Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
California Road Trip – Onward to Big Sur!
Everyday brought a new highlight on our road trip to California!
After leaving Morro Bay on the central California Coast – here if you missed it – we headed north for one of the most scenic drives in the world – Big Sur!
Our first major stop was at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery where the giant mammals congregate different times of the year. We arrived during molting season.
They cover themselves with sand to keep cool when resting on the beach
or take a dip in the water.
After our visit with the seals we said goodbye and continued north to Big Sur where the mountains meet the sea and civilization fades away!
For the next 90 miles we enjoyed incredible views of the ocean around every winding turn.
There was a stop by Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for a short hike to see McWay Falls, which drops 80 ft. into the Pacific Ocean.
Can you say wow? I did.
Then we continued on our way, stopping at the overlooks and finally crossing the last bridge,
where another happy couple asked if we’d take their picture, then returned the favor to us.
Before I go, I thought it fitting to share Big Sur with this week’s Sunday Stills Challenge, #Aqua.
Next stop, Monterey Bay!
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
Beautiful photos!!! ❤️
Thank you so much! It’s a truly fabulous place! 🙂
Truly a beautiful drive. We loved seeing the seals as well. The Bixby Creek Bridge (behind you) is an amazing structure completed in 1936, I beieve, and connected the south to the north coasts..
Yes, we really enjoyed the entire trip up the coast! Incredible views and wildlife, too!
I’m going to share this over the weekend – a gorgeous drive and terrific photos as usual Susanne!
Thank you so much! I appreciate it! 🙂
Hi, I just found your blog. Agreed, Big Sur is amazingly beautiful! Great picture taking you’ve done here! Your kitty looks kind of like mine! Have a lovely weekend! 🌞
Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂 🙂
Great post! It reminded me of stopping at Big Sur a few years ago as we travel up the Costal Highway. We loved Monetary Bay as well.
Thanks so much! It’s an incredible area and makes for a great road trip!
Yes, it is very beautiful area and a great place to visit.
Wow indeed, Susanne! Your featured image of the teal and aqua blues of the ocean really shows a great example of the color challenge. I love all those shots of the sea lions. I miss seeing them, but it won’t be long until we set out on our road trip south this summer 🙂
Thanks so much, Terri! Its such an incredible coast to explore, and I was dazzled by the color of the ocean! And the wildlife was wonderful too! Will you take the coastal route on your trip?
I wish we could. We’re pulling our trailer to the Sacramento delta which is a straight shot down hwy 5, from Oregon’s hwy 97. But we’ll be in San Diego for about a week in late June and La Jolla has plenty of sea lions.
Makes sense! San Diego sounds wonderful!! We made our way down I-5 through Sacramento to LA, then came back up the coast. It’s all good!
Those elephant seals are great and way more than when I was there. Great photos of one of the most spectacular coastal drives anywhere.
Thanks! I was amazed at the number of elephant seals on the beach and the entire drive was indeed spectacular!
Beautiful pictures!!
Thank you!
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That’s a memorable drive, and so many seals!
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes indeed!!
We took that drive down Hwy. 1 one year on our California trip, saw the seals and that iconic bridge. Such a beautiful ride!
Yes indeed! Truly special!
Takes me back to 1991 when we drove this road on our first ever US road trip – such a thrill! I also remember those seals and the noise they made 😂
What a wonderful first road trip in the USA!
It was 🙂 And we’ve had many more wonderful ones since!
Beautiful!! and the last photo is wonderful – the smiles say it all!
Aw thank you so much! 😊😊
Beautiful place… awesome traveling 👌
It truly was! Thank you!