Big Sur & Monterey, California, USA (6/10/2021)

Big Sur

Pat at Big Sur River Inn

Located
just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Big Sur
is one of the most dramatically beautiful drives in the United States!
Exceptionally beautiful rugged ocean coastline, amazing ancient redwood
forests, and interesting attractions make for an unforgettable experience.
Along the way, you should pull over at the parking areas and enjoy the
incredible views.

Map of Carmel, Big Sur, & Monterey

We highly
recommend the approximately hour drive south of Carmel-by-the-Sea along Highway
1 to McWay Falls. Of course, you should plan to spend more time to enjoy the
views, hikes, and interesting attractions. First stop driving south in Big Sur
for lovers of ocean hikes should be Point
Lobos State Natural Reserve along the Pacific Ocean coastline. You can see
California sea lions at Sea Lion Point and maybe some sea otters. Continue to
drive past the first parking lot to enjoy the beautiful coastline along the
South Shore Trail (several parking lots along the way). There is a flat 6.7-mile
loop with shorter hikes available.

Famous Bixby Bridge

Famous Bixby Bridge is great stop to enjoy Big
Sur’s incredible beauty – park on north side in the parking area to witness
this beautiful site (see photo). 

Big Sur Coast Gallery & Café

We love stopping at the Big Sur River Inn located on a fantastically beautiful river
setting where you can sit in the river surrounded by a forest – not to be missed
(see photo). Food is served on the patio overlooking the river. 

We enjoyed the Big Sur Coast Gallery & Café (see photo) – an
elegant gallery and gift shop with a nice café with a sitting area looking out
to the Pacific Ocean – well worth a stop.

McWay Falls – Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a great place to enjoy wonderful
hikes through amazing Redwood forests. Also, the short hike to beautiful McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns
State Park is a great way to enjoy your Big Sur experience (see photo).

Monterey

Monterey is a fun jewel just 15 minutes
north of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

17-Mile Drive

Better yet
take scenic route through the incredible 17-Mile Drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea to Monterey. This famous drive includes Pebble
Beach Golf Course and incredible beauty so you will want to take your time
driving through this gorgeous area. It should take about three hours depending if
you stop for lunch. At the entrance, after you pay a nominal fee, you will get
a map with the 17 notable stops mapped out. Definitely stop at the famous Lone
Cypress, Ghost Tree, and Bird Rock.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Sitting at
the end of Cannery Row, the fascinating family-friendly Monterey Bay Aquarium is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy exhibits
including recreations of the Californian ocean kelp forests, stingray touch
pools, tanks with black tip reef sharks, and inlets filled with rare sea
otters. Just outside you can marvel at the rowdy barking California sea lions. Cannery Row is filled with funky
restaurants and hotels.

Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf is a fun medley
of cafes and crab shacks (see photo). Try the clam chowder best served in a sourdough bread
bowl. Nearby Lovers Point State Marine
Reserve is a small charming cove to explore.

Laguna Beach, California

Mammoth Lakes, California

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Wayne Dunlap Plan Your Escape

Wayne Dunlap is an Experienced world traveler (106 countries as well as 48 U.S. states), Award-winning travel blogger with over 225,000 social media followers, Featured speaker at large travel shows, and Author of 5-star rated travel book Plan Your Escape®, Secrets of Traveling the World for Less Than the Cost of Living at Home.

Chosen by TripAdvisor Top 25 Travel Blogger to Follow. Also, Top Couple & Best Boomer Travel Blogger to Follow. Articles in Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, Entrepreneur Magazine and many others.

Retired now, Wayne was a business owner, executive of high-tech companies, and an Economic professor after his PhD program at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).