| If you love dramatic scenery, rugged coastlines, and | | | | backcountry camping to 4- and 5-Star |
| rocky shores, Northern California's Big Sur area will | | | | accommodations; from cooking your own hotdogs |
| blow you away! Big Sur is approximately 90 miles of | | | | over an open flame, to buffalo burgers at a local pub, |
| relatively isolated and sparsely populated scenic views, | | | | to a spectacular ocean view served up with your fillet |
| with the Santa Lucia Mountains dropping precipitously | | | | mignon and your Raymond "Generations" Cabernet. |
| toward the Pacific Ocean's crashing waves below. A | | | | These, too, add to Big Sur's dramatic reputation! |
| visit to Big Sur will find you driving along a two lane | | | | Big Sur also offers up a quirky, unconventional |
| highway (one lane in each direction) that hugs the | | | | personality that stems largely from its isolation. Before |
| mountains on one side and allows for | | | | Highway 1 was completed in 1937, you couldn't reach |
| bungee-jumping-style downward-views on the other | | | | Big Sur except on horseback, and an arduous journey |
| side. But don't worry, it's a perfectly safe drive as long | | | | it would have been! Today, Big Sur's inhabitants are |
| as the driver isn't doing too much of the sightseeing! | | | | often descendants of the original Ohlone Indians, or the |
| In addition to the spectacular views of the mountains | | | | first hearty homesteaders, or the Bohemian poets, |
| and the ocean, you'll find a diversity of experiences to | | | | writers and artists who came a bit later. The mixture |
| take your breath away: wilderness areas, State Parks, | | | | of the people, their establishments, and the more or |
| beaches, the only California waterfall that drops into | | | | less solitary existence they've enjoyed in one of |
| the Pacific Ocean, and camping in exotic settings. | | | | Mother Nature's truly exotic wonderlands has given |
| Big Sur is also recognized for the diversity of its | | | | them a charming eccentricity all their own. |
| micro-climates. From sea level to a thousand feet in | | | | Drive along the coast, enjoying the spectacular views; |
| way less than a mile; redwoods growing within spitting | | | | explore the beaches and the mountains; hike; swim in |
| distance of cacti; variances in temperature and | | | | the rivers; watch whales, sea otters, porpoise, and sea |
| humidity often resulting in fog along the coast at the | | | | lions cavorting; visit the hamlet of Big Sur & shop |
| same time as hot, sunny days inland; these factors all | | | | the local shops; explore the many art galleries; and |
| contribute to Big Sur's reputation for drama as well! | | | | most especially, talk to the people, the locals, and learn |
| Then there's the diversity of experiences in terms of | | | | all you can about the Big Sur experience. You won't |
| lodging and dining. You'll find everything from | | | | be sorry you did! |