After a few planning sessions, we were able to get our schedules to align with my Mom and Stepdad for a mini-vacation down to Big Sur and Monterey. Betty and I have been meaning to get down to Big Sur and Monterey for a while now, so this was a great opportunity! Next time, we’ll probably go for camping and more hiking, but this was a great start!

  Cool motorcycle art on the way down to Big Sur.

About 20 minutes North of Big Sur is the iconic Bixby Bridge. It’s a beautiful piece of functional art.

Our first stop was Big Sur Bakery – which had an amazing breakfast pizza and one of the best pieces of fried chicken that I’ve ever had. Definitely worth stopping by if you’re in the area! Kitchen doesn’t open until 11AM, but the pastries were equally good.

Our next stop was McWay Falls – the season was dry, so the waterfall was puny but still running. This was a short walk from a parking area, but a definite must see while in Big Sur.

Our next stop was Nepenthe, which is a classic Big Sur restaurant. The food there is just OK, but it’s got a wonderful view and is a great tourist attraction.

The next stop was Point Lobos in Monterey. Again, the walks/hikes aren’t strenuous, but definitely worth the great views. We decided to do the Cypress Grove loop and it was really cool. Below is a picture of Betty in a tree near one of the cliffs. We were able to see different birds and even some sea lions on the rocks further away. The scenery was absolutely stunning!

That night, we decided to keep it low key – we had dinner at 1833 and then a drink at Alvarado Street Brewery.

The next morning, we ate at Loulou’s Griddle in the Middle and had two of their favorite dishes – crab cakes and eggs and their ridiculously oversized pancake.

We rounded out the trip with the 17 Mile Drive where almost every stopped felt the same… but I wouldn’t mind having the ocean view and sound of the waves everyday.