Big Sur Trip

This past week, Grammy came to visit for her Annual Fall Trip.  During her and Uncle Dave's visit last year, we headed east towards Yosemite... this year, we headed west towards the coast - or more specifically Southwest - to Big Sur.  Big Sur is a stretch of the Central California Coastline that is known for its gorgeous views of the coast, and it did not disappoint. 





We left on Friday afternoon and drove for about 3 hours to the Big Sur River Inn.  The "Inn" had a very nice backyard along the river and a charming restaurant, but the room was more "motel" like than we would have liked.  Although plenty big, it just felt dim and dirty and definitely not worth the money we spent.  The website makes it seem very appealing if you can be there in the summer... but our room didn't look as bright and clean as the rooms shown there: http://bigsurriverinn.com/lodging-big-sur-california.html  I think I would recommend this place without a problem if the room was half the cost.  Oh well, at least we got some nice pictures of the backyard!

When we left on Saturday morning, we headed south towards a nearby beach the waitress had recommended.  The beach was hard to find and down a long, narrow road... I tried to check my phone a couple times to pull up a map, but had no service.  So, when we finally arrived at the parking lot, you can imagine my surprise when my phone suddenly lit up with a text from my mom: "Pfeiffer Beach"... the exact place where we had just arrived.  She was making a recommendation of where we should go while in the area - I swear, sometimes it's like she has a 6th sense. 

Not sure why Mike decided to do this, but Andrew loved it!

And then he insisted Grammy take a turn climbing the hill!

"I'll help you Grammy!"

I remembered this cool tree from being here over 10 years ago on our family vacation.

 

After Pfeiffer Beach, we headed south to McElway Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.  The waterfall and beach were gorgeous - you could just imagine being on a deserted island and bathing in the falls - unfortunately, you aren't actually allowed on the beach and signs were posted everywhere warning of the cost of dangerous (and expensive) rescues for those who tried to scale down the cliffs to reach the beach.

After taking in the views, we headed into the park to eat a picnic lunch.  Luckily, there was a nice grove of redwoods for us to park ourselves at and enjoy our meal in the solitude of the forest.

After filling our bellies, we headed further south towards Hearst Castle.  We hoped to get there before the last tour, but as we approached we saw signs for an Elephant Seal Rookery.  Since we figured this would be a good stop for Andrew, we pulled in to the parking lot and were met with the most putrid smell of animals, urine, and seashore.  We forged ahead to see what could possibly create this smell, and we were met with the below scenes... hundreds of seals sunning their bellies.

After we had enough of the smell, we thought we'd at least drive up to see Hearst Castle from the outside.  Well, that's easier said than done.  As you start down the road into the Hearst Castle State Park (yes, the 167 acre estate is a State park), you discover that you actually cannot get close to the historic house at all... unless you pay to get on a bus and take a tour.  Luckily for us, we made it in time for the last tour of the day - the Cottages and Kitchen Tour.  We boarded the tour bus just in time for the almost ten minute ride up "La Cuesta Encantada" - the Enchanted Hill.  As you ride up the "hill", Alex Trebec gives you a brief history lesson on William Randolph Hearst and the land that you're travelling through... upon arrival, we met up with our tour guide for a 40 minute tour of 2 of the 3 "Cottages" where guests and the Hearst family stayed during construction of the main house, as well as the Wine Cellar and the Kitchen in the Main House.  Andrew was not impressed and we were unprepared... so poor Mike, being the wonderful father (and husband) he is, spent much of the tour trying to keep Andrew happy (read: quiet), so he did not disrupt the tour and get us kicked out.  I would NOT recommend bring an energetic toddler to Hearst Castle.

 

Grammy - at home in the Wine Cellar!

Casa Del Monte - LOVED the bougainvillea (reminded me of Greece!)

Casa Del Sol (look at those dahlias!)

This piece is over 3,000 years old!

Neptune Pool - Andrew wanted to go for a swim, but we asked and they said the fine was $375 and a misdemeanor.  Andrew's still a little too young for a record.

Ahh, the indoor Roman Pool.  This is more my style!

 

After ooo'ing and ahhh'ing at the amazing pools and gardens, we boarded the bus pack to the Visitor's Center and hit the road for our 4 hour drive home.  It was a lot of driving for a one night stay, but it was well worth it for the landscapes and the company.