Big Sur, California: 1 Day Road Trip to Beaches, Waterfalls, Bridges and Elephant Seals
Big Sur is one of the most beautiful places on Pacific Coast Highway. My dad and I visited the area during our 7 day Pacific Coast Highway road trip and i wanted to share it specifically on this channel so that people could see how amazing it is and maybe want to drive Pacific Coast Highway for themselves. During our one day in Big Sur, we did multiple hikes, saw waterfalls, beaches, redwood trees and elephant seals. What's your favorite spot in Big Sur?
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Pro tip about sand dollar beach is that if you pay for pfeiffer beach, save the receipt and visit sand dollar beach on the same day for free. Going the other direction doesn’t work cuz there is a manned kiosk at pfeiffer beach. Not at sand dollar beach. Nepenthe is amazing. It’s worth every cent. Pfeiffer beach if you are coming from the south is the first left past the Big Sur post office. There is a left turn sign. But it’s easy to miss the road and if you miss it, it’s hard to turn right on that road. Much easier to access from the south. I’ve been to pfeiffer falls but not on the trail. Last time I was there it was still closed. It finally is back open. I’m so glad. The first time I went it had gotten washed out in a combined massive fire and massive flood. I have been to the valley view hike and it has a nice view but nothing spectacular. It’s very pretty. I can only imagine how great the pfeiffer falls trail is super nice. Also the piedras Blancas lighthouse tour by the elephant seals preserve is really cool if you’ve never been. Very in depth guided tour of lighthouse and the piedras Blancas preserve. It’s $10. Only open certain days of the week for one guided tour per day.
Thanks for all the information! The Pfeiffer Falls Trail is so nice now, you should totally check it out! I went to Piedras Blancas Lighthouse a few years back, it was a great tour but it was almost a half day when we went haha.
You can go to sand dollar beach for free if you don’t mind adding an extra 10 minutes to your walk as it’s already a lengthy walk down the trail to the beach when you pay for parking. You just have to park in the neighborhood before the road that leads you down to parking lot at sand dollar. Most times there is someone at the kiosk but if you just want to see the view you can park without dropping off money in the pay box on the days the kiosk is closed
ALL THE STATE PARKS ARE PAY ONCE DAY USE FEE. Except Limekiln, which, sadly, the state sold to a private ownership. You can still spend time at Limekiln, however, you wil, have to pay a separate fee. Otherwise, pay at any entrance and keep the sticker on your windshield to enter any state park mentioned in this video ,and others not mentioned, such as Point Lobos.
Used to live in Monterey and Big Sur was the backyard. I miss the long lazy drive on the PCH. It is unquestionably one of the most, if not the most beautiful coastal drive in the world.
Agree 100%
The area at Paul's Slide (Limekiln, Gorda) is closed indefinitely due to last winter's slides. The area is now unstable and extensive work needs to be done to bring the road away fron the cliffside. So, yes, check before making plans.
Your dad is awesome. Such good vibes no wonder why your vibes are great
When I was growing up we made a trip up here every summer…..thanks for the memories
I have stayed at The Ragged Point Inn and it was delightful! The restaurant was good as well. The deer graze when all the guests are sleeping. I watch them from my balcony at 1am.
I can only fathom how much effort it takes to make these beautiful videos of your trips and to be able to document it with your father is even more special. Love your videos thank you for sharing them all with us.
I can't thank you enough for these videos. Living in Connecticut, it's never easy to get back to California. But I have been there 11 times and after watching this one I was right back at my favorite place, McWay Falls. I had a local artist do a painting from a snapshot I took back in 2011. I treasure it as I treasure every minute of your amazing videos!
I’ve used your videos to plan so many trips now! You’ve really enriched our travels! Thank you!
Amazing tour of Big Sur! I love your videos! They’re such a wonderful inspiration for me to get out and explore.
Thank you. I've been waiting for you to do Big Sur, and you didn't disappoint! You brought back wonderful memories of when I've driven it myself. I've also stayed at Ragged Point Inn twice. The last time was several years ago when I wanted to show the west coast to my eastern-seacoast-raised late husband. I'd mapped out a route where the first sight of the Pacific Ocean was as unobstructed as possible. When he pulled over at the first viewpoint he started to say "it's a good thing I'm used to pulling over for scenic .....Oh. My. God." Yes, he interrupted his own comment as soon as he saw the Pacific! We stayed at Ragged Point Inn that night. When we got to our room, there was a window covering the west side of the room with sliding glass doors. You could just sit on the bed watching the sunset. Thank you again for these very well done videos.
These guys did a GREAT job capturing the essence of the Big Sur coastline..
Revived memories of our trip there about three months ago. The PCH is probably the most scenic route in the world. Earlier I thought Cape Town has the most scenic road view when driving to the Cape of Good Hope. Notable is the energy of the father and admire the respect that the son gives to his father.
Would love to do the Cape Town drive in the future!
@@ThroughMyLens The Cape drive is also very scenic. I have done that about seven or eight times. On the day trip one also see penguins at Boulders Beach and Sea Lions in Haut Bay. Wild Chacma baboons can also be seen as they regularly use urban spaces in search of human foods. At the Cape of Good Hope one gets to witness a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean in the most southern part of the continent.
Try the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia for a drive better then both those.
Beautiful footage of this amazing stretch of Highway 1, PCH. Thanks Especially liked seeing the sea lions/seals , like when i seen them many years ago. Nice to see they are still flocking to the coast there
Love all your videos! Big Sur❤
I I am so glad to see this. I went to California 45 years ago, road trip from Texas. We missed the road that goes by Big Sur, and the views on your video are amazing! Thank You!
Beautiful, I love this part of the PCH since my early 20s. Thank you for sharing this adventure.
We went to Hearst Castle and Nepenthe for the first time ever. It was beautiful and the food and view was great from both places. A return trip is needed. You highlighted so many wonderful places to add to our road trips. Great video!
Absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for this wonderful video 💙 nice vibe from you 😊
Amazing shots! Thank you for the tips loved it!
Absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for the beautiful video. Never seen an ocean and this is my destination.
Perfect. This is going to be a day on our next family driving trip from LA to SF. Thank you for the details, etc.
Definitely adding the Big Sur to my California must see list, thank you!
I lived and worked at Ragged Point for a total of over 7 years. I lived just behind the tree line to the right of the pagoda. I’d do the SLO County drive a few times a month, basically from Pismo to RPI. I explored north as well, of course, Salmon Creek, Jade Cove, etc. But Ragged Point was home. Thanks for the flashback!!
Garrapata beach is definitely the highlight. That's the very definition of an awesome scenic shore drive.
Thanks for the time stamps. I always appreciate when people do that. Also, thank you for sharing your pleasant day in our beautiful area. Please come visit again. ❤
My husband and I stayed at Ragged Point ten years ago. We stayed in one of the one story rooms near the bluff. The room wasn’t anything special, but it was clean and cozy. The best part was hearing the waves while we went to sleep. One night it rained, so hearing that on the roof was also nice.
Really well done video--based on my admittedly limited experience--it seems you hit ALL the best stops. Whenever I am asked about the best roads in America this stretch is firmly ensconced in the Top Ten. Thanks for sharing and in doing so bringing back great memories.
Thanks for taking me back home...Carmel is my hometown, though I've lived away for many years. There weren't many built-up paths and fees for parking when I was younger. It was much wilder and rugged then. I've always loved Nepenthe, especially the outdoor back deck full of windchimes on the ocean side, and the gorgeous views of the Coast Range looking south. River Inn is also a good spot for a meal, live jazz on Sundays, and you can walk in the shallow river. The Old Coast Road is my favorite slow drive, up and downhill from light to dark, undulating and winding. Some of the series "Then Came Bronson" was filmed there, going inland from his crossing Bixby Creek Bridge on motorcycle. There are masses of beautiful wild calla liles along the Little Sur River as you come around that wide slow loop going north. I'm glad you and your Dad did this together. Precious times.
Aww Dad is narrating too, love this!! He did a great job. 👍🏼 Awesome recommendations!
Wow 🤩 absolutely amazing views of Big Sur!! 🎉🎉🙌🙌❤️❤️❤️wonderful video thank you so much for sharing! 🙌🙌🙏🙏
Just discovered you channel. I have bingo watched your show for two days now. Love watching you and your Dad discovering fun and funky places on your travels!
I absolutely love your videos, and the style and way you present them. This video is no exception.👏 very interesting and entertaining, as always 👏🌲🌊
Thank you so much, really appreciate it!
Loved it. Feels like i visited all these places along the Big Sur myself.
Thanks for all the amazing videos you share with us
I will be going up there soon. I luv it up north. Great information and beautiful pictures.
Wow drop dead gorgeous! Big Sur Coast! 🌄
Thanks for sharing again Josh.
Loved everything about this vid
Great video and information! Thank you for making this
I love watching your travels with your Pops. Hubby and I did this exact trip in Feb 2022. We were lucky enough to spend the night at the Post Ranch Inn - definitely a romantic spot. Please keep posting.
Wow, I have always wanted to stay there. That's awesome!
Just subscribed to your channel. Loved the sound of your voice 👍and what better way to travel the world with your pap!
so beautiful thanks
Heloo from California , we enjoy all your programs it’s amazing ,quality #1 details ,and the best thing ,you are traveling whit your dad and it’s so impressive ,big helooo for your dad ,
Awesome shots! Thanks for sharing!
I love your videos! We visited California and camped in Big Sur many years ago. It was very beautiful and enjoyed all of the awesome views! We would love to go back sometime.
Jack Kerouac brought me here. Beautiful.
I love your videos and the places you take us to see which are difficult for us old folks to do . Big Sur is magnificent! Thank you so very much.🥰👍😃
Thanks for watching!
Need a bit of a thrill while you're in Big Sur? Do the drive while your brakes are grinding back to Morro Bay! Last time I was there my brakes started going metal to metal heading north into the town of Big Sur. Then the road was closed going north soI had to turn around for a nice two hour drive back to Morro Bay on sketchy brakes. Good times!😀 So my pro tip is to check your brakes (among other things). You definitely don't want to break down out there!
Oh wow that sounds like an adventure!
Put out the drag chute! LOL
Absolutely beautiful scenery.Reminds me of the parts of Byron Bay,Australia in many parts.
Love that area 😍 Beauty @ every turn!
Big Sur was already on my bucket list, but this video moved it right towards the top! :)
Drove along the coast on vacation for "the scenic+longer route". Also rode my road bike along the route before. Keep the ocean to your right and you'll be in for an experience.
Just love your videos🌟Your dad is so cool👍
It's so beautiful in person. Thank God for this amazing bday trip the best ever. Enjoy all these beautiful nature places now while you can before the world get darkness. Next year will be big changes to very darrrk. I pray for everyone 🙏✝️🥺🥺
It is very nice but very nice video that you have prepared for us, I am very happy to see it again, thank you.
FANTASTIC !
Did this trip many moons ago. Such a beautiful area. Favorite spot was probably the bakery near Big Sur or the Bixby Bridge.
FYI: purple sand is actually garnet sand. Yes, garnet.
great video, those redwoods were awesome
Awesome views, I never been there but I hope to sometime. You all did great on the awesome views. Thankyou so much.
Our pleasure! I hope you make it there one day!
So beautiful, great video
I've done the drive 6 times in my life. One of my friends saw the pics I had taken, and decided to check it out while they were in Cali. They thought it was beautiful, but their fear of heights definitely impacted their enjoyment! I had never mentioned it because heights are a bonus for me, and didn't realize that others might not feel the same!
haha I know what you mean. I would never think about it if it wasn't for pops haha
Beautiful footage of Big Sur in the beginning of the old Chevy Chase movie, Seems Like Old Times. Well done.
Love the videos! You missed Salmon Creek Falls…..Such a short little hike to an awesome waterfall. You gotta do a quick video on it.
One of my favorite places in Central Ca.
Looks daunting
greating from bali indonesia,amazing coast beach in california,nice journey and traveling brother,
Wow! I will be visiting the USA for the first time (I am from Poland btw) and I think I will be staying away of Los Angleles and I really want to visit all those beautiful places in California! It reminds me of France - Cote d"Azur a little bit :)
watching from south east asia. awsome! 🇺🇸
It's a must! Beautiful! :)
Wow unbelievable. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Thats our favorite drive. We prefer the scenery and the slower pace to the valley freeway when we travel to Monterey from SoCal.
Fave Big Sur spot: Point Lobos State Park. Perfect in every way! Do the perimeter hike…. just try to avoid the weekend.
We love the ragged point inn restaurant. The food is good and well priced.
Nice panoramas...awesome
looks fantastic🙂
Love everything about this video. I am very grateful that you are making such great content and sharing it with everyone.
Thank you so much, kind of you to say!
We just returned from 3 nights camping in San Simeon. We spend 2 entire days exploring Big Sur. We've driven through Big Sur a dozen times, but this was the first time we were able to really explore. Got to spend time in many places we've just looked at from the road. We normally travel through during the winter, so were surprised at the crowds. Places too busy to stop were Henry Miller Library, Bixby Bridge and Pfeiffer Beach (no parking available). We couldn't find parking at Pfeiffer Falls on day 1, but we went back and found parking on day 2. The park is still closed - looks like renovation in progress, but part of the trail is open, just far enough to see the falls. If you've never stopped at Mill Creek Picnic area, I would highly suggest spending an hour there. Creek running to the beach, rocky shoreline, but hidden sandy beaches both to the north and south that are only accessible from Mill Creek (as far as I could tell). About 10 years ago, we stayed at Rocky Point and absolutely loved it. Rooms are just average, but even though we had a first floor room, we had a spectacular view. We watched sunset from the forest area and thought about trying the trail down to the beach, but decided that we didn't want to break our necks.
Beautiful video!
Stunning
It really is!
I miss California. Big Sur is beautiful and the climate of the coast is unique. You have a great dad. It's always nice to spend quality time together. Keep doing these short documentaries. Greetings from Germany. 👍
Wonderful Big Sur...the best place of California!!! I stayed there, years ago 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Lol ❤️ from Italy 🇮🇹
SO glad you got to see it!
@@ThroughMyLens Thanks 💖 Big Sur forever in my heart 💖🌟💖🌟
Though the entire pch drive is fantastic, Big Sur is my favorite section
Great video, thanks!
Beautiful places 😍 like this video
Good informative video, Thanks
Beautiful👍👍👍
We drove the PCH North to south in a 40 ft motorhome. Going south the passenger feels like your looking down a cliff the whole way, and the shoulder looks about a foot wide. I’m exaggerating slightly of course, but if you are prefer not to look over a cliff the whole trip, go south to north. One of the most scenic drives I’ve seen. The Cabot trail on Cape Breton is another similar awesome drive. 👍
Yea my dad would not have liked that 😂
You probably aren’t exaggerating by much. Haha
There a few nice camping spots near big sur.
SO AMAZING VOICE !!! GREAT FOR POETRY!!!
Nice and beautiful, thanks guys
Our pleasure!
1:55 -- great advice! check road conditions beforehand (Big Sur's famous Hwy 1 is currently closed north of San Simeon)
Wonderful video!
Loved rhe views
i stayed at ragged point inn about two weeks ago! It’s a lovely hotel. The price is on the higher end during peak season but the view was lovely when it’s not foggy. The food at the restaurant was also very good. The hotel also has no wifi and no mobile reception so it was a (much needed) detox. For all cat lovers there lives a ginger cat named Puma at the hotel who’s so cute
❤🎉😊 Mash Allah my brother.❤❤❤😊 This video was truly a work of art. Alhamdu Allah!😊
Video's are excellent.
Great video..need to take a drive up the coast, but not in the winter..too foggy and gets dark early
Love U Guiiiis !!!!