Big Sur

We got a rental car from SFO (A Sante Fe which felt weird to be in an SUV since we hadn't in so long!) and drove to Big Sur. We talked quite a bit about where we wanted to spend our vacation this year... and for a while I thought it was Hawaii given we could get there quick from CA. However, we couldn't find a hotel we were in love with and it is SO expensive. We decided to experience CA and the beauty we were so close to... 3 days in Big Sur, Monterey and Carmel :)

The plan was to drive farthest down the coast to Big Sur and explore there today, then spend the next two days in Monterey and Carmel. 

We got some cheetos and gummy bears at a gas station for fuel for our first stop - Point Lobos State Park - which has been called "the crown jewel of the State Park System". We parked the car and walked the first trail - "Sean Lion Point Trail." 

Headland Cove.

Devil's Cauldron - the water was SO perfectly blue.

Sean Lion Cove.

Cypress Cove. Emerald green and blue water.

The Cypress Grove Trail winds through one of the two naturally growing stands of Monterey cypress trees remaining on Earth.

North Point.

The orange, velvety "stuff" especially noticeable on trees and rocks of the shadowed north-facing slopes is green algae named Trentapohlia. Its orange color comes from carotene, a pigment which also occurs in carrots.

Pinnacle Cove.

China Cove. Jade-green water.

We kept driving along until we saw the famous Bixby Bridge! I had read the best place to park is to the left of the Bridge as compared to the right where everyone else parks. So true - we had no problem finding a spot and it was a great way to see the bridge.

Then we walked across the street to see it from the other side. It was so awesome.

We drove over the bridge and started the most beautiful part of the Highway 1 drive.

I love him so much it hurts. Seriously - he is the best.

 We ate at Nepenthe for lunch. 

This was the view from the restaurant - which sits on the side of the mountain on the water. It was hard to believe it was real.

We waited about 20 minutes and got seated at our table.

The menu was pretty limited and we decided to split a burger and fries. It wasn't that great, but we really didn't care. You pay for the view and experience at Nepenthe.

Next up - Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park to see McWay Falls. Totally worth the drive. It was beautiful - a waterfall on the ocean.

After McWay Falls, we stopped at Big Sur Bakery. I had heard so much about this place and it was kind of a disappointment. Not much of a selection and service was poor. The goal was to get some treats and head to Pfieffer Beach... but we left empty handed.

Driving through Big Sur is beautiful, but there is no service... which makes GPS a tad difficult. The last stop in Big Sur was Pfieffer Beach which is famous for it's purple sand and not a huge tourist trap. Well, we finally found service and drove back to find it... and there were so many cars it was at capacity so we couldn't go see it :( Someday!

Time to drive to Monterey and see our hotel, The Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. 

We checked in, dropped our stuff at the room and walked around the hotel and area. The hotel sits on the water... literally.

This was the view from our room. A kayaker in the water right by our hotel.

 

Our hotel was on Cannery Row - so we walked around a bit and sat at some pinic table with this view.

We ate dinner at the hotel restaurant. We each got soup and the some dessert :)