big sur carmel, monterey itinerary

Pace yourself its all beautiful. California CA Big Sur Carmel Monterey Coastline Postcard Old Vintage (7/19/18), "We were here in Spring of 2017 and, sadly, Big Sur was closed, but we still LOVED this area and can't wait to return one day. " Discover Monterey Bay & Big Sur | Road Scholar Any tips/suggestions appreciated. If youre not in a rush on your Big Sur road trip, why not make the extra stop? Coast of California Day 3: 17-Mile Drive, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur, Pismo Beach Happy Friday, Everyone! Be warned, traffic can slow along this stretch (especially south bound) during the summer, so its best to visit Bixby in the early AM! If you have never seen redwood trees another great stop is Pfieffer Big Sur state Park , mentioned by the previous poster. Santa Cruz is a cute, funky surf town on the way to the San Jose airport. 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! Grab Life by the Moments Itineraries Highlights Itinerary Outdoors Itinerary Family Itinerary Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary Golf Itinerary 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. The Pacific Coast Highway is the longest state route in California. I saw sea otters, seals and dolphins! Its so nice to just be surrounded by nature and kinda forget about the rest of the world for a little while! Reading and seeing these photos makes me miss it a whole lot. You can walk, jog, or bike on this trail. which is a favorite local hotspot and should not be missed when planning your Big Sur itinerary. Once here, you can hike down to this spectacular crescent-shaped beach and relax. We booked in advance and it was about $31 a day before adding gas and insurance if you want. Click here to skip back to the top. We drove all the way south to the furthest location we wanted to see and then worked our way back north. 2-Day Big Sur Itinerary: 25 Best Things To Do For An Epic Road Trip In Constructed in 1931, and standing over 250 feet high, many people consider this bridge to be the gateway to Big Sur. The airport is small and easy to navigate. Make sure to bring a light jacket since it gets a little bit chillier at night. Yes, youll definitely need to add these 2 to your list and drive along the 101 highway. I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed with your itinerary. Evening Carmel-by-the-Sea is probably one of the quaintest seaside towns in the world, which makes it a good starting point for your Big Sur road trip. Phone: (831) 515-6403. I absolutely loved the houses in Pacific Grove. There is a small parking area located on the east side of the highway. We pulled into this area where you can park and then pay to take a shuttle to the beach. Thanks for the inspiration to put it on the top of my travel list." (Keep this in mind if you are headed off to the airport so that you give yourself plenty of time.). Whether you prefer sweet or savory, their menu will satisfy every palette. 3-day Big Sur itinerary. It was going on right when we arrived at the hotel. 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. Next up on the Big Sur Itinerary: Stopping at Big Sur River Inn for a much needed icecream break! Book now from $9.99! Girls Trip: Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur 3 Day Itinerary And yes, we always have a great time in Monterey! I would love to visit all of the beautiful beaches, go on those hikes and eat the saltwater taffy and ice cream! Day 2: Santa Cruz to Carmel. There was even a point in our war history where Point Lobos was part of secret military operations, too! The Lone Cypress on the 17-mile drive is one of the most photographed trees in the world. Where does the Big Sur drive start? Day Three: Monterey Morning Monterey is just a 10 minute drive from Carmel and a great area to explore for the day! After a full morning of activity and then a satisfying afternoon meal, we were ready for a restful and low-key afternoon. Best things to See: Iconic Bixby Bridge, Ragged Point, McWay Falls, Keyhole Arch at Pfeiffer Beach. Now you can sit and relax in the car a bit as you head south to Big Sur. Hiking and tide pooling are great here. Wrap Up Your Perfect Monterey and Big Sur Itinerary, link to Her Wanderful World's Instagram account, link to Her Wanderful World's Facebook account, link to Her Wanderful World's Pinterest account, link to Her Wanderful World's Twitter account, Teaching English Abroad Everything You Need to Know, California Coast Roadtrip | San Fran all the way to San Diego, Check the website for openings and reservations, 17 Fun Things to do in Santa Rosa, California, 20 Incredible Things to do in Petaluma, CA, 17 Charming Things to do in Cambria, California, 17 Best Coastal Sunset Spots in Central California. . There isnt an entrance fee, but they do ask for a $2 donation. Afternoon There are souvenir shops, where I bought a super cute Monterey boat picture frame, theres a clam chowder stand, a cafe spot that I love and forget its name, and my favorite the Monterey Bay Creamery where theres a huge cow statue selling ice cream. These are the most beautiful and often historically significant routes in the country. End of Big Sur Itinerary Turnaround: On your way back, you can choose to pull off and snap a few pictures of the beautiful ocean down below. Tour Details Departure: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, year-round. 47900 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920. 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. Located at the mouth of the Big Sur River, the park has gorgeous panoramic views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Big Sur Road Trip Itinerary Carmel-by-the-Sea Start your Big Sur Road Trip in the charming small town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. In those early days, abalone harvesting became very popular when the Chinese realized the lucrative business of harvesting fish and started commercializing seafood. There are a ton of walks and trails to choose from, with all difficulty levels. This scenic drive is so rewarding with views of cute homes overlooking the never-ending Pacific ocean. No one is allowed to go down to beach, so it's in pristine condition. Youll have an amazing time when you visit! Monterey is definitely one of my favorite places in CA! Cannery Row is near where we dropped off our bikes so we just walked right over! The entire 6-mile loop takes approximately three hours, but guests can enjoy as much or as little as they like as all trails intersect at various points and all paths are clearly marked. Start off your morning by heading over to Paris Bakery in Monterey to get some breakfast. We ended up booking the Hideaway an adorable boutique hotel. Sea otters help kelp forests flourish by keeping the sea urchin population in check. Theres no real starting point. 17-Mile Drive Tour | Big Sur Bike Tours & Rentals Monterey California 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). Bedroom3; Baths2; Property typePrivate Vacation Home; Max Sleeps6; Love golf Pebble Beach golf courses are among some of the best in the world; Carmel-by-the-Sea renowned for its art galleries, many restaurants & sandy white beaches; Big Sur has campsites, high-cliff beaches, superb hiking trails & world-class views on the Pacific Ocean, and Monterey is known for the famous . Pick up snacks beforehand to have in the car during the drive so you dont need to shell out an astronomical amount of cash at the Big Sur convenience stores every time you feel like noshing. Once you get to Pacific Grove, everything is accessible by foot or bike. Monterey and Big Sur are two beautiful coastal areas in California with offerings of nature, small-town feels, and cool weather. This stop is a definite must on your Big Sur Itinerary. Planning ahead: You can plan to picnic at the beach. As you start your Big Sur road trip down from San Francisco (after exploring Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea prior), youre first official stop should be Point Lobos! Alternatively, you can take a bus. Our favorite thing to get: almond croissant. 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. Fog usually disappears around 9 AM even though that sounds like a disappointing fact. If you start at Big Sur, put your location in as San Simeon and then drive north from there. I LOVE Big Sur and Monterey its just so beautiful. The town is very walkable and its honestly so much fun to just explore it at your own pace. The area was filled with flowers and they have gigantic succulents everywhere! Day 1: Monterey. Note that parking is rather limited and costs $10, with restrooms available. Carmel Beach is definitely the best place to watch the sunset. 3 hours 20 minutes (150 miles) Difficulty level: Easy If you found this article useful, consider using the links within the article or below. 5. Like what you see? The ambience at this place was amazing. Hi Chris, Many thanks for your inquiry! And yes, theres so much history in this little area. When booking your Monterey to Big Sur car rental online, I recommend using Discover Cars. April trip - itinerary change? - Big Sur Message Board - Tripadvisor This weekend itinerary will immerse you in the Big Sur experience. Sure, the food is on the pricey side (like the rest of Big Sur), but its such a great place to stop and relax for a bit. Just take the drive slow, stay alert, and youll be ok. How long does it take to drive the Big Sur coastline?

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