Headed to Big Sur

One of the coolest views of the California Coast is not in Big Sur but arrives as you drop down Highway One from Serramonte into the sleepy town of Pacifica. The view of waves crashing below the sheer cliff you are driving down can serve to remind you of humanity's place on the earth.
Soothe your ego with a macchiato from Soul Grind. Beans are locally roasted and the bacon and avocado toast revamps old-school BLT with fresh cream cheese. It's a breakfast built for power.

Even if you do not surf, it is worth pausing at the spot where California's most famous big wave surf competition is held. No, not at this surf shop, but at a beach called Mavericks that is west from here off of Capistrano Road and Prospect Way. Ask the staff at the shop if the waves are rolling; it can happen anytime during California's winter season, from approximately October to May. Ask where the best viewing spot is, then head for it.
If the contest is on, bring binoculars and something to sit on, then watch the action. The world's best surfers come here to tackle the giant waves that roll into shore nearby.

This spot's name is something of a misnomer: Pie Ranch is a non-profit educational farm that works to cultivate a healthy and just food system. Stop at the farm stand and store and buy whatever is in season. The berries from this part of California are particularly yummy, but jam, honey, and other farm-made products are available.
The stand is recognized for its pies (the lemon-buttermilk is especially renowned) which sell out quickly. Maybe you'll want to come back for a volunteer work day and get to know California in a different way.

Many restaurants in Santa Cruz, California, design their meals to be taken to the region's many beaches, and The Picnic Basket is one of these. Situated on the quieter end of Santa Cruz Beach, the restaurant has a narrow patio and an order window for easy service when your feet are covered in sand.
Try the reuben — they are known for it — but don't forget to check the daily salads. They change with the seasons and are built on what's freshest from local farmers.

Drive around Monterey Bay and drop into the 17-Mile Drive in Pacific Grove, California. If the fog is in, common from late spring through early fall, the play of light on sand and fog can be especially eerie, the road seeming to disappear in front of you. If the day is sunny, the sweep of beaches on the early part of the drive are practically begging for exploration.
There are plenty of turn-outs — choose one and walk along the beach for a stretch. You might even see a whale or a pod of whales pass by on their annual migrations between Alaska and Mexico.

After you pass Pebble Beach and the sweeping green fairways of its famous golf courses, 17-Mile Drive ends at the town of Carmel, also known as Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The community has worked hard to preserve the whimsical cottages that dot the town, many of them built in the early 20th century.
Leave your car in this parking lot and walk the town. Just be sure to check the time on the meter; the meter maids take their job very seriously!

Many of the cottages in Carmel-by-the-Sea are located in a four square-block radius between Ocean and 5th and Junipero and Santa Rita Streets. Alice really did fall down the rabbit hole here? Who really knows?
The town was built by artists and writers, musicians and poets, a group that understands the power of inspiration and creativity. The shops and restaurants of downtown are nearby, too.

Carmel is known as an artist haven so why not stop into one of the many galleries that line the town's streets and see what the local crew is up to?

Carmel is surrounded by the wine country of the Central Coast. Spend a few minutes getting to know the region's terroir with a stop at a boutique winery's tasting room.

Walk on over to Village Corner, an institution for more than 60 years. Though they serve breakfast all day and the burger with Thousand Island dressing will satisfy any appetite, the sand dabs sautéed with olive oil, white wine and lemon were as fresh as the sea breeze and definitely more original.

Spend the night at Le Petit Pali, a charming craftsman-style property featuring 24 rooms, just a stone's throw away from top restaurants, boutique shops, and the picturesque white sand beach of Carmel.