seeing big sur

Our drive along the coast from Monterey into Big Sur featured many stops along the side of the highway. California definitely knows how to space out their turn-offs and they also know how to keep the real treasures hidden. We traveled 40 miles in three hours, stopping to peer down steep hillsides and cliffs, explore beaches, and hike through forests.

After seeing almost every bit of the coastline down to Julia Pfeiffer State Park, we marveled at McWay Falls, the only waterfall in California to empty directly into the ocean. (A bit of history: The waterfall used to land directly in the water. However, a beach now rests below, the result of lots of dirt and sand from a landslide just north of the fall. The ocean then carried the dirt around a small promontory and dumped it in the next cove.)



As was characteristic of most of our days in Monterey, we woke up to thick fog overhead. And as we traveled south, the fog thickened for miles before showing any sign of relenting. The lifting clouds revealed lush green hillsides and turquoise ocean water reflecting the sun's golden rays. From Andrew Molera to Julia Pfeiffer State Parks, we basked under blue skies and watched cows grazing on fields abutting the windy beaches. The varied landscape included tall redwoods, dusty trails, boulders and arches, and rocky seaside cliffs.

We had hoped that on our return trip north, the fog would remain at bay, allowing us to see those vistas that we had missed, but unfortunately for us, the fog returned and settled for the evening.



Lots of photos from our visit to Big Sur here.