early and by 8 AM start your Big Sur itinerary by heading south on Highway 1. 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. Theres no real starting point. Have a great rest of your day. 3-day Big Sur itinerary. We would like to thank Big Sur Adventures for providing discounted tickets for us to experience their e-bike tour. Youll be hungry after your ride, so head over to Hulas for a late lunch. 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. There will also be many spots to pull over and take some beautiful pictures on the drive. Looks like such an awesome road trip. If you are into golfing, the 17 mile drive also has the world famous Pebble Beach! Day 1: Monterey. This website is very helpful and gives a description of each stop so you can decide where you want to stop before you even get there. Finding it can be a challenge in itself because the turn is not marked. As always, thanks for the support. This looks amazing. Cannery Row also has some cute candy shops, arcades and even an indoor mini golf arena! And theres a reason for it the 80-foot waterfall is absolutely stunning. (10/12/18), "Thank you Kelsey for your words of advise. We also think the service is really good, so you cant go wrong with this restaurant! Our other option is to do Monterey/Carmel on Tuesday (aquarium, 17-mile drive, etc), and then Big Sur first thing Wednesday morning (July 4th). How to get here: When youre heading southbound (recommended), take the 2nd right after you see the Big Sur Station. Its so nice to just be surrounded by nature and kinda forget about the rest of the world for a little while! Seaside cliffs. Not having lunch at the Big Sur River Inn. What Can I Do After My Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary? They have ice cream, churros, and sundaes, which is the best option! We definitely have gone back multiple times and found new places to explore every time! I had seen pictures of Mcway Falls for many years and had always dreamed of seeing them with my own eyes. As part of a longer visit we hoped to drive up to Cambria from Anaheim on 21 April, stay overnight then. We're currently planning a full trip to the Carmel/ Monterey/ Big Sur area but was wondering if our itinerary is to full? And it is a full itinerary! The entire road is comprised of redwood groves, babbling brooks, rolling hills, and lots of no trespassing signs. 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! There is so much to see, this is only the tip of it! Sea otters help kelp forests flourish by keeping the sea urchin population in check. Tranquil. Take along some warmer clothes as it gets quite chilly up at the top of the lighthouse! It was nice to arrive at the hotel after a long day and just relax for a minute and eat some snacks! I absolutely loved the hotel I picked to stay in for one night, The Monterey Plaza Hotel. We loved the location and walked almost everywhere (except the places in Carmel and Big Sur). For a special end to your day, drive over to the Spanish Inn to listen to the live bagpipe player, and sip a glass of wine as you watch the sunset. South Iceland - 7 Places Your Family Will Love!
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