West Coast Road Trip: Big Sur- Glen Oaks
After our time in Napa, we started heading south to our next destination— Glen Oaks in Big Sur. This was the beginning of the drive down the scenic Pacific Coast Highway and it lived up to expectations. There were endless miles of dense forest cascading down into the ocean and plenty of vista points to take in the spectacular views. You’ll want to leave yourself at least a half-day to make this epic drive.
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| Pacific Coast Highway |
We arrived at Glen Oaks Big Sur in the late afternoon. Glen Oaks features private cottages nestled in a secluded section of redwood forests. We stayed at the Sycamore Cabin which was an experience like no other. The newly renovated cabins each have their own unique character and are equipped with kitchenettes and living rooms, in addition to the cozy bedroom. Outside our front door was a private fire pit, adding to the outdoor ambiance.
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| Fairy Circle of Redwoods |
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| Swinging Bridge |
The next morning we headed out for a hike at Pfeiffer State Park a few miles down the road. We hiked both the Valley View trail and the Pfeiffer Falls trail. It took about two hours total to complete these relatively easy hikes and the views of the valley looking towards the Pacific Ocean were spectacular.
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| Pfeiffer Falls Trail- Pfeiffer State Park |
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| Valley View Trail- Pfeiffer State Park |
For lunch we stopped at Nepenthe, which features dining with one of the best views in Big Sur and great food to compliment it. There was an abundance of wildlife to enjoy, as we could see whales in the distance and a variety of birds spotted in the trees.
After lunch we made our way down to perhaps the most iconic destination in Big Sur—McWay falls. This 80-foot waterfall comes out of the forest and crashes down onto a sandy beach with turquoise water. It actually looks like a tropical paradise.
While we only had two days in Big Sur it was an amazing experience and one of those must see in a lifetime places!
Kristy Albano & Matt Pickering
