Dumb Question but...What exactly is Big Sur?

We are staying in Monterey for 3 days and are planning a side trip to Big Sur, but I have to admit I%26#39;m not exactly sure what there is to do or see there. In fact, I%26#39;m not exactly sure what Big Sur is.

I will have my family with me ---2 teens and a ten year old. With the 10 year old and one of the the teens a few months off of knee surgery, I doubt we%26#39;ll do much hiking or biking.

What do you do there??Drive to see the scenery? Stop to walk?

Sorry to sound so ill informed ----but I do appreciate any info

Dumb Question but...What exactly is Big Sur?

Big Sur is one of the most beautiful sections of the California coast.

The road can run pretty high and curvy, not good if anyone gets car sick for sure.

The major draw to Big Sur is the scenery and hiking. There are not a lot of places to eat and no really big towns, so bring water and some snacks if you decide to take the drive.

Are you going to take a drive in Carmel on 17 mile drive? It%26#39;s on of my most favorite places down in that area. But again it%26#39;s the scenery you go for and maybe a lunch you can sit on the beach with and let the kids roam the rocks for a while.

Have fun

Dumb Question but...What exactly is Big Sur?

Big Sur is an area of wilderness known for its rustic and austere beauty. It emcompasses approx. 90 miles of Hwy 1 south of Carmel to just north of San Simeon and Hearst Castle.

The town of Big Sur is known for its state parks and hiking trails. There isn%26#39;t a town hub, so to speak. Most hotels, restaurants and shops are spread out along Hwy 1 over approx. 5 or 6 miles. You don%26#39;t have to do a lot of hiking to enjoy the beauty of the area. Just driving through key areas and using the ';Vista Point'; turn-outs will allow you to experience the beauty of the area from the comfort of your vehicle.

As you enter Big Sur township, you%26#39;ll pass by redwood trees growing right along the roadway. The world famous Bixby Bridge is a world renowned landmark and is one of those places you should get out of your car to get a look at the arched bridge that spans the canyon there.

I%26#39;m sure scooterboss will be able to share more points of interest with you. Just don%26#39;t discount the area as of little import as that would be a huge mistake.

Thanks for the info so quick--I appreciate it--Especially the winding road tip--my daughter gets car sick so I%26#39;ll make sure we have our Dramamine with.

We do plan to the the 17 mile drive--I love the entire coast of California and everytime I go it gets more and more fascinating to me---

Is there somewhere that you know of that has roads to drive or stops to make, for instance?

There have been many times I%26#39;ve gone somewhere and thought it would be obvious what I was going to see and when we got there we find ourselves driving around looking for the quintessial experience. I%26#39;d like to be more prepared this time.

Just curious, are you only staying Monterey or are you going to other parts of California?

There are so many cool things here. Santa Cruz would be fun for the kids. The Boardwalk is always a good time and just up the highway from Monterey.

Be sure to visit Pt Lobos State Reserve, Garrapata State Beach, Andrew Molera State Beach, and McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burn State Park. This will make for a good side trip.

This GoList may give you some ideas of things to see in Big Sur.

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i14592-Big_Sur_鈥?/a>

If you have any interest in the history of Big Sur, here%26#39;s a Wikipedia article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Sur

We are spending 3 nights in San Fran (Giants game, Muir Woods, Alcatraz)--driving to Tahoe for 2 nights and spending 3 nights in Monterey (with the side trip to Big Sur)--then we fly out of San Jose afte 8 nights. Do you think it needs some tweaking or should I add something I don%26#39;t have in there.

We were going to do Yosemite, but I had my heart set on staying at the Ahwahnee and it is booked so we changed our plan to Tahoe. It seemed like too much driving to not stay in the park. (I also have to admit I don%26#39;t know much about Yosemite either)

I am not familiar with Santa Cruz, but will look into it--thanks for the great replies

John Rabold%26#39;s website has the most comprehensive info on the Big Sur region. This link

http://jrabold.net/bigsur/road.htm

gives many sites in the area, sorted from north to south with mileage and so on.