The Big Sur Coast is a magical place of beauty and light. The Santa Lucia Range juts against the coastline here to create a spectacular land of beachside cliffs, waterfalls, sand, and mist. People have always sensed the special nature of this area and worked to keep out big developers, noise, and national chains. Instead, poets and artists, hand-built cabins, and quirky secondhand shops are the order of the day. Except for a few tiny towns and eclectic residents, Big Sur remains much the same as it has for centuries.

Those driving through the region are enchanted by the experience. The Pacific Coast Highway hugs the shoreline as its elevation climbs from the beach to over 1,000 feet above sea level and back again. Lighthouses and wineries mark the way, alongside a generous sprinkling of state parks and protected areas. Sea otters frolic in the surf down below, and trails to rocky promontories invite relaxation and contemplation. Those who try to hurry through the Big Sur will find themselves longing to slow down.

The Big Sur Coast is in west central California, and is generally defined as a hundred mile stretch of coastline between Carmel and San Simeon.