I miss traveling. Anyone else? I visited Big Sur a few months ago with my cousin Aashvi and we made a fun (and safe) road trip out of it. I also had hotel points from traveling during consulting (remember when traveling for work was a thing?) so it was perfect! Of course, I couldn’t forget about all of you my dear readers so I created a quick travel guide from our trip. Save it for post-pandemic and get your hiking shoes ready. Keep reading to find out the best places to visit in Big Sur!
Story Time:
We started off our trip on an interesting note – Aashvi’s brand new car (which she literally got a week prior) had a brake rotor problem. We were back and forth on deciding if we should get it fixed before or after our road trip (this should not have been a question but we didn’t want to sacrifice time). Ultimately, we decided to fix it to be on the safe side. Driving on the Pacific Coast Highway with those curvy roads and no railings did not seem safe with possible malfunctioning brakes. Clearly, we made the right decision.
17 MILE DRIVE
Our first stop was the 17 mile drive which was stunning. Editor’s note: There is a $10 entry fee which is used for the upkeep of the area. There are so many beautiful viewpoints and coastal cliffs. It’s a scenic drive with so many spots to park your car and take a walk. I call it the edge of the world because it borders the Pacific Ocean & it’s endless (and so blue)! We stopped at the Spanish Bay and took a walk along the coast. There are so many cool rock forms & picturesque spots so make sure to have your camera ready!
Garrapata State Park
This park was STUNNING. There were people taking wedding photos & honestly they probably came out amazing. The view was beautiful. Endless blue water & skies. The hike is pretty simple to the viewpoint but a little treacherous. Seeing the waves crash into the rocks was so serene. During sunset, this is the spot to be. Seriously, watching the sunset here was an indescribable feeling. Almost like you feel so small in this big world.
Editor’s note: This is a long drive up and there is no rest stop / bathrooms. Go to the bathroom before you embark on this trek!
McWay Falls
This is a beautiful spot to visit. Unfortunately, because of the fires, it was closed when we went to visit. We are able to see it from really high up and the waterfall looked absolutely stunning. It looks like something out of Journey to the Center of the Earth. Honestly, even from all the way up, it looked surreal! Imagine what it would look like close up. It has a gorgeous view of the coastline and the ocean and I read that the hike is completely doable!
Pfeiffer Beach
This was another spot that was closed due to the fires. We weren’t able to catch a glimpse of this spot at all but all the reviews say that it’s a can’t miss! There is a beautiful beach which is a great place to catch the sunset. I also read that there’s purple sand (after rain) which sounds insane but so cool! There’s also a beautiful keyhole arch which is a tourist sight for sure. It’s also dog friendly so feel free to bring your furry little pal.
Carmel by the Sea
This is a very small European-like town which has great restaurants and shopping. We weren’t able to make a stop here but it’s a cute little spot to stop for some good food. The cottages here are said to be very fairytale like and filled with great history! There’s also Carmel beach which is a great place to relax & catch some views.
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I hope you found this guide helpful! Feel free to comment if you ever visit Big Sur and if you have any other recommendations.
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