Big Sur: The California Gem

Take the ultimate California road trip and wind your way down the famous Pacific Coast Highway into Big Sur, the gem of the West Coast.

Escape the city for miles of uninterrupted scenic beauty. Lush trails full of towering trees and dramatic cliffs overlooking the misty Pacific Ocean make for the ideal drive to clear your mind and experience a side of the West that most only see in movie scenes. Explore the land that was once blessed to be inhabited by the Esselen, Ohlone, & Salinan tribes. Visit these stops throughout Big Sur to make the most of your road trip.

I first made it to Big Sur in 2015 with my roommate at the time on our way home from a road trip to San Francisco. We took a week off and partied in the city then took our time winding down the coast in what became one of my favorite places in the world. The trip was epic; we woke up with the sunrise, slept in the forest in a magical wood cabin with no wifi, stopped at every beach and trail that interested us all with Erykah Badu’s “Mama’s Gun” on repeat. It was one of those trips that you remember after many rotations around the sun, clear as the day you took it. The smell of fresh pine and crisp ocean leave a familiar impression upon you, grasping you in like an old friend you haven’t seen since your last life. This part of California has air with healing qualities revealing itself in strong gusts of wind that make your hair dance and your vessel glow.

One of my favorite spots on the list is Julia Pfeiffer State Park, an iconic trademark of the area with trails that lead to the famous McWay Falls, a breathtaking waterfall flowing directly into the ocean. The park is closed right now to protect the public but you can still pull over and park on the highway to get this view. During “normal” circumstances you are able to hike all the way down and explore further. Be cautious and remember to keep your distance from others while you are enjoying the sacred view.

There are many places to pull over in Big Sur to get a closer glimpse at it’s beauty. The spontaneity of driving simply to explore is so liberating, surrendering to the winding of the road leading you down the path you were destined to step upon. I dream of spending a week here off grid, writing by myself every morning with a coffee by the cold waves. These overlooks provide paths to get better acquainted with the secret views the cliffs hide. At the peak we are women in the wild, untamed hair exploding into the ether like bursts of electricity igniting our every move. Perhaps this was the very point where native women once stood, integrated with the same wind that speaks to us today. This land has been continuously taken from many hands. From the tribes who knew this area the best to the Spanish who then ripped it away, the area has become a mixture of cultures and memories that wear their history like deep wrinkles of the epidermis. This land remains sacred and must be honored as you pass through.

Pfeiffer Beach is home to the huge rock formation with a window to the open sea. Formed by the pressure of the waves, the water crashes through the opening and splashes through with a glorious force. The parking lot is located off a sharp turn from Pacific Coast Highway and down a narrow five mile road. Pay the daily fee to park your car and explore the local landmark. Walk under majestic extended branches of old guardian trees and onto a chilly lagoon that flows out into a classic NorCal beach. The sun may be out but prepare to bundle up so you can enjoy the scenery, it can get cold AF quickly .

Next on the list is Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn which my friend and fellow traveler suggested back on my first trip. She described a scene straight out of a movie and what I encountered surpassed all my expectations of a forest wonderland. Nestled in one of Hwy 1 winding turns lives the ethereal fairy like compound of my dreams. Truly a rustic experience, Deetjen’s offers everything you need for the Big Sur experience while maintaining true to their old school and cozy appeal.

If you are looking for an adventure in the woods that doesn’t involve pitching a tent and facing the elements head on, the Inn offers cabins that come equipped to renew, restore, and unplug. There are no TV’s or wifi available in the rooms but there is a romantic candle lit restaurant right off the road, in addition to a path up into the creek behind the property. Park your car and follow the way up for full views of the mountain landscapes that drop into the sea. The creek towards the back sits in between giant trees and carved stone figurines that lay nestled like guardians of the forest. Chairs carved out of wood are placed next to the creek and are a favorite spot to meditate and soak up some sun. This is a great alternative to the trending, modern accommodations that are popping up all over. This place still has soul and maintains the essence of the old wagon days.

Ragged Point is a good place to stop and fuel up on gas or food. You have bathrooms, a gift shop, and benches overlooking the cliffs where you can eat and sip on your wine. You can hit up the trail that goes down into the fog covered beach just right off the picnic benches on the grass. Take a walk around and explore the grounds. This is the southern most point of the area before San Simenon and if you are heading South through Big Sur this will be one of your last stops. You will find various wooden sculptures around the property such as the one below referred to as the portal of Big Sur. And that’s just what these places are, portals into worlds that transcend your everyday experiences of life. Every trip I take is a portal into an expanded world that I can envision living in. How would life unravel there? Would my work change and could I see more clearly?

I think it’s important to stay moving, aiming for a constant flux of energy that you create and emit out into the world. We are creators forging the life we want for ourselves. Our thoughts, words, decisions, and plans unravel possibility and for me that is best expressed when traveling. I am in a perpetual state of gratitude that magnifies exponentially each time I step on new land. Some places, like Big Sur, open up the senses and expand the mind to see the natural world and experience frequencies other than what one is used to.

This trip was decided on last minute and so there were many stops that we did not have the time to visit. This list is for those who are passing through and want to get the goods on a tight schedule. Not on the list was Bixby Bridge which is perhaps the area’s most recognizable stop. It is the iconic bridge built in the early 1930’s and known for it’s stunning architecture. Rejoice as you will pass over it when traveling through. In addition you have a handful of state parks to venture into if you have more time.

Each year the way I travel evolves into a routine that is more authentically me. It’s less about the schedule but more about the places that evoke a sense of empowerment and deep connection to source. Every new places awakens dormant desires for more. I realized that I am always planning for the next big trip when I can indulge in the moment and discover closer places on a whim, even for a night, with no plan in sight. Each day is the next big trip, the next moment has already arrived, and with that understanding I try to treat each breath as a new chapter in the human experience.

DDA