big sur carmel, monterey itinerary big sur carmel, monterey itinerary

(7/16/18), "Enjoy and let me know how it goes!" Eating fresh clam chowder is a must on any Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary! When you are ready, continue on your drive towards Pfeiffer Beach. Theres also some hiking in the state park, with sea lions and starfish in the tide pools nearby. With binoculars you can see sea otters and sea lions. It's $10.50 entrance per car to see the iconic views. Hang out on Fishermans Wharf a little longer after dinner and grab a dessert at the Monterey Bay Creamery (right next door to Abalonettis). There were various cheeses, crackers, fruit and little sandwiches. Start with the short film about Junipero Serra to learn about the history of this mission and also the start of all the California missions. Also, there are two different viewpoints- one of the front side of the bridge and one of the back. I love the mixture of beautiful scenery, learning about new things, and getting outside and being active. Its about an hour north of Monterey, and its a great place to get lunch or do some shopping. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The 72-mile portion that runs through Big Sur is an official American National Scenic Byway. READ NEXT: 25+ Best Road Trips from San Francisco. This stop is a definite must on your Big Sur Itinerary. 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. Also, as mentioned before Carmel is known for their wineries so there are several you can head to for wine tastings. I ordered the Dungeness crab and N got fish and chipsalways so good. 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. Located about two hours south of San Francisco and about five hours north of Los Angeles, this rugged coastline is famous for many things. Bubba Gumps specializes in seafood- specifically shrimp and if you have ever seen Forest Gump- this place will be really fun for you! It costs $10 once you make your way a bit, but its well worth it once you get to the beach. Ventana Inn & Spa: Youll swoon the second you see this adults-only, rustically luxurious resort. Drive about 2 miles to get to the ticket booth and have cash with you to pay for the $12 entry fee. This image is from Big Sur, a California State Park . This was our last stop heading down Highway 1 before we turned around and made some stops on the way back to Carmel. Be sure and check out the view from both sides of the street, but be careful when crossing. Its known for its pristine scenery, full of turquoise water, beautifully-designed bridges, rustic hiking trails, and more. A short 10 minute walk from the parking lot will get you to a beautiful waterfall crashing directly into the Pacific Oceans emerald water. (See that next!). The view from the entrance to Old Coast Road isnt half bad either. for current highway conditions before your drive. Youll find a parking lot on the east side of the road with an underground tunnel for walking over to the trail. This romantic drive is one of the best cross country road trip routes that couples must take together! Read on for the most perfect Big Sur road trip itinerary! You can stop in Santa Cruz if youd like. Hi Linnea! The only downside to visiting in the summertime is that July and August are the foggiest months. On arrival, our room wasnt quite ready so we had lunch at the hotels restaurant and I got clam chowder in a bread bowl! Big Sur is the 90 mile stretch of California coast, nestled between Monterey and San Luis Obispo that is as breathtakingly beautiful and unreal as a dream, with the waves of the Pacific ocean crashing along its rugged shores, simply begging for a visit. There are many different wines you can choose from (this area is really well known for their wineries in case you didnt know). Your email address will not be published. The Pacific Coast Highway is the longest state route in California. I heard a few state parks in Big Sur are open now! Since you are now past the influx of traffic, you wont be in a rush to get into any of the popular sites. Thank you! The best way to get from Monterey to Big Sur is by renting a car. Phils Fish Market & Eatery sounds so fun too! They had the cutest beach cruisers with baskets and they also have electric bikes! Our favorite thing to get: almond croissant. Woooo its finally time to get this Big Sur road trip itinerary under way! Filed Under: North America, USA Tagged With: big sur, california, central coast, pacific coast highway, Your email address will not be published. You might recognize this bridge if you have seen Big Little Lies. Its one of the most iconic bridges in all of California and definitely one of the most photographed for its aesthetic. 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! Note that youll have to walk/hike about 100 steps or so to access the beach. Required fields are marked *. The rest of the year is considered cool temperature, but Monterey does boast of 300 days of sunshine. Key: Purple Big Sur Itinerary | Blue Monterey Itinerary | Orange Other excursions | Yellow Places to stay. One of our first stops was atLovers Point Beach. Day 1: San Francisco to Santa Cruz. Point Pinos Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the West Coast. This park also offers several other hikes depending on how long you would like to spend your afternoon here. I guess we'll have to plan another trip." Pacific Grove is a small area right on the edge of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary about a 10-minute drive from Fishermans Wharf. Dont fret if you dont drink, they have tons of snacks you can eat as well! There is so much nature and the small city feels to explore in Monterey and Big Sur! Carmel-by-the-Sea. 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. If you start at Big Sur, put your location in as San Simeon and then drive north from there. 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. Where did you drive from? Aubrie is a Utah based blogger/content creator. And it is a full itinerary! Squeezing all the hot spots into just three days might be a challenging task, but this perfect three-day itinerary will keep you on track. Thank you for such a great recounting of your trip. You could easily spend a few hours admiring the keyhole and rock formations on the beach. After Bixby Bridge, this is on everyones must see list during any Big Sur road trip. The trail will take you less than an hour as its about 0.8 miles long and will bring you to the beautiful shorelines where you might even spot a sea otter! Phone: (831) 515-6403. 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. Definitely dont miss one of the most unforgettable stretches of majestic coastline in the world. They are even bigger than you can imagine! As part of a longer visit we hoped to drive up to Cambria from Anaheim on 21 April, stay overnight then. The grounds are incredibly beautiful and this place is definitely worth a stop for the gorgeous grounds and architecture. There are also cute murals all over town and makes for a perfect pit stop before heading back home! While the entire reserve is beautiful, dont miss China Cove and Bird Island Lookout (on the southern part of the park). Fishermans Wharf is full of cute candy shops and tons of Clam Chowder restaurants! I only have three more posts to go after this one. Hi Faith! McWay Falls will be the last stop on your Big Sur Itinerary before turning around and making your way back to Carmel. Youll see a big yellow sign that says NARROW ROAD: NO RVs OR TRAILERS. Go down that road! Read Next: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur! Why is Big Sur famous? Then continue heading south along Hwy 1 to take in some of the famous sites. Begin your day with a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Caf Lumiere in Monterey. In this quaint town, you will find a gas station, a few small hotels, convenience stores, bathrooms, and restaurants. The entire road is comprised of redwood groves, babbling brooks, rolling hills, and lots of no trespassing signs. There was a trail for bikes all along the beach and it was a really beautiful place to end for sunset. If the history doesnt draw you in, Point Lobos is also home to abundant wildlife, including 20 species of mammals such as gray foxes and mountain lions, various species of birds like the acorn woodpecker peregrine falcon, and of course, many species of marine life including sea otters, sea lions, and whales. Beautiful, post-card like views. If you have time for more hiking and want to explore more of the Big Sur area on foot, check out this link for ideas. The park offers a few short hikes, each offering their own thing, to waterfalls in redwood forests and access to the beach. The clam chowder here is also amazing! And if theres still orchids and wildflowers out, youll think youre in Hawaii. When you purchase something through our links, we earn a small fee (but you still pay the same)! Arrive as early as possible on your first day so that you can maximize your time. Moon Monterey & Carmel - Stuart Thornton 2019-01-08 Quirky beach towns, deliciously fresh seafood, and dramatic hikes and drives: discover what the locals love with Moon Monterey & Carmel. Treebones Resort features seven ocean view tent campsites, along with 16 yurts with great views of the Pacific at Cape San Martin! I recommend anywhere from 1-3 days in Big Sur, kinda depending if you wanna go on a few hikes or just see the typical tourist Big Sur road trip stops. Drive over to Asilomar State Beach for some tide-pooling. 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. Lovely post! Bring your binoculars for wildlife viewing! Day Three: Monterey Morning Monterey is just a 10 minute drive from Carmel and a great area to explore for the day! The inside had the most beautiful design and the outside was just as lovely with tables and benches everywhere and live music playing. I was really excited to go here because I hadnt seen redwood trees since I was a little kid. Pin it for later or share it! Yea, neither had I until I visited Preiffer Beach in Big Sur. Maybe even take a walk on the Santa Cruz boardwalk! The American Tin Cannery Suite 122 125 Ocean view Blvd Pacific Grove, CA 93950 831-747-1677 _____ 17 Mile Drive 2106 Sunset Drive Pacific Grove, CA 93950 831-717-4912 _____ Pedego Electric Bikes 143 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel, CA 831-293-7063. I would love to go there one day, Hi Jade! Big sur is definitely on my bucket list of places to travel to. There will also be many spots to pull over and take some beautiful pictures on the drive. Whether you are looking for a shopping trip, family getaway or romantic getaway we have just the travel itinerary for you! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a popular favorite as well! Hi Kate! 3. (7/16/18), "It just opened yesterday! Loading. Youll be driving on private land, so you cant stop to take tooo many photos, but since its usually not crowded, feel free to stop in the middle of the road if you must for some shots. 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. 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. 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. This was a great place to end the day in Carmel. Carmel, Monterey & Big Sur A Perfect 3-Day Itinerary If you've been thinking about a weekend get-a-way to one of California's best destinations, then look no further than this 3-day itinerary celebrating the best that Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur have to offer. 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! Yes, its that impressive. Which means youll ultimately need to climb back up! Head to Carmel, Monterey, or further south (Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay) if you wanna swim. I had never seen succulents that big before! Hi.. we are driving in from Santa Barbara and wanted to plan a Big Sur , Monterey trip where should we stop first where would u stay if u want to see Carmel too? This part of the bike trail was a lot busier. 47900 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920. The Best California Road Trips & Itineraries | Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur to Santa Barbara California: Places to Visit North America California Road Trip: Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur and Santa Barbara FIRST POSTED: 4th June 2019 | LAST UPDATED: 7th August 2020 9 minute read Big Sur Bakery is typically pretty crowded, but its worth the wait. Note that parking costs $10 to enter the park, Gray Whales: December to February (migrating south to Mexico), and February to April (returning north; easier to spot as they are closer to the shore), Humpback Whales: late April to early December, With that being said, the hotels in Big Sur really are quite special, and if you can splurge for one night on your. Sea Salt & Fog | National Park Itineraries & California Travel Planning There is so much you can do and see while you are in Carmel. I would love to go back! Day 1: Monterey. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Evening Click here to skip back to the top. House dating to 1867 of one of the first American families to homestead the Big Sur coast, with a New England-style saltbox wing built in 1877. 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. Epic Golf Travel would love to be your resource for all your golf travel needs! which is a favorite local hotspot and should not be missed when planning your Big Sur itinerary. I had seen pictures of Mcway Falls for many years and had always dreamed of seeing them with my own eyes. Weekend Big Sur itinerary. Although I can definitely see why its just as beautiful and even the same style! Since youre on the coast, keep in mind that there may be a cold breeze, so youll want to dress in layers and have a light jacket like this one or that one. This scenic drive is so rewarding with views of cute homes overlooking the never-ending Pacific ocean. Day 2: Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur Highway 1 along the Big Sur coast. When researching where to eat, I had Forge in the Forest recommend several times. This area is gorgeous where you can easily spend a couple of hours hanging out. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi I am Aubrie, thanks for stopping by! Okay, so we just discovered this spot off the side of the highway on our last visit to Big Sur, and I cannot believe I never noticed it before! Big Sur Coast is known for its rocky beaches, spectacular sunsets, and sheer natural beauty. 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. I discuss Nepenthe below as a must-visit stop on your Big Sur itinerary! As well as (chive and cheddar) scones and strudels and coffees and cream-filled donuts. 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. Then head over to the Carmel Mission. Call ahead to ask about the exact time that the bagpipe player will be playing, as times change throughout the year. If you arent pressed for time I recommend spending the night in Carmel-by-the-Sea or at least exploring it for a few hours. You can walk, jog, or bike on this trail. Whether youre driving down the entirety of the California coast or just making the short drive from SF, youre in luck. Thanks for stopping by! Whats your favorite local spot? Big Sur is the farthest distance of the San Francisco day trips on our list (2.5 hours away from the city). They currently offer brunch and lunch; however, because they are so small they highly recommend making reservations instead of just showing up. If you are driving up from the south, everything will just be in reverse order. Named as one of the top 10 travel bloggers on Instagram by Kayak and short listed as the best travel influencer by FlightCentre. There is usually a very long line before the opening hour (10 AM) and no reservations, so plan ahead! Let me know how your travels go! They have a nice cafeteria there for lunch. It was located in a building that looked like a castle. 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. Then walk across the street and indulge in a local favorite, Revival Ice Cream. Saving this guide for later! I always love getting cheese plates! At an early hour, you might be too early for Nepenthe the restaurant upstairs, but Cafe Kevah down below has a delicious selection for brunch. I have visited California many times through out my life. Have dinner at Lallapalooza on Alvarado Street. You can easily park on the side of the road and forgo the paid parking, which is what most people do (Im not saying its a-okay just letting you know thats an option if the parking lot is full). Hi Jolayne! They have ice cream, churros, and sundaes, which is the best option! Monterey and Big Sur are two beautiful coastal areas in California with offerings of nature, small-town feels, and cool weather. If youve been thinking about a weekend get-a-way to one of California's best destinations, then look no further than this 3-day itinerary celebrating the best that Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur have to offer. Pafoua writes from her numerous excursions about all things travel, from fun itineraries to creating memorable experiences on the road. For a complete San Francisco to Big Sur day trip , start in San Francisco and make your way through Monterey and Carmel-By-The-Sea to Big Sur on Highway 1 and US-101.