Big Sur is in California.

Big Sur coast, Pacific Coast Highway, California, USA

Understand

The rugged coastline of Big Sur is breathtaking. You can best see it driving along the Pacific Coast Highway (there are plenty of places to pull over and take pictures, but be careful both while driving and standing along side the road - the scenery is a real distraction!).

Big Sur is also known as a destination for the "Merry Pranksters" in the 1960s.

Get in

You can take Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway). It is about 26 miles south from Carmel.

Get around

See

• Henry Miller Memorial Library Highway 1, a quarter mile south of Nepenthe Restaurant, 831-667-2574 [1].

• Esalen retreat center. [2]

• There are a number of Art Galleries along PCH.

Do

Point Sur Lighthouse State Park. Located 19 miles south of Carmel, you can't miss Pt. Sur. It's the big rock jutting from the shoreline like it was thrown there by a giant. On top of the rock, you can clearly see the Pt. Sur Lighthouse and buildings. The standard three hour tour is worth it if you have the time and would like to get some incredible views, learn a little history and do something a little bit different than the standard California coastal tourist fare.

Buy

Eat

• Nepenthe [3] Highway One, 831-667-2345.

Drink

Sleep

• Big Sur Campground and Cabins. They have campsites, tent-cabins and rustic cabins, all beneath giant redwoods and beside the Big Sur river. There's great swimming in the river and hiking is close by. Kids can ride inner-tubes or rubber boats down the river and a short 3 mile drive either north or south will get you to beautiful beaches (Pfieffer to the south and Molera to the north.)

Get out