Driving Californian Coastline, Big Sur, USA, grants you a handfull of different feelings. First, the warm breeze hits you, with a beautiful view of the mountains emerging from the Pacific Ocean. The rocky coastline dives down into different shades of turquoise. Around you, the combined smell of pines and saltwater fills your lungs. And the fluttering of a hawk stands out from the sound of waves breaking against the stones on the shore. Once you step into Big Sur, you get away from all civilization and connect with nature.
Activity/Place Highlights
Big Sur is a region of California, one of the least populated but most visited by tourists since it is a paradise for surfers. Practice your favorite sport without limits, with the beautiful views Big Sur offers. This area has gigantic waves for the most daring.
Bixby Creek Bridge
The Big Sur region has several state parks that capture the beauty of the place. Each of them is a new experience, a fascinating adventure that is impossible to miss. The most famous place of Big Sur contains a beauty that could only be defined as dramatic: the Bixby Bridge. Here, the protagonists are the Santa Lucia mountains, rising from Big Sur Gorge, where you can appreciate different types of animals like raccoons, black-tailed deer, skunks, birds, and even lynxes.
State Parks
Passing the Point Sur lighthouse, you will find the hills of Andrew Melera State Park, a perfect place for hiking and mooring. You can also find Pfeiffer Park, where the Bixby Bridge is located. In this park, you can go hiking, biking, camping and swimming in the Big Sur River, and you can also take recreational vehicle rides. Among other well-known state parks, the Point Lobos State Reserve is a quiet area where you can see otters, sea lions, and birds.
The Cypress Lone
Some places are mandatory to see when visiting Big Sur. One of them is 17 miles away by car, a road with spectacular views. Even though it sounds common, the Lone Cypress, a 250-year-old cypress located on the top of a cliff, is the most photographed tree.
Piedras Blancas
Another must-visit while on Big Sur is the beach of Piedras Blancas. Here, a colony of elephant seals welcomes you on the shore. Currently, there are 8,000 seals, and the best seasons to see them are in April and December.
The McWay Falls
The McWay Falls is a large 80-foot high waterfall on the Big Sur coast, flowing year-round from McWay Creek, in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. It is a tidal fall, a waterfall that empties directly into the ocean, and one of the only two in California; the other being the Alamere Falls.
Without a doubt, California gave us one of the best places that can exist. Big Sur is a destination that is worth enjoying and exploring to the fullest. From surfing, hiking through the woods, mountains, wonderful animals, campsites and cabins set; visiting this place is an opportunity like no other.
How to get there
Monterey Airport is located approximately 30 miles from Big Sur Valley. They offer transportation with rental car agencies, limousines, taxis, public buses and trains
When to go
Make sure to visit Big Sur when the gray whale appears in the winter; or the Blue Whale, the largest mammal on the planet, in the summer.
How long
To travel along the coasts of Big Sur, you need at least 4 days, live a good experience and get the best of California.
History
This coast still has its original name in Spanish, “The Great South”, referring to its location south of the Monterey Peninsula, which extends almost 70 miles from San Simeon to Carmel. Although the roads have been built over the years, Big Sur is still a very natural place. Mountains, cliffs, and varieties of wonders stand on its shores.
Websites
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