California, Part II – Big Sur – The Bright Side of The Road

As I mentioned on Monday, Big Sur is officially my second favorite place ever, squeezing in just behind the coast of dear ol’ South Carolina. The terrain is totally different – think mountains that run into beaches that run into the bluest ocean – and the views are just incredible. If you ever get a chance, definitely get out to Big Sur.

We started our day off with brunch at Mission Ranch, and I can’t say enough about how delicious our meal was. And by meal, I of course mean both helpings, and dessert. It was irresistible, and no one was ashamed to go back. The view wasn’t too shabby either!

After brunch, it was onward bound to do some hiking in Big Sur. As you drive along Highway 1, there are more than a few places to stop and take in the incredible view. Literally anywhere you stop will provide a view like this:

Our first landmark spot was Bixby Bridge, standing since the early 1930’s, and it did not disappoint.We stood for probably 20 minutes just taking in the views.

So, when can I move in?

From Bixby Bridge, we continued south and made our way to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, where we saw the site of the McWay Waterfall house and hiked a few miles through a forest full of redwoods. And guess what we saw along the way? Whales! Based on our post-hike research & photo review, we figured out that we spotted orcas & gray whales, and were lucky enough to spot a pod of false killer whales, which were noted in the news as being in the area during our stay. How awesome is that?!

Then, it was back towards the coastline to a rocky beach for some down time, watching an adorable sea otter eat clams and muscles while a curious (and hungry) seagull lingered nearby.

What a day, right? I think we ultimately hiked about 7 miles through Big Sur, and could have easily stayed another 3-4 days without hesitation. While 7 miles kiiind of felt like 20, I would not have said no to another 10! What did we do after our eventful day of hiking and site seeing? Well! Dinner at Nepenthe, of course. Perched on the edge of the mountains and high above the Pacific, you literally dine above the clouds, and get to see a pretty epic sunset. A [few] cold beers, some delicious food, and maybe a margarita or two, and I’d say you have yourself quite an unforgettable day!