The last day of my journey was definitely the busiest but also in my opinion the most fun and rewarding. Keep track of my many pit stops using this list:
- Point Lobos
- Alta Bakery
- La Bicyclette
- Monterey Car Week
- Pfeiffer Beach
- Partington Cove
I woke up early to go to Point Lobos which is just south of Carmel right before Highway 1 begins its iconic cliffside path. It was $10 to enter, which honestly is super fair considering the amount of time you can spend walking the various trails.
The worker at the gate also said that my purchase granted me admission to any other state park for the day – so its a great idea to hit Point Lobos first if you decide to spend a lot of time in nature for a day!
I then drove around and parked near the Cypress Grove trail, which I walked along with the Sea Lion Point Trail. At the tip of the Sea Lion trail a helpful volunteer allowed us to use a high-powered (he said it cost over $1000!) microscope to see otters and sea lions far in the distance. I somehow managed to capture the view on my phone and was so happy to have a record of the natural beauty.
Then, I drove south and explored China Cove and Bird Island, two serene coastal locations with the reserve that were a perfect contrast to the wooded cliffs to the north.
China Cove had incredibly crystal clear blue water, and I want to say Bird Island literally had thousands of birds sitting on it – just look at the picture!
After exploring the last of Point Lobos, I drove back to Monterey to get brunch with some friends who happened to be in the area. We went to Alta Bakery, a quaint little bakery with tons of interesting pastries and ample outdoor seating.
I then did a quick tour of some of the fairy tale cottages in Carmel after finding a helpful map of the locations at the Harrison Memorial Library. Luckily downtown Carmel is extremely walkable and lively.
I was especially lucky that day because Carmel and Monterey were hosting their annual car week! Downtown Carmel’s main road, Ocean Ave, was lined with Aston Martins, including an Aston Martin Formula 1 racecar! I also saw numerous Lamborginis, Porsches, Corvettes, and even a plane!
Carmel also has a lot of unique luxury and craft good shopping destinations, and many were catering to the car crowd with up front displays featuring car branded clothing and accessories.
Many restaurants were also way busier than normal due to the influx of people, but I was fortunate enough to get a table at Le Biciclette, a Michelin featured European restaurant that served amazing quality food with top notch service. Their mushroom pizza was phenomenal as was their mediterranean skewers.
Parked right outside the restaurant was a bizarrely extravagant car that sparkled in the sunlight. The owner claimed that over 300,000 rhinestones were embedded in the cars exterior to give it its unique look.
After getting my delicious meal to fuel me for my upcoming wilderness exploration, I started the trek down towards Big Sur.
I am being completely genuine when I say that stretch of highway down to Big Sur is the most beautiful road I’ve ever driven on. Taking in the sights alone as I drove would have made the entire trip worth it.
It was also really cool to see a bunch of roadside businesses still open and thriving despite the road closure. Very cute forest-core log cabin diners, motels, and gas stations dotted the road once I arrived to Big Sur, along with various roads to lead to hiking trailheads.
I took one of these long, winding roads to get to Pfeiffer Beach, a secluded sandy paradise tucked away behind the trees. The road was very narrow, so no large vehicles like RVs and vans were allowed in. The beach also had a $15 entrance fee (the pass I got from Point Lobos didn’t apply 😢), but it was well worth it.
Walking onto the beach was like entering a different world untouched by humans. The sand was deep and fluffy, the waves were crashing beautifully onto large rocks near the shore, and there were large sand banks nestled into the cliffs with plenty of wind protection and space to lie down and rest. I ended up spending a whole hour at the beach just admiring how amazingly pretty it was.
After the beach I drove another 20 minutes south to Partington Cove, another secluded location along the coast. To access this area, you need to pull onto the shoulder of the road near the trailhead, which you can find on Google Maps.
You will see a gate that prevents cars from passing, along with a little gap next to the gate allowing hikers to pass by. The trails are open from 8am until sunset and split into multiple directions.
The direction I took took me over a small wooden bridge and through a tunnel carved into a mountain! The tunnel brought me to a small walkway that led out to a cute little bench overlooking the rocky shore and cove. I couldn’t help but think it would be the perfect intimate date or picnic spot.
The other trails lead to another rocky shore closer to sea level, and to Partington Canyon. However, I didn’t have time to hike those as I had to get back out of Big Sur before sunset, as I was uncomfortable driving that road at night despite how pretty it may be.
I drove all the way up to Santa Cruz, about an hour and a half a city with a younger, more chill vibe than the intimate classiness of Carmel. There, I got dinner and explored downtown. The city’s downtown is filled with interesting vintage shops with clothing and jewelry, including a shop featuring merchandise from the iconic Santa Cruz skate brand.
Santa Cruz also boasts a sizable boardwalk with amusement park rides and other attractions. Unlike the Santa Monica Pier, you cannot pay for rides individually and must get a day pass, but I think it is well worth it if you are planning on spending a lot of time there.
I however was exhausted from my day of hiking and driving so I called it a night, thus concluding my 4-day road trip. All in all, I’m incredibly happy I decided to go on this trip. It was so exciting to blend my meticulous attraction planning with some spontaneity as I experienced new areas and places that challenged and amazed me. Each day felt like I was traveling through an entirely different state and I loved the diversity of my experiences.
But what about your future road trip? It doesn’t have to be 4 days! It could be longer – or shorter – depending on what you want to do and see along the way! Don’t feel pressure to stay in a certain place for too long or feel rushed to get to your next destination – sometimes its better to just go with the flow and enjoy what you like best. That being said – I hope you take some inspiration or ideas from my experiences and use it to create an unforgettable vacation!
Joanne's Journey 