California Coast – Big Sur to Santa Cruz

If you are short on time and wish to experience a bit of the famous Californian coast, take the drive south of San Francisco to Big Sur. Stop for lunch at Santa Cruz or take a cruise on one of the yachts at this beautiful coastal town. Continue south to Carmel by the Sea which has an overwhelming amount of art shops, boutiques, restaurants and boasts a fresh food market on some days. You can easily spend a few hours strolling the quaint streets and simply enjoying the interesting architecture of this historic town. Follow the coast further south to Big Sur and be rewarded with a dramatic coastline where you may stop along the way and take short hikes to enjoy the coastal vegetation – a real palette of colours in season! At Big Sur there are numerous hiking options and option to go to the beach, however expect cool waters and a fresh coastal breeze as the Pacific ocean here is not warm at all! Big Sur offers camping, motel and hotel accommodation to suit all price brackets.