Road Trip Through Big Sur on Rt. 1

Then, it's straight onto 17 Mile Drive, a scenic road through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove. There are loads of gorgeous trees along this drive, including the 5,300-acre Del Monte Forest Cypress trees.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a city in Monterey County known as a haven for artists, writers and poets. In fact, it was established in 1905 as an art colony. It's located two hours south of San Francisco, and it's incredibly dog-friendly and prides itself on its alternative culture. In fact, there's even a law against wearing high heels without a permit!

Then, visit Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo in Carmel Valley. This is a beautiful, old Spanish mission on a hillside just a half mile from the sea, founded in 1770. Today visitors can explore the church, pore over the five on-site museums, and spend time in the peaceful courtyard.

Then pull over at Point Lobos State Reserve. This is believed to be the "crown jewel" of California's state parks. There's a vast coastal area that you can hike or drive along, and even a whaling museum.

Soon after, you'll come to Bixby Creek Bridge, an historic bridge opened in 1932; it's been a Big Sur fixture ever since. It's also one of the world's most photographed bridges, and it's not hard to see why.

After that, head down to Point Sur State Historic Park. There's a three-hour guided tour of the park, which is great for families. They explain the history of the park and the lighthouse, and you get to actually go into the lighthouse. Afterwards, there's a trip to a museum and a small gift shop. The tour is $12 for adults, $5 for children. Bring warm clothes, because it can get windy. TIP: Call well ahead of your visit to arrange a tour.

When you're ready to call it a night, check into the Big Sur River Inn, an historic lodge located right along Highway 1, and only a few miles from Pfeiffer Beach. The buildings were constructed in the 1930s and the whole place still retains a laid-back, old California feel. There's also an on-site restaurant and general store. When you stay here, plan to spend some time sitting on one of the chairs in the river, with a refreshing cocktail in hand.

Then head to Pfeiffer Beach to see the Sun Portal. This sea archway creates an incredible natural sun portal between December and January, when light pours out of the archway.

For more upscale dining, the Sierra Mar Restaurant at Post Ranch Inn boasts stunning cliffside ocean views, and offers very fine dining with a four-course, prix fixe menu that changes daily. It also features one of the largest wine collections in all of America. And, if you're looking to spend some money, you'd be hard-pressed to find a place more luxurious than the boutique Post Ranch Inn, built directly atop the cliff. There are no TVs here, just rustic simplicity, and there are even treehouses you can rent. Bonus: you can take yoga or stargazing classes if you choose to stay here.

If you're in the mood for some decadent cliffside dining, head to Nepenthe Restaurant, request a terrace seat and order the Ambrosia Burger, with a slice of chocolate cake for dessert.

Your next major stop is Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park where you can get a gorgeous shot of McWay Falls. I wouldn't recommend hiking down to the waterfall cove since it's quite dangerous, but with this vantage point, you won't feel like you're missing out on anything at all. There are plenty of places to take beautiful pictures of the waterfall. There are two campsites at the park and they're both incredibly popular, usually booked up to 6 months in advance.

If all this Big Sur adventuring has made you feel spiritual, then head to Esalen Hot Springs and Esalen Institute, where you can soak in an ocean-facing hot spring, get a massage, or simply meditate and contemplate the meaning of just about everything.

Next, you'll come to Limekiln State Park, a coastal state park featuring several lime kilns that were used in the late 19th century. It's also home to a beach and a stunning redwood forest, but the big showpiece is Limekiln Falls, a 100-foot cascading waterfall.

Since Big Sur is a mecca for spiritual adventurers, there's no shortage of religious and metaphysical places to visit, such as the Hermitage in Big Sur. This Camaldolese Benedictine monastery is one of the world's most drop-dead gorgeous monasteries. It's won worldwide renown for its panoramic ocean vistas, and its fruitcakes!

For more rustic camping, there's the Ponderosa Campground, which is run by the United States Forest Service in the Los Padres National Forest. One of the campground features is the Nacimiento River that runs through the backcountry camp, and it's just 13 miles off the Pacific Coast Highway.

Then dip your toes in Sand Dollar Beach, one of the largest sandy beaches in Big Sur. There's a $10 entrance fee, and stairs that lead straight down to the beach.

Another great place to spend the night in Big Sur is Treebones Resort, an affordable alternative to Post Ranch Inn. This "glamping" resort is 30 miles from Big Sur Village and features yurts, campsites, and a "human nest" (look it up, it's pretty crazy!) If you're hungry, there's a sushi bar, restaurant and convenience store also onsite.

Drive a bit to Ragged Point, where you can spend the night at the Ragged Point Inn & Restaurant. It's an amazing inn with incredible views of the coast and mountains.

About 10 minutes from Ragged Point is the Piedras Blancas Light Station in San Simeon. It's a beautiful 19th century lighthouse open year-round for tours. San Simeon is a very tiny hamlet, home to only 440-ish people, but it's considered "the biggest 'little' town in California," and is home to the Piedras Blanca Elephant Seals Rookery.