January 16, 2016

As much as I love traveling and exploring new places, I never really took the time to explore the places that people think of when they hear:  San Francisco Bay Area.  When I first heard about Big Sur, I assumed it was a landmark.  However, Big Sur embodies more than just a landmark, it is known for the views and the emotions that are evoked during the drive.  In total, it took me about 4-5 hours to complete the drive to Big Sur, and it took the whole holiday weekend to explore the main attractions of the area.  Big Sur should not be experienced in a day; it should be experienced in small doses throughout several days to a week.

Bixby Creek Bridge

My first stop during the drive to Big Sur was Bixby Creek Bridge.  There are parking lots for people to park their cars and an opportunity for you to hike down to the coastal beach next to the bridge.  After leaving this area, I lost signal and GPS.  All I could do was continue driving straight and through the many curves of the coast.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

There were state parks within Big Sur, and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park was one of the popular ones.  Within Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, there is the McWay Falls.  I’ve seen countless photographs of this waterfall.  However, the day I went, the skies were not clear, and it was foggy.

Ragged Point Inn

This was the view of the coast from my room.  I was able to get an upgrade at a reasonable price.  I spent most of my time exploring areas outside of Ragged Point Inn, and it was not until the day I was leaving that I happened to take a look right outside of where I was staying.  Ragged Point Inn’s property is beautiful and allows you to hike in less popular areas but the perk is less foot traffic.

Salmon Creek Falls

Driving back, I had to make a quick stop just to capture the coastal views.  For more information on the hiking trail to Salmon Creek Falls, check out this website

Reflections

I’m glad I did not attempt to explore Big Sur in one day, which I have thought about.  It was worth taking the time, spreading out my days here.  I plan to make another drive to Big Sur, although, it will be different this time, mainly because of the collapse of part of Highway 1.  Hopefully, it will be restored soon because the drive to Big Sur through Highway 1 is the best part.

Where have I traveled in the United States?

United States