| The Pacific coastline and old-growth forests are | | | | The morning was good for hiking, while afternoon |
| two of California's biggest scenic highlights | | | | was the best time to drive the coast, stopping |
| � and these two natural wonders | | | | along the way to visit some of the shops, general |
| converge nicely at one of the state's most | | | | stores and bakeries that you come across every |
| famous tourist attractions: Big Sur. | | | | few miles. One gets the impression that many of |
| Located about 150 miles south of San Francisco, | | | | the "hippies" from the 1960's ended up here at Big |
| this part of the California coast offers non-stop | | | | Sur where, today, they enjoy a no-frills |
| amazement for travelers willing to drive the curvy | | | | back-to-nature lifestyle selling various natural or |
| Scenic Highway 1 the 90 miles of coastline that | | | | locally produced products. There definitely is a |
| today encompass the Big Sur scenic recreation | | | | new age flavor in many of the shops that is |
| area. Visitors see new panoramas around every | | | | apparent from the music, fragrances and product |
| curve � pristine beaches, craggy | | | | offerings. |
| mountain ledges, fascinating rock formations amid | | | | Another Big Sur point of interest is the historic |
| swirling, sometimes angry coastal waters and, of | | | | Point Sur Lighthouse. This lighthouse is 19 miles |
| course, the giant redwood trees that swallow up | | | | below Carmel and is a State Historic Landmark. It |
| tiny vacationers posing for their vacation | | | | is 361 feet above the ocean and was operated |
| photographs. | | | | from the mid 1800's until the early 70['s, keeping |
| Keep in mind, this road was not easy to build. | | | | ships away from rocks in foggy weather. |
| Your scenic experience today comes at the | | | | Docent-led tours are given every Saturday and |
| expense of convict labor that was brought in | | | | 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. |
| over the 18 years prior to the completion of the | | | | No doubt about it, though � a Big Sur |
| road in 1937. Until Highway 1 was completed, | | | | getaway most likely will include lots of hiking on a |
| most of this highway probably wasn't much wider | | | | variety of trails. Here is a sampling of the most |
| than a harrowing goat path along the side of the | | | | popular trails: |
| steep coastal mountains. | | | | Pfeiffer Falls � This trail in Pfeiffer Big Sur |
| While many travelers drive through the Big Sur | | | | State Park is just 1.4 miles roundtrip and takes |
| area on the way to someplace else, the area is | | | | you along a scenic passageway following the |
| also a prime destination that offers a variety of | | | | Pfeiffer Redwood Creek. You'll find this trail offers |
| accommodations and enough hiking to keep | | | | some of the area's best redwood groves and |
| visitors occupied for weeks. Several state parks | | | | features at the end a 60-foot waterfall. |
| and campgrounds are tucked into the coves or | | | | Valley View � Also in Pfeiffer Big Sur, this |
| carved out of the forests to give vacationers an | | | | trail is two miles roundtrip and leads to an |
| authentic camping experience and entry to the | | | | observation area where you can see the coastline |
| wilderness by way of numerous well-marked trails. | | | | and valley below. |
| A few cabin resorts are scattered along the | | | | Oak Grove Trail -- This is in Pfeiffer Big Sur State |
| coast and there are even a couple of high-end | | | | Park and is 3.2 miles roundtrip from the Big Sur |
| luxury resorts charging upward of $700 a night. | | | | Lodge and intersects the Pfeiffer Falls Trail. This |
| Big Sur Lodge offers the only lodging in Pfeiffer | | | | passes through a variety of ecosystems including |
| Big Sur State Park, and, to our thinking, had just | | | | redwood groves, open oak woodlands and dry |
| the right combination of amenities. This resort | | | | chaparral. |
| offers 62 housekeeping cottages spread | | | | Mt. Manuel Trail � Also located in Pfeiffer |
| throughout the park where trailheads and those | | | | Big Sur, this is a strenuous 8-mile trail that gives |
| big trees are never far away. While the cottages | | | | you an overview of the Vantana Wilderness from |
| offer many resort amenities � big, | | | | 3,379-foot Mt. Manuel Peak. |
| spacious living rooms with comfortable new | | | | McWay Waterfall Trail � Down Highway 1 |
| furniture, spacious bath areas with shampoos and | | | | a few miles is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park |
| lotions, a massive heated swimming pool | | | | which features this easy one-mile hike to an |
| footsteps from your unit � the overall | | | | overlook which faces McWay Falls, a spectacular |
| feel was like going to summer camp (for those of | | | | 80-foot waterfall that drops into the Pacific |
| us who can remember that far back). There | | | | Ocean. |
| were no phones, no televisions and, even in June, | | | | Ewoldsen Trail � Also in Julia Pfeiffer |
| night-time temperatures were cold enough to | | | | Burns State Park, this is a moderate 5.7-mile |
| start a real fire in the cottage's real fireplace. | | | | roundtrip hike that offers great views of the |
| Our unit featured two queen beds, one in a | | | | coastline from hillsides covered in wildflowers and |
| bedroom area and one in the "great room" or | | | | oaks. |
| living room part of the cottage. These facilities are | | | | Beach and Creamery Meadow Trail � A |
| perfect for families with some units suitable for | | | | few miles north of Big Sur Lodge is Andrew |
| up to six people. Reasonably priced food is | | | | Molera State Park which offers this 1.8-mile |
| available in a full-service restaurant right on the | | | | roundtrip hike that is recommended for kids. The |
| property. A few other restaurants are scattered | | | | trail follows the Big Sur River and features many |
| up and down Highway 1 but our guess was that | | | | different plant species as well as redwood trees. |
| many guests at Big Sur Lodge were fully utilizing | | | | AT A GLANCE |
| the kitchen facilities that are available in many of | | | | WHERE: Big Sur scenery starts just a few miles |
| the cottages. | | | | south of the Carmel/Monterey area and continues |
| For hikers, this kind of destination is paradise. | | | | for 90 miles before the curvy road straightens |
| While it did get warm in the afternoon, the | | | | out near Cambria. |
| mornings during our June visit were crisp and ideal | | | | WHAT: Big Sur combines beautiful coasline, terrific |
| for walking through the thick forests of oak and | | | | mountain scenery and dense forests. Big Sur is a |
| redwood trees to waterfalls or climbing to | | | | great place to vacation and visitors enjoy many |
| vantage points offering even more spectacular | | | | lodging land camping choices. |
| views of the Big Sur coastline. All trails we were | | | | WHEN: The weather at Big Sur is moist and cool |
| on seemed to be well-maintained. The trails in the | | | | year-round, perhaps a little warmer in the |
| general Big Sur vicinity also were varied in both | | | | afternoon during summer months. Fog will roll in |
| scenery and levels of exertion. We enjoyed | | | | during many mornings during the summer months. |
| sampling easy trails that led us to waterfalls | | | | WHY: The opportunity to enjoy a natural |
| cascading onto the scenic beaches -- and we took | | | | experience in some of California's most scenic |
| a few of the more difficult switchback trails into | | | | countryside. |
| the Santa Lucia Mountains. | | | | |