Road Trip to Big Sur

This scenic coastal reserve has earned a reputation for being “the most beautiful meeting of land and sea,” and it’s easy to see why. Located on the Monterey Peninsula, Point Lobos features spectacular views, trails, beaches, tide pools, a whaling museum and an abundance of Instagram-worthy photo ops. One of the most popular things to do around Big Sur, the reserve’s hikes guide visitors along the coastline and through forested areas. These hikes include the .8-mile Cypress Grove Trail that’s home to one of the last remaining natural Monterey cypress groves on Earth. With wildlife like deer, otters, seals and tons of seabirds, this beautiful reserve’s white sugar sand and turquoise water create the perfect place to feel the breeze in your hair as you drive your convertible through this serene setting.

• Tip: Pack snacks – there’s no food at the park and you’re sure to work up an appetite
• Cost: $10 entry fee + optional $2 map of the park
• Dog Friendly: Unfortunately, no

For a more intimate experience, sink your toes in the violet-hued sand at Pfeiffer Beach, a local favorite that boasts incredible offshore views and unique rock formations. One of the best things to do in Big Sur, this semi-hidden beach isn’t well marked and the entrance road adjacent to the highway can easily be missed. Located at the end of a 2-mile long twisty, single-lane road, this quintessential Big Sur locale is off the beaten path. Displaying the power of the ocean in its famed sea-carved arches, this beach’s grand views are absolutely majestic and provide the ideal place to drive with the top town.

• Tips: Usually very windy and cold, dress for the weather; For photographers, wait until sunset when the light shines perfectly through the keyhole and makes for a magical photograph
• Cost: $12 fee per car
• Dog Friendly: Leashed dogs are permitted on the beach

If you’re craving even more picturesque sights, put the top down and cruise on over to this beautiful state park for a few hours of exploring. Featuring views of the cove, the focal point of this park is McWay Falls – a breathtaking 80-foot waterfall that drops from the cliffs into the ocean below. With wonderfully maintained trails and gorgeous views of the falls, cove, ocean and trees, this tiny oasis is totally one of the top Big Sur things to do.

• Tip: Park north of the entrance on the ocean side for a great view of the waterfall
• Cost: Admission is $10 per vehicle; Allows entry into all California State Parks for the day
• Dog Friendly: Dogs are not allowed on State Park trails, although leashed dogs are permitted in the day-use and picnic areas

Amplify the drive in your drop-top and take some time to relish in the ultimate Big Sur scenery. Named after four lime kilns from the late 1800s that are still located on the grounds today, this uniquely historic park is worth the visit. Established in 1994, Limekiln features views of the Big Sur coast, redwood groves and more than 700 acres of serenity. The park’s hidden gem, Limekiln Falls, is located about 20-minutes from the trailhead. Possibly the most challenging out of three trails at Limekiln, the hike to the falls includes multiple creek crossings where visitors need to traverse fallen logs to get to the other side. For breathtaking hikes surrounded by redwoods and sequoias, Limekiln offers an intimate opportunity to immerse yourself in nature.

• Tip: Wear shoes that can get wet as you may need to creek hop along the trails
• Cost: Day-use entrance fee is $10 and, as with most other State Parks along Big Sur, it cannot be used for entrance into other parks
• Dog Friendly: Dogs are not allowed beyond day-use parking lot or picnic areas

This special place is one of the most unique things to do in Big Sur. A rookery, the term used to describe the breeding grounds for marine mammals like seals, hosts more than 24,000 elephant seals each year. What makes this rookery even more magnificent is that visitors can see all ages of elephant seals – from newborn babies to the 2.5-ton adult male – in their natural habitat. Easily accessible, free to visit and open to the public every day of the year, Piedras Blancas Rookery is the perfect place to feel the wind in your hair as you pull off the highway for a moment that’s sure to tug on your heartstrings.

• Tip: The peak times of year for seals at the rookery are:
  • Late January: Most births have occurred
  • Early May: The peak of juvenile/adult female molt
  • Late October: Juvenile haul-out
• Cost: Free!
• Dog Friendly: Keep dogs on a leash and away from the seals