- Monday 01 February 2010
No country conjures up images of fly drive holidays through spectacular scenery like the USA does. Its open roads and dramatic landscapes create plenty of world class drives, such as the Big Sur and Route 66. Big Sur follows US Highway 1 along the rugged pacific coastline and is as thrilling a drive as you can possibly pack into a few days. The highway threads its way down the countries entire west coast from Oregon to California, but it is the 145magnificent kilometres from Carmel-by-the-Sea to San Simeon that make up Big Sur.
Whatever you do, dont miss the popular sunset crawl when cars cruise the bends as the sky bursts into orange and red, and the ocean becomes mercury blue. From Monterey, take the scenic Seventeen-Mile (27-km) Drive around the peninsula to quaint Carmel-by-the-Sea. Almost immediately after leaving Carmel you will be greeted by Point Lobos which is the first of many state parks. Point Lobos is good but the drive gets better. Soon Highway 1, with its eclectic mix of sports-car drivers, Harley riders and motorhomes, begins to climb above the shoreline with striking views almost beyond the horizion. Despite all Big Surs natural beauty its best known icon is the dramatic Bixby Bridge which spans high above a plunging canyon, and is backdropped by the Santa Lucia Mountains. After passing Point Sur Lighthouse you move inland through the layered, gently hills of the Andrew Molera State Park, which is a good spot for hiking and riding. The Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park also warrants a couple of days exploration. Aswell as its towering, prehistoric, coast redwood trees there is a network of excellent hiking trails which include the gently Nature trail and the more demanding mountain escapades to Buzzard's Roost and Pfieffer Falls. If you are fortunate you may see a black-tailed deer or bobcats. Big Sur is not all nature and wildlife,though ,and there is a thriving community of artists here. Arguably, Big Surs finest coastline lies in the south around Juila Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Here natural rock arches and islets dot the surf and headlands stretch off to infinity. In the park itself a short trail leads to a picture perfect cove graced by the 24-metre-high McWay waterfall. The final stretch to the sea lion colonies and endless sandy beaches around San Simeon is a gently comedown from the drama of the cliffs to the north. If the wilderness bug didnt bite you, San Simeon's outrageous and outlandish Hearst Castle awaits.