California's Beautiful Highway 1
It SURtaintly does not disappoint, put this one on your bucket list!
Overview: Highway 1 is a 659 mile stretch along the spectacular California coastline starting in northern Mendocino and ending in Orange County. The area is best known for its beaches, outdoor activities, breathtaking views and great food and drink. There are so many areas to experience along the way that it’s best to tackle it in smaller sections, across multiple trips, so you can really dive-in to each part.
Last month, we spent 8 days exploring the 150 mile stretch from San Francisco to Big Sur. It was absolutely incredible and far exceeded our already high expectations. The trip requires some planning though for several reasons — 1. there’s so much to fit into a few short days; 2. cell service is very limited in certain parts, so having a general understanding of where you’re going beforehand is key; and 3. it’s expensive, but a bit of research can help make the overall cost more manageable.
This post aims to help with just that; outlining what we did, when we did it and what you can’t miss when visiting!
Recommendation: Highly recommended, especially for hiking enthusiasts.
Trip details: 9/20/19 - 9/28/19; 8-night stay, beginning and ending in San Francisco (airport: SFO). Oakland International Airport (OAK) is also nearby.
Itinerary:
Days 1 & 2: San Francisco
Day 3: Half Moon Bay
Day 4: Big Basin State Park
Day 5: Monterrey / Carmel-by-the-Sea
Days 6 & 7: Big Sur
Day 8: San Francisco
DAY 1 & 2: SAN FRANCISCO
With this trip having been the only the second time I’ve ever visited San Francisco, I wouldn’t even begin to do a “must-see-in-San-Fran-itinerary” justice. For that reason, I’ll focus more on Half Moon Bay, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur and will to defer to the experts that didn’t steer me wrong: US Travel’s 27 Best Things to Do in San Francisco and SF Travel’s 28 Things Not to Miss in San Francisco.
That being said — here are two quick pieces of advice that might come in handy: 1. Check out the Washington Square Inn. The location is amazing and at $250/night, it was among the more reasonable options we found. It’s located just outside of Little Italy and a quick walk or Uber ride to everything on the must-do lists. Plus, they have a complimentary happy hour daily from 5-6:30 (wine, cheese, etc.) Highly recommend. 2. Instead of booking your rental car for the entire trip, wait until you leave San Fran. You’ll be hard-pressed to find overnight parking for less than $50, and in such a walkable city, it’s not necessary. We picked ours up from Hertz on the way to Half Moon Bay and had a good experience for a reasonable price ($40/day).
DAY 3: HALF MOON BAY
After an early morning airport wake-up straight into two busy San Fran days, Half Moon Bay is the perfect place to slow down and re-group for the rest of the trip. A quick 45-minute drive from the city will take you straight to Sam’s Chowder House for lunch. Their lobster rolls were (very deservingly) voted one of the “Best Sandwiches in America” by the TODAY Show and they have a beautiful back deck overlooking the bay.
After lunch, head down the road to Dunes Beach for some relaxation or rent bikes from Bike Works ($20/bike/hour) and ride the 7-mile path down the coastline. For a gorgeous sunset happy hour, go to the ocean terrace at the Ritz Carlton (pictured below). Heads up: It’s the Ritz — drinks are $15-$18 each, but the scenery is worth it. For a much more reasonably priced but delicious dinner afterwards, head back to Half Moon Bay Brewing Company or The Barn.
Day 4: BIG BASIN STATE PARK
Carve-out one day away from the coast to experience the Redwood National Forest. It is one of few places in the world to see coastal redwoods (sequoia trees), which are literally the tallest living things on the planet at up to 350-feet tall and 18-feet wide. Ninety minutes from Half Moon Bay is Big Basin ($10 entrance fee), a gorgeous state park chock full of sequoias. There are 29 hiking trails ranging from 1.7 to 20+ miles. We did the 10.5-mile Berry Creek Falls Trail (pictured below) which took 4.5-5 hours at a moderate pace. This included a stop for lunch, which we bought at the on-site market (sandwiches, smoothies, snacks etc.) and packed for the day.
If you’re looking for some more adventure afterwards, the Santa Cruz boardwalk is only a 25 minute drive away.
DAY 5: MONTERREY/CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
Pack up early and hit the road to Monterrey / Carmel-by-the-Sea via the 17 Mile Drive ($10 entrance fee). Allow about two hours to experience the 17 gorgeous and well-marked stops along the way (one pictured below; peep me walking in the bottom left corner for scale).
One the other side awaits a small beach community, Carmel-by-the-Sea, bursting with whimsical architecture that looks straight out of a storybook. There are quaint shops, restaurants and bars nestled in every nook and cranny of the town, and it’s easy to see why it’s voted one of the most romantic destinations in the US. Have an authentic Italian lunch outside at Porta Bella’s and top it off with mid-afternoon dessert at Carmel Bakery. Their coconut macroons and Russian tea cakes are to.die.for.
After lunch, grab a towel and some drinks and head down to the gorgeous Carmel Beach. Post up a while for a spectacular sunset (pictured below) and take it all in before heading back into town for dinner at one of the dozens of amazing restaurants. If I couple do this trip again, I would add another day for Carmel-by-the-Sea; it’s truly a gem.
DAYS 6 & 7: BIG SUR
Ah, the best for last. Big Sur is a-ma-zing, and pictures just do not do it justice. The area is comprised of a 90 mile stretch of rugged and spectacularly beautiful coastline between Carmel and San Simeon (Hearst Castle). The northern most point is only 10 minutes south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. As you make your way down the highway, you’re right on the water the entire time. Get ready for two days full of exploring, hiking and out-of-this-world views!
Day 1 in Big Sur:
Stop #1: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve ($10 entrance fee) — drive straight back as far as you can and park by the visitor stand. Catch the South Plateau Trail (pictured below) by entering through the Monterrey Cypress Trees marked Sea Lion Point Trail. Allow 1 - 1.5 hours to walk the phenomenal trails right on the water.
Stop #2: Garrapata State Park (free) — there isn’t a true entrance to this park (or at least we weren’t patient enough to find it), but you’ll know you’re there when you can’t help but stop the car and explore (and see plenty of other cars pulled over doing the same). Pick a path that catches your eye and allow at least 1 - 1.5 hours to take in the breathtaking scenery.
Stop #3: Lunch at Big Sur Smokehouse — we lost GPS signal (highly recommend you plan ahead and print out maps!) and ended up much further down the road than planned, but we’re so glad that we did. The brisket and “hot links” (sausage) at this Chipotle-style barbeque restaurant will rival any you’ve ever had.
Stop #4: Andrew Molera State Park ($10 entrance fee) — once parking, follow the signs to the beach via the Creamery Trail. After about 1 mile, you’ll reach a beautiful secluded beach with wooden huts and rock formations to explore. After some time there, head back in the same direction and turn off half-way to the Bluffs Trail. The terrain is steep and difficult, but with mountains to one side and the ocean to the other, you can’t beat the views (pictured below). Allow 2-3 hours to explore all that Andrew Molera has to offer.
Stop #5: Pfeiffer Beach ($12 entrance fee). This was my favorite part of the entire trip and is an absolute must do. I have never witnessed a more spectacularly beautiful sunset in my life. Ask for me videos, I’ll send you dozens of them. Seriously, I couldn’t stop. Pfeiffer Beach is famous for its remote location, Keyhole Arch Rock and areas of purple sand. Visit on the clearest evening of your stay and arrive a few hours before sunset (parking is limited and you may have to wait, so be sure to factor extra time in just in-case). You’ll be talking about this for weeks to come.
Stop #6: Big Sur Bakery & Restaurant & Big Sur Tap House — after a long and awesome day of exploring, wind down with a scratch-made meal and a locally brewed beer.
Day 2 in Big Sur:
Stop #1: Limeklin State Park ($10 entrance fee) — this park has a little bit of everything, including beach access and two short hiking trails. The Lime Kiln Trail and the Waterfall Trail are about 1.5 miles each (with the first mile shared) and lead you to exactly that… old lime kilns from the 1800s and a waterfall. Allow 1 hour total for both trails.
Stop #2: Sand Dollar Beach ($10 entrance fee) — When you reach the top of the steps, you’re met with a gorgeous view of the local vegetation and the coastline. There is not a huge sand area on this beach, so be sure to check high and low tide times before visiting!
Stop #3: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park ($10 entrance fee) — not to be confused with Pfeiffer Beach or Pfeiffer State Park. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is home to the famous Saddle Rock and McWay Falls (pictured below). Unfortunately, most of the trails are currently closed due to recent weather issues, but the half-mile Overlook Trail to view McWay Falls is open. This is an iconic part of Big Sur that must be seen to appreciate its true beauty. Allow 0.5 - 1 hour.
Stop #4: Big Sur Coast Gallery & Café — After a busy morning of exploring, stop for a cup of coffee and a light lunch. The café features a beautiful roof-top deck overlooking the coast and some pretty dang good soft serve.
Stop #5: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park ($10 entrance fee) — this was the only place on this list that we were not actually able to visit because it started raining (and at that point, we welcomed some down time to nap!). But if you’re looking for even more hiking, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is said to be an awesome place to check out.
Stop #6: The Nepenthe or The Sur House — both restaurants are literally on top of cliffs and have amazing views of the coast. So yes, they are expensive. In my opinion, the food at The Sur House (pictured below) was better than Nepenthe’s, but you can’t go wrong with a sunset dinner at either one. It’s the perfect way to wrap up your Big Sur vacation (jus close your eyes and sign the check, YOLO).
DAY 8: RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO
Have breakfast at Deetjens — a historic barn home turned restaurant surrounded by beautiful gardens greenery — then pack up the car and start the 2-3 hour ride back to San Francisco. Aim to get back by 3:00 pm to avoid peak traffic and hit the last few spots on your list!
For recommendations on accommodations and how to navigate the area, contact me!
