Big Sur is a big deal.
Think of it: rocky cliffs with long, luscious views of the Pacific Ocean, magnificent mountains cloaked in fog and covered in evergreens, and nature in perfect harmony with itself. I sincerely can’t think of a more visually captivating place than this stunning stretch of the California coast between San Simeon and Carmel.
A big part of Big Sur’s allure is how sparsely populated it is–if you’re looking for solitude, you’ll definitely find ample opportunity for it here. It’s a very different vision of California from what you’d find in Monterey or even Morro Bay: a singular, tasty dish in the visual banquet of a road trip along the California coast.
With its seclusion come minor inconveniences–some parts of Big Sur were a virtual dead zone for my smartphone–but even this felt appropriate, as it forced me to focus on the gorgeous, green landscape instead of trying to share pictures with friends and family.
Spending one night camping in fantastic Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (which has great amenities, by the way), I lay in my coffin-sized tent, feeling entirely grateful for the sensual experience of lying beneath the tall, earth-scented evergreens, lulled to sleep by the hush of the redwood forest.
Guh. Big Sur still leaves me speechless.
I was feeling slightly under the weather on the day I drove through most of the region, so I ended up skipping out on the amazing views offered by a stop at Nepenthe and the cultural delights of the Henry Miller Memorial Library. If you’re planning a trip to the area, these two sites were recommended to me by a local during my stop in Morro Bay to the south.
If I weren’t already madly in love with the central California coast, Big Sur would certainly have sealed the deal. It’s another West Coast gem I’d love to savor again.
(P.S. Want a choice campsite in any of the Big Sur State Parks for next summer? They fill up quickly. Just sayin’.)
Have you visited Big Sur? What other nearby sights would you recommend?
Funny enough I was actually google mapping road trips around the west coast yesterday (total geek I know) and kept looking at photos of Big Sur. The fact it’s not very populated, considering how stunning it looks, is pretty amazing. One day I’m planning a west coast road trip, likely from Vancouver down to San Diego, and Big Sur will definitely be a stop.
Do it. DO IT! That’s basically the opposite of the road trip I did this summer plus Vancouver to Seattle and I loved every minute of it!