The legendary Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) was first started in the 1930s, and remains a marvel of…read morehuman effort that hugs over 600 miles of California's rugged and beautiful coastlines. It is one of the most astoundingly scenic roads in the world, meant to be traversed slowly, while gasping at the mountains, towering trees, expansive beaches and endless sky. It also affords travelers an unparalleled opportunity to dip into all the character California has to offer: pioneer outposts, surfing villages, farm-fresh foods, local wine, roadside kitsch, Hollywood glitz and bohemia. During our trip to Monterey, we took the PCH to Big Sur, which is a rugged stretch of California's central coast between Carmel and San Simeon. Bordered to the east by the Santa Lucia Mountains and the west by the Pacific Ocean, it's known for winding turns, seaside cliffs and views of the often-misty coastline. The sparsely populated region has numerous state parks for hiking, camping and beachcombing. So the attached pictures show sights from Monterey down to Big Sur. We stopped at several of them for pictures and hikes....Beautiful.

ELITE TIP: Nathaniel Owings Memorial Redwood Grove…read more This grove is a great family-friendly trail off the PCH in Big Sur. It's often missed and rarely is it crowded with other people. To get here you'll need to put the name of this grove in google maps. It's located off the side of the road. The trailhead isn't exactly transparent if you're not parked right in front of it. This trail is like a quarter mile in length (this location is more about the redwoods than it being a hiking destination). You'll get to see a lot of tall trees and various small pools of water. The kids will love this place. California Newts live in the pools here. If you look carefully you might see one. Under no circumstance should you try and pick one up..

I like walking from Carmel Beach on Scenic Drive to The Point, which juts out into the ocean and…read moreoffers great views of Pebble Beach, Point Lobos, and Carmel Beach. From The Point, you can continue walking down Scenic past the Frank Lloyd Wright house (It's the second one on your right off the water), Robinson Jeffer's Tor House, Carmel River Beach, and the Bird Sanctuary. It's as scenic and beautiful a walk as you'll ever find, especially on sunny days. Uber Yelper Wilhelm Y and I hung out together on Saturday before running the Big Sur Half Marathon in Monterey on Sunday. We had a great time checking out Carmel, the beaches, and having dinner at Crystal Fish in Monterey Here's Wilhelm at Carmel Point in front of Carmel Beach... http://static1.px.yelp.com/photo/akeT-m_1uyn5sR3Ztd1xgw/l It was fun times... Hope Y'all will join us next year in November in Monterey for the Big Sur Half Marathon....

It is really like a world straight out of a fairy tale! Cute buildings line the streets, and…read morestylish people are coming and going. On the day we visited, there happened to be a car event going on (8/11-13) so parking spaces were limited, and it took us a long time to find a spot. All the shops were wonderful, and I'd love to come back and explore them at a more leisurely pace when I have more time.

Carmel is a great escape. It has a special charm and dramatic beach landscapes with blue waters,…read morecliffs and majestic cypress trees. It is quaint, perfect for a 1-2 stop, great to stroll on Ocean Ave. and check out the art galleries, the nice shops and enjoy a fresh seafood meal. Life stops its fast pace while here. Wear layers! I always get cold here and bring comfy shoes to explore the small, cute town! A landmark of California!

Tiny town located in between Soledad and King City…read more This town is known for all the agriculture that is grown here The city of Greenfield is centered in one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. About 60 percent of the leaf lettuce grown in the United States is grown in the Salinas Valley The area has often been coined as the "Salad Bowl of the World." More than $3 billion (US) worth of fruits, vegetables and nuts are produced and shipped annually across the U.S. and abroad. There is no hospital or shopping mall in this town. Basically the sort of town that you pull up to put gas not knowing that everything you put in your salad is being grown here lol Even though this town is micro tiny it has a bad reputation of gang violence I know this since I lived in Salinas for many years and worked at the local hospitals.

They have Tacos at Burger King. Which is one of the only good things here…read more Not that I dont like Ice cream or anything but the Ice cream truck jsut sits out on a street and plays his Christmas music for like 15/20 mins, If no one comes out in 3 you should leave. Also there always a lot of mariachi music playing constantly every where. I dont feel like its a safe place to be considering the one Time I walk down a street here people ran at us...

Very small, quaint area, pretty and picturesque. If you visit Caramel, the village is a short drive…read moreaway, so check it out if have the time! Wear layers, I always get cold when I visit this area, but it's tranquil, peaceful and has wonderful vista-s. Visit the local shops if you have time and do some wine tasting at a local winery. The pace is slower here!

Cute little area. Lots of food choices. Shopping. Little wineries. Places to spend the night. Even…read morea couple gas stations. I was surprised to see they even have a library! If you've never driven on Carmel Valley Rd to the village, you should definitely take the time to check out this quaint little place. It was so quiet during the night! Heavenly!

Arrived CVR pretty early so the room wasn't ready yet. After breakfast I decided to take the map…read moreand start exploring the property! The most attractive place is The Corral at the top of the hill that requires a short hike. The weather is pretty cool with just a little sun which is perfect for hiking! When you arrive at The Corral, you will see cows, donkeys, horses and a little far away you will see the barn. At first I didn't notice it, until I heard the funny screaming sound from the goat. Here they have sheeps, goats, rabbits and alpacas. Had a fun time with the funny screaming goat! 入住CVR的當天因為太早到，所以房間還沒準備好，吃完早餐後決定拿著地圖開始探險，最吸引我的是山上的The Corral，需要爬一小段路才會到，這幾天的天氣頗陰涼又帶點小太陽，Hiking 超級舒服的！到了 Corral 之後沿路走，這裡有牛、小驢子還有馬，而較遠方有個農舍，一開始沒有注意不太起眼，直到開始聽到歇斯底里的羊叫聲，才被吸引過去了！這邊有各種的羊，山羊、綿羊、尖叫羊，還有兔子跟草泥馬。被尖叫羊逗得太樂了，完全顛覆了我以前對於羊的印象！

This work of art can be found in the patio area of Terry's Lounge at the Cypress Inn in Carmel. The…read moreartist, Thierry Guetta (aka "Mr. Brainwash"), has collaborated with and done artwork for Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. He starred in Banksy-directed film, Exit Through the Gift Shop, and has created art pieces resemblant of Banksy's style... perhaps controversial as to the true creator, it doesn't take away from Guetta's Chaplin mural one bit, the quirky character portrayed carrying a can of pink paint. A giant pink heart in the background, displayed with a dripping paint technique. Quite simple, but worth checking out if dining at Terry's or just strolling along 7th Avenue in downtown Carmel.