We rode past Point Pinos Lighthouse and ended up on a trail to Asilomar State Beach. Her Wanderful World is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This will probably whet your appetite for more, so dont miss the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium as well. And plus, whats cooler than a cone from a bus? Not happening. We booked in advance and it was about $31 a day before adding gas and insurance if you want. This rugged and mountainous section of the Central Coast of California is just begging to be explored. The location of the Carmel Mission isn't the original spot. 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. I definitely need to add that this is one of the most dog friendly places I have ever been. Phone: (831) 515-6403. Make sure to bring a light jacket since it gets a little bit chillier at night. You could spend all day in this area headed from winery to winery. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Famous for fairytale-like cottages and shops, great art, dining, charming B&B and boutique hotels, and of course the beautiful and exclusive pebble beach golf course. The only downside to visiting in the summertime is that July and August are the foggiest months. If you found this article useful, consider using the links within the article or below. If you start at Big Sur, put your location in as San Simeon and then drive north from there. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. I love Monterey! Best Things to do in Big Sur Day Trip | Ultimate Big Sur Road Trip 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. Enjoy your ice cream on the wharf and enjoy watching all the puppies greet each other as their owners walk them up and down the pier. . You can definitely complete this Big Sur itinerary in a day, but if you have more time, you can also spread it out over 2-3 days and spend more time in each place. It was so delicious and the outdoor dining setting right over the ocean was such a dream. Discover Monterey Bay & Big Sur | Road Scholar Youll get a really nice view of the beach. I feel oh so lucky to only live a few hours north, which means we typically make it to Big Sur at least once a year! BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA: LOGISTICS. The marketplace is a certified farmers market so youll find local bakeries, craft vendors, and organic produce. BIG SUR ADVENTURES. Specializing in travel, lifestyle and fashion. 17 Mile Drive: A Self-Guide Audio Tour of Pebble Beach's Historical Day Three: Monterey Morning Monterey is just a 10 minute drive from Carmel and a great area to explore for the day! Key: Purple Big Sur Itinerary | Blue Monterey Itinerary | Orange Other excursions | Yellow Places to stay. 5. Likes Comments. Tip: Driving it can be challenging, but well worth it. Limekiln State Park may be juuust what youre looking for. But it's absolutely still worth visiting! One weekend is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of Carmel, Monterey, and Big Sur along Highway 1. This Monterey to Big Sur itinerary is planned so it is possible to start in San Francisco and experience the whole road trip itinerary without backtracking at all. I think you. Please make reservation for dinner; No Dinner Wednesday/Thursday; Deetjen's Big Sur Inn is a non-profit dedicated to the preservation and rehabilitation of the historic Big Sur Inn at Castro Canyon. Nearest Cities: Monterey and Carmel to the north (40 minute drive), San Simeon and Cambria to the south (1.5 hour drive) Closest International Airports: San Jose International Airport (SJC) - 1.5 hour drive | Oakland International Airport (OAK) - 2 hour drive | San Francisco (SFO) - 2.5 hour drive Best Time to Visit: April through October, early fall is best Whether it's sipping your way through Carmel Valley's boutique wine tasting rooms or hopping on an unforgettable whale watching excursion, Monterey County provides meeting attendees with a variety of extracurricular activities. It was going on right when we arrived at the hotel. Mmm! Theres a retro school bus selling ice cream right off the parking lot, which is perfect on a hot day. There were cute adorable dogs everywhere. If you want a taste of France in sweet Monterey, Paris Bakery is your go-to spot! There are warm fires all over the place and lights hanging in the trees. Thank you! It was easy to find the area where we needed to take a shuttle to the rental car building. A short 10 minute walk from the parking lot will get you to a beautiful waterfall crashing directly into the Pacific Oceans emerald water. Tina Yen. We chose the 17-mile ride and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our 3-hour outing. Required fields are marked *. Aww, thank you so much! It took my breath away. It was nice to arrive at the hotel after a long day and just relax for a minute and eat some snacks! Still dreaming of heading back and doing this Monterey , Carmel and Big Sur itinerary again sometime soon! Fun for young and old, exploring the rocky coastline in search of creatures is a must-do. Even more than that, Point Lobos doesnt classify itself as a state park, but rather as a natural reserve with the highest protection for nature and wildlife found here. You dont really need your bathing suit here as the water is waaaay too cold. Its such a pretty area! Woooo its finally time to get this Big Sur road trip itinerary under way! 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. We are visiting California from the UK in April, a rescheduled trip after we had to cancel in May 2020. 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. I loved seeing the open sea, the jelly fish and the really adorable sea otters! Make sure to have these essentials on your list: The best time to visit Monterey and Big Sur is in the fall during the months of September to November or in the spring during the months of April to May. Why is Big Sur famous? Fun fact: Bixby Bridge was built 5 years before the road was paved to connect Carmel to San Luis Obispo! Monterey and Big Sur are two beautiful coastal areas in California with offerings of nature, small-town feels, and cool weather. Wow this place looks so similar to Malibu I swear!! When booking your Monterey to Big Sur car rental online, I recommend using Discover Cars. You may even see an orca and/or dolphin off the coast! Hang out on Fishermans Wharf a little longer after dinner and grab a dessert at the Monterey Bay Creamery (right next door to Abalonettis). Looking for sand dollars might result in a disappointment, but youll easily find muscles, crabs, sea anemone, and kelp beds while exploring the nearby rocks during low tide. Theyve also got some wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and avocado toast if youre still hungry after Big Sur River Inn. Another awesome part of the Monterey Plaza Hotel is that you can rent bikes for free! It is a charming little area that also has some good marine life sighting spots. Absolute paradise, albeit rather crowded at times. Grab Life by the Moments Itineraries Highlights Itinerary Outdoors Itinerary Family Itinerary Girlfriend Getaway Itinerary Golf Itinerary There was even a point in our war history where Point Lobos was part of secret military operations, too! If you can settle for not actually staying in Big Sur itself, consider heading up north to Carmel or Monterey for less-than-astronomical prices. DEETJENS BIG SUR INN - 261 Photos & 199 Reviews - Yelp The colors over the water were absolutely spectacular! Big Sur Hotel Guide: Best Luxury Hotels in Big Sur, California | Observer 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. That just means you'll have to go back! Be sure to dabble your toes in the river at Big Sur River Inn and then end your day with a sunset dinner and ocean view at Pacific's Edge. You betcha your night will be an unforgettable escape. I totally agree, one of my favorite places to visit! 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. THIS is the bridge that everyone thinks is the iconic Bixby, but its not! Check out Lovers Point Beach where you can do all the water activities like surfing and kayaking. About 30 minutes into your drive is the first quick pull-off in your Big Sur itinerary. To see ratings, other places to visit, photos, and more tourist information, read Big Sur trip itinerary planning site. Since you are now past the influx of traffic, you wont be in a rush to get into any of the popular sites. And it is a full 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. 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. Youll have an amazing time when you visit! 3. I heard a few state parks in Big Sur are open now! The Best Luxury Hotels in Big Sur - Culture Trip The ambience at this place was amazing. Pick-up from centrally located hotels between 7:30am - 8:30am Duration: 11 hours Transportation: Comfortable Motorcoach Includes: Complimentary pickup/dropoff from centrally located hotels We were able to order build your own sandwiches that came with a drink and chips. The drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea to San Simeon is 2 hours and 20 minutes of curvy, cliff-side driving. Since the road to Big Sur is finally open again (after months of closure due to horrific mudslides), nows the time to visit!