Big Sur: One With Nature’s More Luxurious Side

Advice on how to get the most out of your travels!

  • Couple
  • Fall 2014

Objectives

  • Peace
  • Romance
  • Rejuvination
  • $500 – $1,000
  • 2 days/nights

Trip Cost Details

Transportation $50
Accommodations $650
Food and Beverage $250
Activities $20
Total $970
For our six month anniversary (I think this is the only time you can officially celebrate in 6 month increments), my husband and I wanted to take a long weekend to truly getaway from the day to day stresses we internalize all week. Big Sur is a perfect getaway option from San Francisco: it is within a morning’s drive, it represents Nature at its rawest and can accommodate all San Francisco palettes (from $30/night campsite to $2,000/night suites). 

Accommodations

Building upon my recent obsession with yurts, I have had my eye on Treebones resort for quite some time. Treebones is a luxury yurt resort in the south of Big Sur that offers furnished, heated, high end yurts and stunning coastal views. A few things to note about Treebones: (1) The secret is out, if you want an ocean view yurt for a weekend night, you need to book several months in advance. (2) The resort is quite far south; to get there it is about an hour’s drive past downtown Big Sur. (3) Unlike other yurt options in Northern CA, this tent will cost you $300/night, compared with other Big Sur options, that is actually a steal. (4) Although the resort claims to have wifi in the Lodge, it is spotty at best; absolutely no service in the yurts. These $300 accommodations were on a whole ‘nother level than our quaint $70/night Calistoga yurt.

More more detailed information on the yurt, check out my review of Treebones.

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Food and Beverage

In terms of culinary offerings, Treebones scored well with their Oceanview Sushi Bar. Even in the downpour we experienced, the Chef, Sarah, brought her A game and delivered a meal, fit to accompany the view. Did I mention that Sarah is from Pennsylvania? Yep, she is obviously awesome.

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A general theme of the Big Sur culinary scene is that you “pay for the view”. My husband and I each had a mediocre $5 coffee at Big Sur Coast Gallery & Cafe and thoroughly enjoyed the caffeine content and, of course, the view. We were lucky to get great advice from a local that led us to a perfectly satisfying, reasonably priced lunch at the Big Sur Taphouse. This lunch came with a view of flat screen TVs and board games. Worked for us!

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Activities

There are so many parks and sights along the coast that it can be overwhelming. In some ways, that is good, because it gives you a reason to justify coming back more than once! There is also a balancing act as the most popular, iconic, locations are often so packed with visitors that you can’t fully enjoy the experience. Given the southern location of the resort, we were able to explore a few of the more out of the way scenic spots. One favorite, Limekiln park, is located eight miles north of Treebones and offers a dabbling of everything: redwood grove, waterfall, ocean access, and limekiln ruins. Note that although the name is “Limekiln State Park” the State no longer owns it, it is now privately owned. That means that your $10 entry fee does not buy you access to the other State Parks.

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If you are looking for a wide beach to lay out or play catch, Sand Dollar Beach is a great option. Five miles north of Treebones, take the path from the parking lot and veer to the left to reach a set of steps leading to the sandy beach. Parking in the lot is $10.

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Some iconic Big Sur views are worth navigating the crowds. Visit Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park to see picturesque views of the coast including an 80-foot waterfall that drops from granite cliffs into the ocean from the Overlook Trail. Many tourists park along the busy highway, but I encourage paying the $10 fee to park in the official lot. This park is still owned by the State, therefore, your $10 fee will buy you daily access to all other State parks in the area.

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Possibly our favorite find was the off the beaten path, Partington Cove. It’s easy to miss the dirt turnout, but look for cars parked on either side of the higway, immediately following a sharp curve two miles north of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Walk through the gate, down the fire road until you reach a fork. Take the left fork over a footbridge and through a tunnel to reach the breathtaking cove. The right fork is also worth a visit, leading you down to a rocky beach with large, loud, breaking waves.

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Wrap Up

Our weekend featured many sides of nature. Friday night involved huddling in the yurt as the season’s first downpour pounded against the canvas. The sun came out Saturday morning and that evening brought rainbows and a gorgeous sunset. I can’t wait to celebrate our 30 month anniversary someplace equally entrancing!

What is your favorite way to escape the stress of everyday life?

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This post is linked with #MondayEscapes

My Travel Monkey

10 Replies

  1. I love your adventures with yurts! I never considered it as an option, much less knew they existed as a possibility!

    Definitely want to try this one out. Will be sure to find a spot close to Yurt #15…

  2. That yurt looks cosy but glad the sun came out for you in the end – the coast looks fab, I have fond memories of our trip there, so long ago now! 🙂 #mondayescapes

  3. I’ve passed through Big Sur back in March on my way from LA to California! My friends and I stopped at McWay Falls and Pfeiffer beach (we found the latter thanks to a pamphlet we were given at Hearst Castle). I fell in love with Big Sur and I want to visit again and explore more beaches and forests! #mondayescapes

    • I haven’t checked out McWay Falls…one of the things I love about Big Sur is that there are so many places to check out it gives me a reason to go back!

  4. Beautiful. We drove through Big Sur about 20 years ago (ahem), but we didn’t stop and stay over. Would love to have done that and had a bit of time to explore, as you have.
    #MondayEscapes

    • Hopefully you can fit in a longer trip sometime in the future, until then, I hope my pictures help take you there in spirit at least!

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