What better way to spend your 30th birthday than contemplating your mortality by yourself on the edge of a cliff in Big Sur? Ok, just kidding! It’s not that deep! I did just have an amazing solo road trip celebrating my birthday in Big Sur, though!
Big Sur is a rugged and scenic stretch of coastline in central California, known for its dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. It is also home to several state parks, hiking trails, and iconic landmarks such as Bixby Creek Bridge and McWay Falls.
Here are the places I stayed, ate, and the things that I did that weekend.
Where I stayed:
Fernwood Resort:
If your looking to stay in a hotel this is a great spot with basic rooms, a convenience store, and a restaurant on site. They also offer camping, glamping, and cabins. (I would have loved to camp, but I waited too late to book and stayed in the hotel) Click here to check out their website.
The location is great, in the heart of the Big Sur valley, bordering Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Close to just about everything in the area when it comes to restaurants, trails, parks, etc.
Favorite places I ate:
Big Sur Tap House
I loved the outside deck at Big Sur Tap House. It was pretty quiet when I was there. It was an in-between time in the afternoon, but I would have loved to have had the chance to spend some more time there. I had a GREAT sandwich here.
Big Sur Bakery
I came to Big Sur Bakery for breakfast every morning during my trip to Big Sur. I had been here once before when I visited in 2016 and really looked forward to coming back. Things I can *personally* recommend are any of the coffee drinks (obviously), the freshly baked sourdough bread, freshly squeezed orange juice, the lemon teacake, and I’m always going to be a fan of the almond croissant.
Nepenthe
You are definitely going to want to grab a bite at Nepenthe on your Big Sur road trip. The view here is AMAZING. I recommend coming early enough to be prepared for about an hour’s wait, but it’ll go by quickly because you can sit and admire the view or enjoy the bar. I came right before golden hour so I could watch the sunset during my wait and during my meal. I even saw some whales while I waited!
Things I did:
I did the most and rented a convertible, so I spent a lot of time driving the Big Sur Highway with the top down, stopping at the pull-offs to admire the views.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
The park features several scenic trails that cater to different skill levels. Some popular hikes include the Pfeiffer Falls Trail, Valley View Trail, and the Big Sur River Gorge Trail. These trails offer stunning views of redwood forests, waterfalls, and the coastline. The Pfeiffer Falls Trail was closed during my visit, so I took the Valley View Trail to see the falls. You can find up-to-date info on the park here.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park - McWay Falls
I stopped here to see the iconic McWay Falls. I came twice. It was foggy and overcast the first time, so I came back a couple of days later to see it in the sunshine. It was kind of cool to see what a big difference it made! This “trail” is just walking a few minutes down a path to the overlook of the falls, and it doesn’t take much time. The Partington Cove Trail and the Ewoldsen Trail are among the other popular hiking options there. Get up-to-date info on the park here.
Sunset at Keyhole Arch at Pfeiffer Beach
Keyhole Arch has become an iconic symbol of Pfeiffer Beach and the Big Sur region. It’s a natural formation that took thousands of years to form due to the forces of erosion. It's like a picture-perfect scene, made by Mother Nature herself!
The beach has a $12 admission fee, but it’s a beautiful sunset, and I felt it was worth it. I’ll just let these photos speak for themselves!!! Read about the beach here.
Events at Fernwood Resort
The restaurant and tavern at Fernwood Resort has a calendar of events on their website and has a lot of bands come and play on the weekends. It’s the only late-night spot in Big Sur, too, FYI. I saw a really good band play while I was there.
Garrapata State Park
I pulled off here on my way back to San Francisco, but I don’t think I actually entered the park LOL. The viewpoint right across the street was amazing, though. I wanted to mention it. Even if you don’t have time for the park, that viewpoint doesn’t involve a long hike or anything like that and is worth the 10-minute stop. It’s just outside Carmel, so it’s a perfect stop on your way in or out of Big Sur. This park is known for its beautiful coastline views and is a great spot to see the wildflower blooms if you’re there during the right season. Get more info on the park here.
Follow me on Instagram to check out all my photos and videos from this trip! It was beautiful!
Click here to save my Google Maps list of all the highlights and stops in Big Sur! (When you go, don’t forget to download your maps— you won’t have service in Big Sur!
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