Up the Coast with Melda
Big Sur is arguably one of the most beautiful places in California, if not the country. With its majestic views of mountains, ocean waves, and trees, one can’t help but feel inspired when exploring its endlessly gorgeous surroundings.
Melda recently visited with her husband and two small children, and she couldn’t wait to share her experience:
We stayed in one of the cabins at Glen Oaks in Big Sur which was super close to all the attractions. Our cabin was over a suspension bridge so it was fun for the kids to immediately experience an amazing adventure :) We had to park our car and drag our luggage across the bridge and take a short walk to the cabin.
We loved Pfeiffer Beach! It was so easy with the kids. We grabbed lunch at Big Sur Bakery(which is our favorite!) and went down to the beach. The beach has purple sand and big rocks to climb on so the kids of course had a great time! The purple sand is caused by manganese garnet, which trickles down from the nearby mountains after a rainfall. So, it was very interesting to see it up close! Since we were with two little children, we did short hiking trails; Nature trail and River Path in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. There’s also a great little hiking trail in Glen Oaks, by the river that led us straight to Big Sur Roadhouse — which was really fun with the kids. Breakfast, lunch, and donuts are delicious there! (But make sure to get there early for the fresh donuts, as they run out quick!). We also hiked down to see McWay Falls.
Next time we visit Big Sur, we want to explore Molera State Park, since it was unfortunately closed this time around. We would also like to hike out to Soberanes Canyon trail in Garrapata State Park.
Food is very limited here. In order to do your own grocery shopping, you would need to go to the nearest town, which is Carmel and is 45 minutes away. If you are traveling with kids, I would stock up on fruits and some good healthy snacks. On this particular trip, we ate out a lot. Here are my favorite spots:
- Big Sur Bakery: It's a classic. We've been here many times and food is always delicious. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Coast Big Sur: It's a wonderful place for lunch and afternoon drinks. We sipped our wine on the deck looking out over the ocean.
- Deetjen's - This is another classic — nestled in a unique and historic hotel in Big Sur. The restaurant has a wide menu and they serve amazing breakfast and dinner.
- Sierra Mar - We stayed in Post Ranch Inn a few years ago with my husband and its restaurant Sierra Mar is a must-dine. If you are coming as a couple, I would highly recommend this spot, as it’s very romantic with incredible views. Just make sure to make a dinner reservation.
The weather was perfect while we were there, it was sunny, clear and in the 60s. We got lucky because Big Sur is known for its dense fog — but we didn’t encounter any of it this trip!
I actually did great for packing for this trip, but I’m admittedly not usually the best packer. I have a tendency to overpack :) but not this time! Since I not only pack for myself but for two little kids also, I recommend packing layers, jeans, hiking gear, a couple of sweatshirts, and a warm jacket if you are visiting in Springtime.
6. How does it feel to get out of the city? What feelings and emotions do you experience when you’re in such a beautiful environment?
It felt magical to be in Big Sur! Looking out to such dramatic coast and views gave me goosebumps. It was calm and relaxing beyond belief. My family and I love to take our trips out somewhere beautiful in nature — we all love it!
7. What are your favorite places to travel to in California? Do any of these places remind you of Turkey?
Favorite places are definitely Yosemite, Truckee, Joshua Tree and anywhere in Northern California. Big Sur's ocean reminded me of Aegean Sea — it is so similarly clean and clear.
We love road trips as a family. The kids have been traveling with us by car since they were born — my husband and I have always loved taking road trips and discovering new places. We stopped at Cambria to see elephant seals and also had lunch in San Luis Obispo. It's such a cute town, we definitely would like to explore it more next time!
We haven't been to Russian River so we will be doing a road trip there with the family during Spring break. Another nature trip and we can't wait!
Traveling has always offered a well of inspiration for the makers and designers behind House No. 23, and we can’t wait to see what Big Sur has stirred in them.
