Big Sur & Pebble Beach California

We couldn’t get enough of that west coast beauty. We weren’t able to drive as far as we wanted south down Highway 1 due to a landslide, but we were able to explore the northern part of Big Sur and stayed in Carmel.

Monastery Beach – our first stop just looking around. This is actually across Highway 1 from the Carmelite Monastery.

Carmel Beach – beautiful beach with adorable houses and a cute little beach town (and beach towns are the best towns!)

Pebble Beach through the mist! Right next to Carmel Beach so we decided we’d visit the next day

First views of Pebble Beach

It was cold and cloudy but still beautiful clear, blue water

The trees were really unique at Carmel

New day! Bright sunshine along Highway 1.

Every stop was incredible on this road. We didn’t realize it was so rugged, remote and undeveloped along this stretch. We had no cell service at times and there were very few businesses or even homes. Just occasionally there were pull-offs or little lots so you could view the beaches. Many of these beaches were off limits to climb down to and are private property.

Rocky Creek Bridge built in 1932

The iconic Bixby Bridge built over Bixby Creek in 1932

We just kept saying that God sure made the end of the continent on the west coast look mighty splendid! The edges of continents are our favorite places to be but this one was magnificent.

Bixby Bridge from the ocean side

Point Sur Lighthouse

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

The way this waterfall flows into the ocean as the surf comes in and out was really mesmerizing

Same day but we lost the sun to some fog and mist in the afternoon. Pebble Beach has a 17-mile driving tour with beautiful stops throughout. It was fun to learn the history of this place. This is Ghost Trees at Pecadero Point.