Big Sur is more a state of mind than a place to pinpoint on a map, and when the sun goes down, the moon and the stars are the area's natural streetlights. (That's if summer's fog hasn't extinguished them.) Raw beauty and an intense maritime energy characterize this land shoehorned between the Santa Lucia Range and the Pacific Ocean, and a first glimpse of the craggy, unspoiled coastline is a special moment.
In the 1950s and '60s, Big Sur – named by Spanish settlers living on the Monterey Peninsula, who referred to the wilderness as el país grande del sur ('the big country to the south') – became a retreat for artists and writers, including Henry Miller and Beat Generation visionaries such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Today Big Sur attracts self-proclaimed artists, new-age mystics, latter-day hippies and city slickers seeking to unplug and reflect more deeply on this emerald-green edge of the continent.
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If you're chasing waterfalls, swing into this state park named for the daughter of some of the earliest European settlers to arrive in Big Sur. The…
Pfeiffer Beach
Pfeiffer Beach is at the heart of what Big Sur is all about – splendid, unusual scenery that's inspired generations of artists, writers, and travelers…
Point Sur State Historic Park
A little over 6 miles south of Bixby Bridge, Point Sur rises like a velvety green fortress out of the sea. It looks like an island, but is actually…
Partington Cove
This is a raw, breathtaking spot where crashing surf salts your skin. On the steep, half-mile dirt hike down to the cove, you'll cross a cool bridge and…
Named after the farmer who first planted artichokes in California, this oft-overlooked park is a trail-laced pastiche of grassy meadows, ocean bluffs and…
The tortuously winding 40-mile stretch of Hwy 1 south of Lucia to Hearst Castle is sparsely populated, rugged and remote, mostly running through national…
Less than 15 miles south of Carmel, this landmark spanning Rainbow Canyon is one of the world's highest single-span bridges. Completed in 1932, it was…
Jade Cove
In the waters of Jade Cove in 1971, local divers recovered a 9000lb jade boulder that measured 8ft long and was valued at $180,000. People still comb the…
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Big Sur's largest state park was named after the area's first European settlers who arrived in 1869. It has hiking trails looping through stately redwood…
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Latest Stories from Big Sur
9 bucket-list beaches in Big Sur
Watch the land and ocean play out their endless drama at these Big Sur beaches
You can hike this incredible Californian trail for the first time in 13 years
As California drops most of its COVID-19 restrictions, one of the state's most popular hiking trails is reopening to the public for the first time in 13 years.
Sights and sweets along the California coast
From San Francisco to San Diego there's 500 miles of the best scenery and ice cream in California. Here's your roadmap to all of it.
Big Little Lies filming locations in Monterey you won't want to miss
Jun 6, 2019 • 3 min read
For lovers of the Big Little Lies TV series it is not just the incredible relationships forged by Madeline, Renata, Bonnie, Celeste and Jane that keep…
Glamping in California: 5 spots to sleep comfortably under the stars
With such an incredible variety of landscapes, California is the perfect place to reconnect with nature. But what if you just don't like to tough out…
Chasing art in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur
Along California's scenic Highway 1, nestled high on wild mountain cliffs overlooking the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean lie the picturesque…
Scenic Big Sur: top sights on your Highway 1 road trip
An epic road trip is one of America's favorite pastimes, and few drives are more iconic than Highway 1 through Big Sur. Tight turns hug the rugged…
Weekend escape to Big Sur
For decades travelers have journeyed to Big Sur seeking communion with the wild. Artists and writers, adventure-seekers and soul-searchers have looked to…
Pacific Coast Highway closures means visitors can bike 'Big Sur Island'
People are calling it Big Sur Island. A stunning stretch of Pacific Coast Highway that, in recent years, has become overly congested and is now cut off…
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Big Sur.
Take a magical road trip on California's Highway 1
Learn more about Big Sur