Big Sur Activity Guides
2 day Big Sur Road Trip
Big Sur is hands-down one of the most beautiful places in California. The rugged, mountainous terrain combined with the coastal cliff views provides the ultimate escape into nature. Traveling North on Highway 1 go for a hike at Limekiln State Park, featuring Redwood Trees and a waterfall! If you’re short on time, do either the 1.5-mile Limekiln Creek Falls Trail or the 2.2-mile Hare Creek trail. Next stop at Nepenthe for lunch. The restaurant is on the cliffside with an AMAZING view! It’s definitely worth it to come here for a cocktail and appetizer with a view! After lunch check-in to Glen Oaks Big Sur. The compound of tucked-away cabins and cottages, all outfitted with niceties like thick quilts, cast-iron stoves, and curl-up-all-day couches, are set among towering redwoods. Outside, get cozy in Adirondack chairs on your porch or deck to enjoy your fire pit and the sound of the nearby Big Sur River. Next head over to Pfeiffer Beach, another iconic Big Sur spot, known for its purple sand and massive rock formations. If you’re visiting around November or December, you’ll definitely want to be here during sunset. Finish your day off with dinner and a beer at Big Sur Taphouse located in the heart of scenic Big Sur, the Taphouse offers excellent food, great drinks, and a fun place to hang out. With big screen televisions, relaxed atmosphere, and friendly service. Discover the different local brews and wines from around Monterey County. The next morning go over to Big Sur River Inn and renew your spirit. Enjoy a fabulous breakfast outside on the deck, the lawn or along the bank of the Big Sur River. After breakfast head over to Pfeiffer State Park and do the Buzzards Roast Trail. It’s a winding trail that cuts through forested areas of Big Sur to finally emerge onto a small peak where buzzards are known to bask in the sun as you have a peak of the Pacific Ocean. Finish your night off with dinner at Deetjen’s which includes simple, hearty cuisine prepared with homestyle sensibility. Deetjen’s cellar offers carefully-selected wine and beer to complement our guests’ dining pleasure.
Luxury Weekend in Big Sur
Stay at Ventana Big Sur, a redwood-shaded paradise where outdoor Japanese-style soaking tubs and big decks give suites a breezy, natural feel; or book a room with a fireplace for extra cozy comfort on foggy nights. The resort’s most recent addition is the Redwood Canyon Glamp sites where you can glamp in a furnished tent under a canopy of redwoods. Dining at Sur House which is excellent, with a focus on local, seasonal ingredients provided by local farms. For activities take a short hike with a huge reward. The ½-mile/1-km round-trip Waterfall Overlook Trail at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park could be the biggest-bang-for-not-much-work hike on the planet. The almost flat stroll ends an oceanfront overlook with flawless views of McWay Falls, a favorite spot of Big Sur pioneer woman Julia Pfeiffer Burns, for whom the park is named. The plume of water drops some 80 feet/24 meters from the top of a granite cliff to a sandy cove below (not even footprints on the sand mar the perfection, as this beach is closed to the public). If you’re up for more of a leg stretch, also hike the 1-mile roundtrip Partington Cove Trail. The steep but short hike leads over a wooden bridge down to a 60-foot tunnel. Walk through and emerge onto the rocky beach. Also make sure to check out Bixby Bridge, Big Sur’s version of the Golden Gate—a must-see road trip spot for many and probably the most Instagramed feature along the Highway 1 coastline. And rightly so. Pull over at numerous turnouts to get amazing views, particularly from the bridge’s south end at sunset.
Big Sur on a Budget
Want to travel to Big Sur but think it will break the bank? You have come to the right place! Here are some budget friendly options for checking out the magical Big Sur coast. Check out a few budget friendly inns and lodges like Fernwood Resort, which offers unpretentious motel-style rooms, as well as cabins, “adventure tent” canvas cabins and camping spots. Several of the motel rooms have cozy little fireplaces, and one even has a hot tub. The best thing about this place is the on-site bar and grill, which means you can eat decently priced burgers, maybe listen to some live music, and drink to your heart’s content, without someone having to be Designated Driver along this windy dark stretch of the PCH. If you are one with nature try camping in Big Sur. Big Sur is home to some of the most amazing camp spots in California. Try Pfeffer State Park, Kirk Creek and Big Sur Campground and Cabins. Finally for budget eats try Big Sur Deli, Big Sur River Inn Burrito Bar, Ragged Point Café and Big Sur Lodge Café.
