When asked what my favorite ,
I often answer the Big Sur coastline.

This stretch of 70 or so miles
goes from Sam Simeon
to Carmel and Monterey ,
and it has some of the country's
coastal .
While this is by no means a definitive list,
here are eight of my favorite stops in Big Sur
south north.
Stop number one is Limekiln State Park.
chopping block to be closed,
Limekiln State Park is a beautiful introduction
to Big Sur and to its history.
This state park has a great beach and campground,
but the main draws are inland.
Both hikes start on the same trail,
and then there's a split in the middle
distinct endpoints.
The first follows up to a nice waterfall
with a large log sitting right in the middle of it,
and then to the main trail,
you can continue split
to the historic limekilns.
The limekilns are from its name
and they're nestled in the trees
back at the end of the trail.
Both of these spots the hike
and a beautiful introduction to the Big Sur area.

(uplifting music)

My second recommendation is just to the coastal views.
has amazing coastal views,
some of the are in the south part of Big Sur,
from Limekiln to the next few stops.
I wanted to mention this specifically as a recommendation,
as you really wanna plan your time
to stop different pullouts,
as there's so many great places
to take photos along this drive.
time you have,
you can just take the drive slow,
pullout whenever you want, and enjoy all the views.

is McWay Falls.
Located in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park,
McWay Falls is probably the most well-known stop
in all of Big Sur.
This famous waterfall
requires basically no effort to see,
as there's parking along the road
and a walkway .
You cannot get down to the waterfall itself,
so you just have to view it from above,
but that actually makes it better,
as there's no people in your photos.
you have the opportunity, here for sunset.
It's a sunset you'll never forget.

My fourth recommendation is Partington Cove.
Partington Cove is a trail I always love doing in Big Sur.
This short hike can be as there's no signs,
and the parking is just along the road,
but it's worth the effort.
From where you park, the trail takes you downhill
to a historic loading area with a 60 foot tunnel
Partington Cove.
Partington Cove was an area
docked,
so you can still see some of the old pieces of wood
sticking out of the rocks,
and there's a small bench to relax at.
I've done this hike many times,
but I still have a hard time
and it out each time I'm in the area.

Next up is a stop at Nepenthe Restaurant.
While not one of the beautiful natural wonders
we have touched on so far,
Nepenthe is a great stop
if you're looking for a combination of California
and Greek Mediterranean food .
With over 50 years in business,
they make a great burger called the Ambrosia Burger
that's always a highlight.
Of course, the main reason , though,
is for their amazing open-air bar seating
over the Big Sur coastline.
It's hard to think of a better view
I've ever had a hamburger.

(uplifting music)

Recommendation number six is Pfeiffer Beach.
Pfeiffer Beach can be
and does require you to drive
on a sketchy, one-lane road
all the way down to the parking area.
It's , though,
and you're rewarded with a fantastic beach
arch out in the water
and purple sand after it rains.
the parking area is so small,
you often have to wait for a parking spot,
but the beach itself is never usually very busy.
To me, Pfeiffer Beach is one of the most beautiful spots
along the entire Big Sur coast
and easily one of my favorite spots next to Mcway Falls.

My second to last recommendation
is the Point Sur Lighthouse.
Located out points
along the Big Sur coastline,
the Point Sur Lighthouse and the buildings
are now a California State Historic Park.
It's beautiful to see from afar as you're driving,
but also really impressive to tour
if you have the opportunity.
If you want to take the tour,
you have to plan for it ,
as there are only a few tours every week,
and they're on specific times and specific days.
You can't book the tours in advance,
so you have to check the website for the next tour time
and simply drive out and wait for the tour to open.
I definitely recommend it if you have a half day
to , though, as the views are beautiful
from the hill the lighthouse is on
and the history is really interesting, as well.

(uplifting music)

My last recommendation is Bixby Creek Bridge.
Bixby Creek Bridge or just Bixby Bridge for short
is an iconic stop Highway 1.
Built 1932, this single-span concrete arch
sits 280 feet the canyon below.
It's certainly one of the most photographed spots
the entire drive and it's easy why,
as the bridge crosses the canyon,
looks down on the ocean,
and looks out over some of the area's
most beautiful coastline.
There's a small pullout the north side
that lets you get some great views of the bridge,
and it's fun to photograph and check out
during any time the day.

(uplifting music)

Thanks so much exploring Big Sur with me.
Hopefully you found some new spots to check out
next time you're in the area.
Let me know what I left in the comments,
and if you wanna see my other channel
on places outside of California, click here.
We will see you guys on the next video.