DISCOVER
BIG SUR ATTRACTIONS

Whether you come for a weekend or for a month,these are some of the special attractions you'll find in Big Sur that are Must Includes for your To Do List!

Find the best deals on Big Sur California hotels by comparing prices
at HotelsCombined, before you go!

Big Sur Outcrop; (CC) Chris Willis

Whatever it is that draws you, here's an insider's look at what
California's Big Sur has to offer you!

The Esalen Institute

Probably one of the most infamous of all Big Sur attractions is the Esalen Institute.

Esalen Institute Sign; (CC) Victoria Williams

The property was originally the site of a Native American village and ceremonial grounds.

Later it was homesteaded by Thomas Slate largely because of the relief he received for his arthritis from soaking in the hot springs on the property.

He was smart enough to open his hot springs to the public and thereby created Big Sur's first tourist attraction!

In the early 1960s the first counterculture seminar was led by Alan Watts and the Esalen Institute was born. It was the place of Gestalt Therapy, holistic exploration of the human potential, an inter-weaving of Eastern and Western philosophies - in short, Esalen was and is the place where people were free to think about, to experiment with, and to explore new ways of approaching life and learning.

Today at the Esalen Institute, you are free to register for a two-day or five-day workshop, participate in the 28-day Work Study program, book a massage session or an overnight Personal Retreat - or - participate in the Late Night Bathing program from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. At $20, this last is the best bargain there is in Big Sur, if you don't mind the late night/early morning hours!

Big Sur Village

This little village - it could almost be called a hamlet - is rustic and charming as it meanders for about a mile along the Big Sur River Valley. It's situated inland, away from the coastal cliffs and the beaches, but the lovely river and forested valley provide other charms. For me, this is one of the best of the Big Sur attractions!

Don't be expecting any big city ammenities here - it's a place of roadside markets, unpretentious lodges and motels, comfortable pubs, family-oriented resorts with campgrounds and cabins, and the Village Shops.

But small as it is, you'll find a
lot to love here! Relax, take life easy, and enjoy the eclectic gift shops, explore the Big Sur Art Center, or select from a variety of meats at the Redwood Grill's Big Sur Burger Bar and have lunch on their outdoor deck under the redwoods.

Point Sur Lightstation

Situated on a point of land that juts out into the Pacific Ocean, you'll find the Point Sur Lightstation, which still guides ships away from the dangerous shores, but is no longer operated by families living on the point.

Point Sur Lightstation;
CC) Curtis Brown

Built in 1899, the Lightstation was automated in 1974 and today Point Sur is a ghost town, but prior to '74 the Point was alive with the families who lived and worked there!

Take a guided tour to explore this Big Sur attraction while learning the story of Point Sur and its Lightstation, the families whose lives were lived in isolation, the shipwrecks, and the crash of the USS Macon.

Nepenthe Restaurant, the Pheonix Shop, and Café Kevah

Nepenthe is more than just a local restaurant - it's an experience!

Nepenthe Sunset;
(CC) Günter Waibel

Built literally by hand in the late 1940s by Lolly and Bill Fassett, and still run by their children and grandchildren, Nepenthe is a magical gathering place high above the Pacific Ocean.

Dine on fabulous food, join friends and strangers alike around the fireplace for drinks, and imagine Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton folk dancing the night away!

Added to the complex later, the Phoenix Shop offers unique, often one-of-a-kind or limited edition, items from local artisans and from artisans around the world.

Wander round and take a look - I guarantee you'll find at least one thing you've never seen before!

And don't miss another recent addition, the Café Kevah, which - built in true Fassett style - sits below Nepenthe and atop the roof of the Phoenix Shop. Order a gourmet coffee and something lovely to nosh, have a seat on the terrace and soak up yet another of my favorite Big Sur attractions.

Big Sur Galleries

Considering all the poets, artists, travelers and vagabonds, not to mention hippies, writers, bohemians, new agers, Gestalters (is that a word?), et al, that have frequented Big Sur's shores, its hills and its dales, it's not surprising to find many art galleries, museums dedicated to famous writers, and establishements of local color!

Here's the short list of Must See Big Sur Galleries in, as they say on Dancing With The Stars, "no particular order":

• Big Sur Garden Galley
  Locally produced art and jewelry plus exotic items from around the globe
• Coast Gallery Big Sur
  The first gallery in Big Sur and one of the largest galleries of American Crafts
• Del Campo Gallery
  Fine Art from many of Big Sur's local artists
• Hawthorne Gallery
  Works in contemporary painting, sculpture, blown glass, ceramics and cloissoné
• Henry Miller Library
  Although called a library, it's really a gallery, sculpture garden, and library/bookstore with many of the rare and unique items being for sale
• Sofana's Dome Gallery and Studio
  A unique experience with open studios, workshops, and special events - make an appointment to have Sofana do your Essence Portrait!
• The Gallery Ventana
  Fine Art by local artists as well as jewelry, pottery, gifts, clothing and more

Bixby Bridge

Why is a bridge considered a Big Sur attraction? Because it was the building of this 714 foot long, 280 foot high bridge that enabled the automobile to travel from Monterey to the Big Sur River Valley in 1932 - a 30 mile trip that had previously taken three days round trip!

Historic Bixby Bridge; (CC) Michael Larson

In addition to bringing the peoples and the communities of the
Big Sur area closer together, the building of Bixby Bridge and the whole Big Sur Highway 1 project were important to the people suffering through the Great Depression - both were among the hundreds of Public Works projects created to put the unemployed to work while enhancing the country and helping the economy to recover.

There you have it! There really are wonderful reasons to Explore Big Sur besides beaches and camping. Take a trip there and you'll discover like I have, that it's a magical place indeed!

If you're looking for a Big Sur hotel, be sure to compare prices at HotelsCombined before you book!

But check out the beaches and the camping as well! These, too, are part of Big Sur's awesome attractions!

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