| With its spectacular coastline views and old-growth | | | | into the Santa Lucia Mountains. |
| forests, Big Sur has become one of California's most | | | | The morning was good for hiking, while afternoon |
| famous tourist attractions. | | | | was the best time to drive the coast, stopping along |
| Located about 150 miles south of San Francisco, this | | | | the way to visit some of the shops, general stores |
| part of the California coast offers non-stop | | | | and bakeries that you come across every few miles. |
| amazement for travelers willing to drive the curvy | | | | One gets the impression that many of the "hippies" |
| Scenic Highway 1 the 90 miles of coastline that today | | | | from the 1960's ended up here at Big Sur where, |
| encompass the Big Sur scenic recreation area. Visitors | | | | today, they enjoy a no-frills back-to-nature lifestyle |
| see new panoramas around every curve - pristine | | | | selling various natural or locally produced products. |
| beaches, craggy mountain ledges, fascinating rock | | | | There definitely is a new age flavor in many of the |
| formations amid swirling, sometimes angry coastal | | | | shops that is apparent from the music, fragrances |
| waters and, of course, the giant redwood trees that | | | | and product offerings. |
| swallow up tiny vacationers posing for their vacation | | | | Another Big Sur point of interest is the historic Point |
| photographs. | | | | Sur Lighthouse. This lighthouse is 19 miles below |
| Keep in mind, this road was not easy to build. Your | | | | Carmel and is a State Historic Landmark. It is 361 |
| scenic experience today comes at the expense of | | | | feet above the ocean and was operated from the |
| convict labor that was brought in over the 18 years | | | | mid 1800's until the early 70['s, keeping ships away |
| prior to the completion of the road in 1937. Until | | | | from rocks in foggy weather. Docent-led tours are |
| Highway 1 was completed, most of this highway | | | | given every Saturday and 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. |
| probably wasn't much wider than a harrowing goat | | | | No doubt about it, though - a Big Sur getaway most |
| path along the side of the steep coastal mountains. | | | | likely will include lots of hiking on a variety of trails. |
| While many travelers drive through the Big Sur area | | | | Here is a sampling of the most popular trails: |
| on the way to someplace else, the area is also a | | | | Pfeiffer Falls - This trail in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park |
| prime destination that offers a variety of | | | | is just 1.4 miles roundtrip and takes you along a |
| accommodations and enough hiking to keep visitors | | | | scenic passageway following the Pfeiffer Redwood |
| occupied for weeks. Several state parks and | | | | Creek. The route goes through some of the area's |
| campgrounds are tucked into the coves or carved | | | | finest redwood groves and ends at a 60-foot |
| out of the forests to give vacationers an authentic | | | | waterfall. |
| camping experience and entry to the wilderness by | | | | Valley View - Also in Pfeiffer Big Sur, this trail is two |
| way of numerous well-marked trails. A few cabin | | | | miles roundtrip and leads to an observation area |
| resorts are scattered along the coast and there are | | | | where you can see the coastline and valley below. |
| even a couple of high-end luxury resorts charging | | | | Oak Grove Trail -- This is in Pfeiffer Big Sur State |
| upward of $700 a night. | | | | Park and is 3.2 miles roundtrip from the Big Sur Lodge |
| We felt we had just the right combination of | | | | and intersects the Pfeiffer Falls Trail. This passes |
| amenities with the Big Sur Lodge, the only | | | | through a variety of ecosystems including redwood |
| accommodations located in the Pfeiffer Big Sur State | | | | groves, open oak woodlands and dry chaparral. |
| Park. This resort offers 62 housekeeping cottages | | | | Mt. Manuel Trail - Also located in Pfeiffer Big Sur, this |
| spread throughout the park where trailheads and | | | | is a strenuous 8-mile trail that gives you an overview |
| those big trees are never far away. While the | | | | of the Vantana Wilderness from 3,379-foot Mt. |
| cottages offer many resort amenities - big, spacious | | | | Manuel Peak. |
| living rooms with comfortable new furniture, spacious | | | | McWay Waterfall Trail - Down Highway 1 a few miles |
| bath areas with shampoos and lotions, a massive | | | | is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park which features this |
| heated swimming pool footsteps from your unit - the | | | | easy one-mile hike to an overlook which faces |
| overall feel was like going to summer camp (for | | | | McWay Falls, a spectacular 80-foot waterfall that |
| those of us who can remember that far back). | | | | drops into the Pacific Ocean. |
| There were no phones, no televisions and, even in | | | | Ewoldsen Trail - Also in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State |
| June, night-time temperatures were cold enough to | | | | Park, this is a moderate 5.7-mile roundtrip hike that |
| start a real fire in the cottage's real fireplace. | | | | offers great views of the coastline from hillsides |
| Our unit featured two queen beds, one in a bedroom | | | | covered in wildflowers and oaks. |
| area and one in the "great room" or living room part | | | | Beach and Creamery Meadow Trail - A few miles |
| of the cottage. These facilities are perfect for | | | | north of Big Sur Lodge is Andrew Molera State Park |
| families with some units suitable for up to six people. | | | | which offers this 1.8-mile roundtrip hike that is |
| A full-service restaurant is on the property - indeed, | | | | recommended for kids. The trail follows the Big Sur |
| we were pleasantly surprised that our dinner there | | | | River and features many different plant species as |
| was high-quality and fair-priced, and not substandard | | | | well as redwood trees. |
| just because the lodge has a quasi-monopoly. A few | | | | AT A GLANCE |
| other restaurants are scattered up and down | | | | WHERE: Big Sur scenery starts just a few miles |
| Highway 1 but our guess was that many guests at | | | | south of the Carmel/Monterey area and continues |
| Big Sur Lodge were fully utilizing the kitchen facilities | | | | for 90 miles before the curvy road straightens out |
| that are available in many of the cottages. | | | | near Cambria. |
| For hikers, this kind of destination is paradise. While it | | | | WHAT: Big Sur is the perfect combination of |
| did get warm in the afternoon, the mornings during | | | | gorgeous coastline and mountain scenery and forests. |
| our June visit were crisp and ideal for walking through | | | | Big Sur is a great place to vacation and visitors enjoy |
| the thick forests of oak and redwood trees to | | | | many lodging land camping choices. |
| waterfalls or climbing to vantage points offering even | | | | WHEN: The weather at Big Sur is moist and cool |
| more spectacular views of the Big Sur coastline. All | | | | year-round, perhaps a little warmer in the afternoon |
| trails we were on seemed to be well-maintained. The | | | | during summer months. Fog will roll in during many |
| trails in the general Big Sur vicinity also were varied in | | | | mornings during the summer months. |
| both scenery and levels of exertion. We took easy | | | | WHY: The opportunity to enjoy a natural experience |
| trails out to watch waterfalls cascade onto scenic | | | | in some of California's most scenic countryside. |
| beaches as well as more difficult switchback trails up | | | | |