Visiting Big Sur California

Big Sur is a rugged 90-mile stretch of California’s central coast between whimsical Carmel and San Simeon that boasts the eccentric Hearst Castle. The most beautiful stretch of road in California, if not the entire United States is Highway One which is flanked with the impressive Santa Lucia Mountains on one side and the misty Pacific Coast on the other. 

The Big Sur's Golden Gate

The 'Golden Gate' equivalent in Big Sur is Bixby Bridge, a must-see attraction along the coastal road. As far as bridges go, it's probably the most instagrammable. It rises from the steep canyons of Bixby Creek. It's an impressive feat of contruction. Engineers built a huge wooden framework was built so that they could haul an impressive 45,000 sacks of cement to construct the bridge. There are many breathtaking viewpoints for you to capture the all-important classic car selfie at sunset. 

Post Ranch Inn

Whilst exploring the Big Sur, stay at the Post Ranch Inn. Glorius red-hued cabins seemingly balance along a rocky-ridge of the Californian cliffs. The recycled-redwood cabins have extraordinary views across the Pacific Ocean and afford you complete privacy. The nights are blissfully dark and only accentuated by candles, your crackling fire and millions of stars. 

Andrew Molera State Park

A mere eight miles from Bixby Creek is Andrew Molera State Park, a relatively unknown and protected jewel. Herb-scented chaparral trails wind along the Molera Ridge before dropping steeply into ancient oak woodlands and peaceful redwood groves. You'll find the beach where the meandering Big Sur River drains into the Pacific Ocean.

Andrew Molera ran the ranch from 1915 until his untimely death at the age of 34. The ranch was locally famed for its Monterey jack cheese, vegetables, and horses. Andrew was one of the first farmers to cultivate artichockes in California commercially. 

Andrew's sister Frances wanted to protect the family's beloved land. The Conservancy opened a state park in 1972 in memory of Andrew Molera. The rugged beaches, ocean bluff and rambling meadows offer excellent wildlife watching opportunities. You'll find information about condor species recovery at The Big Sur Discovery Center. Keep an eye and ear out for the steady shrill hissing sounds of the condor in flight. 

Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle is an incredible pile that honors one of the most influential businessmen in the 20th century. The castle named after newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst is a mansion fondly known as Casa Grande. His expansive home is surrounded by three guesthouses, each larger than most American homes. Hearst had a slight maniacal obsession with treasures collected from around Europe and the Middle East, although he purchased most through Sotheby's.

Rare sculptures from Egypt adorn the courtyards, Roman columns are dotted around the eponymously named Neptune Pool and many of the bedrooms have fascinatingly unique Spanish Art Deco ceilings. Evening tours of the castle afford you the secrets of Hollywood celebrities and heads of state in the early 1930s.

Hearst Castle proudly possesses four original 16th-century tapestries from the Deeds of Scipio Africanus series. During the French Revolution, the set was divided and sold to collectors. It's said that the same tapestries are in the Louvre in Paris, but they are copies. Visitors to the Castle can see almost everything. Only two percent of the collection is being conserved, stored, or on loan to other museums.

According to legend, there was an old saying in Hollywood "there are two groups of stars – the ones who had been to Hearst Castle and the ones they said that had been to Hurst Castle". In order to stay at the Castle, Hearst would scribe a handwritten note. The guests included the Kings of the silver screen Clark Gable and Charlie Chaplin, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Calvin Coolidge.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

The impressive McWay Falls catapult majestically over an 80-foot granite cliff into a pristine sandy cove below. You will only see the footprints of wandering seabirds and mammals will on this beach because it is permanently closed to the public.

The state park is named after the lifelong resident of Big Sur. She was an independent frontier woman who fiercely ran her family’s ranch. By historical accounts, she worked hard and had a fun-loving side that led children of all ages to explore what is now known as Pfeiffer Beach. In the 1920s, a New York polititian acquired the land that is now the park. His wife, Helen, insisted that the land should be dedicated to Julia’s memory.

A steep mile-round hike leads over a wooden bridge and into a 20-metre long tunnel that can be used as access to a rocky beach. 

Marine Reserve

California has the right to boast the most extensive network of marine protected areas in the entire country with over 1,100 miles of extraordinary coastline. Big Sur, by far, is the highlight of any trip. Drive this extraordinary highway that skirts the dramatic coastline. Make sure that you stop regularly to breath in the salty air and to watch nature in awe. You might be privileged to watch families of sea otters playing together in the kelp forests in the shadows of the towering cliffs. Gaze out to sea for plumes of mist from a whale spout as mothers nurture their young. Don’t forget to look up to watch the rare hissing condor dance in the thermals as it jettisons them from the land. 

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea is as magical as a child’s book of fairytales. The European-inspired town has a sultry laid-back vibe and is Instragrammable at every turn. Quaint boutique hotels, tea shops and over one hundred galleries line its narrow and uneven streets whilst secret gardens and courtyards brim with character and plentiful blooms. You might remember that Clint Eastwood was mayor here some 30-years ago. Que Sera Sera was made popular by Doris Day in the Alfred Hitchcock film ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much’, she also had a home here until she passed away in May 2019.

A rather fun boutique hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea envelops a beautiful stone courtyard. Each bedroom is uniquely decorated with colors from the sea. Every day, join the proprietors for a platter of local cheeses and a fine glass of Big Sur wine. Their spa offers a concise menu for some pampering after a long day of fresh air and adventures. You can even have a tipple of sherry when you retire to your room.

Carmel has an interesting array of restaurants, eateries and bars. It’s rather fun to drive your top-down convertible along Ocean Avenue, particularly if partnered with a bespectacled pooch. Carmel seems to have a fixation on these furry friends. Be careful when you are wandering the streets of Carmel, you need to garner permission to wear heals over two inches lest you take a tumble on their irregular pavements. Carmel dates from the roaring 1920s and still has the Cornstock cottages with their pitched gable roofs and stone chimneys dotted around courtyards making is reminiscent of Cotswold villages in the English countryside.