If you want to experience California without the hustle and bustle of cities like Los Angeles or San Diego, Big Sur is the perfect place to get acquainted with the state’s natural splendor. What’s so “big” about this California destination? Big Sur isn’t a city but rather a breathtaking stretch of the state’s central coast, and there’s no better introduction to the Golden State’s unspoiled beauty.
As you drive along the iconic Pacific Coast Highway—the PCH to locals—you’ll be captivated by dramatic cliffs plunging into the perfectly blue Pacific Ocean. Each bend in the road reveals another jaw-dropping panorama, whether it’s a rugged coastline or a serene beach, which makes the drive itself a part of your adventure.
Big Sur’s landscapes are an immersion in nature. Trails meandering through ancient redwood forests in parks like Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park beg to be appreciated. Among the towering giants, you can’t help but feel a deep connection to the earth, its history, and our place on the planet.
But the coastline is just as mesmerizing. McWay Falls is an 80-foot waterfall that cascades onto a secluded beach, and offers the type of scene you might think is only in the movies—the type of scene that embodies untouched beauty:
The sunset comes alive in pink and gold…
Gently crashing waves a heartbeat keeping time with a moment…
A perfectly captured moment of the essence of the region.
Choosing Big Sur for your first California experience lets you see the state in its purest form, void of city life’s distractions, so you can fully appreciate the landscapes and the warmth and hospitality of small communities dotting the region.
What’s so “big” about this California destination? The “big” in Big Sur isn’t just a name. It’s a sense of peace—a sense of place. It’s a new adventure with a new friend. And all the memories you’ll make.