Savour California's Gorgeous, Rugged Coastline

Start your day with some coffee and pastries at AMSTRDM Coffee House, just as locals do, before you enjoy the meandering curves and rolling hills of Highway 46. If you’re looking for a bigger breakfast, the restaurant also serves breakfast sandwiches, wraps, and burritos. If convenient, order online.
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Please visit the official website for more information.

Park at Santa Rosa Creek Day Use Area and take a walk in the beloved Moonstone Beach Park, with bluffs and a boardwalk that stretches one mile south to Leffingwell Landing Day Use Area. Pop onto the beach to seek the moonstones of Moonstone Beach, a variety of chalcedony mistakenly called moonstones, which are typically feldspar.

William Randolph Hearst's opulent estate is a sight to behold. Perched upon a majestic hilltop looking onto an undeveloped portion of a gorgeous coast, this stop deserves a few hours of time to see inside the 95,000-square-foot home, gardens, and famous Neptune Pool. Inside, you'll see impressive artwork and furnishings from all over the world, and a masterpiece building designed by one of the most celebrated and prolific pioneering female architects of the 20th century, Julia Morgan.
Take the 60-minute Grand Rooms Tour, offered every hour on the hour from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Reserve tickets here.
Look out for zebras grazing by the freeway as you drive by the entrance!

The Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery is an excellent spot to observe the elephant seals who birth, rest, and play here all year round. (They are most active and numerous, however, in late January, late April, and late October.)
Males, which can grow to 5000 pounds, are much larger than the females and sport an elephant-like trunk as a nose. A short boardwalk elevated above the beach is equipped with binoculars to provide good views towards the seals.

Ragged Point Inn is considered the southern gateway to Big Sur, and was once an outpost of the enormous landmass of Hearst Ranch. The scenic outdoor plaza buzzes with local bands on summer weekends, and you can get a reset at the Wine Bar and Espresso Bar, as well as lunch. Times are seasonal, so call beforehand on +18885846374.
Arguably one of America's most beloved scenic drives, Big Sur is an area that spans over 70 miles along the Pacific Ocean, with Highway 1 clinging to its curvy coastline. Visitors will encounter some of the world’s most dramatic ocean views, a National Marine Sanctuary, and, not surprisingly, a National Scenic Byway. Big Sur starts roughly between San Simeon and the Carmel Highlands along Highway 1.
As the roads frequently wash out, always check before you set off that the "coast is clear," so to speak. If windy road conditions make you sick, prepare ahead of time, as this drive is full of hairpin turns featuring long drops down to the sea.
Expect to lose phone service here!
For more information and to see the menu, please visit the official website.

Check out this public art that gives a great view out to sea. A short and sweet walk will get you here and you'll be glad to see the epic view over the cliff. The large, carved wooden viewing portal sculpture (and cultural landmark) was created by artists Aaron Appel and Abe Toke.

No drive through Big Sur is complete without seeing McWay Falls at Pfeiffer Burns State Park. An easy one-mile hike on a high path presents a beautiful view of the ocean below and the falls ahead. If you have time, the beach below is well worth the visit as well, showcasing unique purple sand and interesting tide pools.
The best option is to park on the side of Highway 1. Alternatively, you could pull into the parking lot near Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which is a little further away.

Consider dinner at Nepenthe, a cliffside restaurant with breathtaking views of the coast. The restaurant has served their Ambrosia Burger, Lolly's Roast Chicken, and Triple Berry Pie to the vagabonds, poets, literati, and yogis traveling this coastline since 1949. Or simply enjoy a glass of wine on the veranda. Either way, time will be well spent at this beautiful perch.
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
To make reservations and see the menu, please visit the official website, Facebook, or call +18316672345.

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