Day 1: Day 1: San Jose to Santa Cruz to Monterey. 154 miles
Stop At: San Jose, San Jose, California United States
Driver guide will pick you up at San Jose Diridon Station at about 9:30 a.m. Driving through Silicon Valley and The Redwoods you reach the coast at Santa Cruz. Along Highway 1 you go through Aptos, Capitola, and agricultural area to Elkhorn Slough and Moss Beach. Soon you are in Castroville driving through miles of artichoke and strawberry fields. Along the coast you see sand dunes on the west and Salinas Valley with the coastal mountain range to the east. Salinas River empties into Monterey Bay. Past California State University of Monterey in what used to be Fort Ord through Marina and Seaside you reach Monterey and Carmel by 11:30. Continue on Highway One through Point Lobos to Bixby Bridge.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Bixby Bridge, Highway 1, Big Sur, California 93920 United States
Continue on Highway One through Point Lobos to Bixby Bridge. Picture taking on north side of this iconic bridge, the ocean, the islands nearby and the far horizon.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, 47225 Highway 1, Big Sur, California 93920 United States
Hiking in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
Far from the crowds you can enjoy a late morning hike under the Coastal Redwoods going to Pfeiffer Falls. These are easy to moderate hikes. You need walking shoes, appropriate clothing, hat and head scarf for shade from the sun.
Suggested hikes. Distances are round trip from trailhead.
A)1.4 miles. About an hour. Easy scenic hike along the Creek through finest redwood groves to a 60-foot high waterfall.
B) 2 miles – About an hour and a half. Add ½ a mile from Pfeiffer Falls. See beautiful views of Point Sur and Big Sur Valley.
C) 3 miles – About two hours. Moderate hike with more redwood groves, open oak woodlands and dry chaparral.
Depending on your choice the time spent at other stops on the trip will have to adjusted.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Big Sur, Big Sur, California United States
Stop at Nepenthe Restaurant for breathtaking view of the canyons descending into the Pacific. Light lunch or coffee stop.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Carmel Plaza, Ocean Avenue & Mission Street, Carmel, California 93923 United States
Carmel Plaza, Carmel, California
Drive by the beach and stop at Carmel Plaza to walk around etc in this small town.
Duration: 30 minutes
Day 2: Salinas to Los Angeles on Coast Train
Stop At: Pacific Coast Highway, 147161, California United States
After a relaxing morning, at 11:00 our sedan car driver transfers you to Salinas Train Station. This takes about 30 minutes. Coast Starlight that started in Seattle the day before now takes us through the Salinas Valley, center of Monterey Country's agricultural region. The route takes us by Salinas River through small towns, fields of lettuce, broccoli and acres of green houses. Suddenly by King City we see miles and miles of newly planted vineyards where just a few years ago there was only cattle pasture. The oil fields appear and then the military installations at Camp Roberts. Soon we reach historic Paso Robles. Leaving the level areas we now climb Cuesta Grade through six tunnels and drop down to sea level at San Luis Obispo.
The ocean briefly appears at Pismo Beach. Heading south the rails go by Vandenberg Space station and near Goleta you see some of the most scenic ocean views all the way through Santa Barbara to Oxnard then to Los Angeles arrive at about 9:00 p.m.
Duration: 9 hours
