BIG SUR ATTRACTIONSWhether you come for a weekend or for a month, these are some of the Big Sur attractions you'll want to include on your Not-To-Be-Missed List! THE MANY CHARMS OF BIG SUR ATTRACTIONS
There are as many reasons to visit Big Sur as there are people! You might come for the ruggedly dramatic & beautiful coastline, for the peace and solitude of it's State Parks and forests; or for its wildlife in the form of whales & sea otters & California Condors. You might arrive seeking gourmet food & wines, art galleries, or spiritual enlightenment. You might be interested in the quirk, or the history! Whatever it is that draws you, here's an insider's look at what Big Sur has to offer! The Esalen Institute Probably one of the most well-known of Big Sur attractions is the Esalen Institute.
The property was originally the site of a Native American village & ceremonial grounds, and later 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 & Western philosophies - in short, Esalen was and is the place where people were free to think about, and to experiment with, and to explore, new ways of aproaching life and learning. Today at the Esalen Institute, you are free to register for a 2 day or 5 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 amenities here - it's a place of roadside markets, unpretentious lodges and motels, comfortable pubs, family-oriented "resorts" with campgrounds & 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 & 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.
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 & its Lightstation, the families whose lives were lived in isolation, the shipwrecks, and the crash of the U.S.S. Macon. Nepenthe Restaurant, the Pheonix Shop, & Café Kevah Nepenthe is more than just a local restaurant - it's an experience!
Built literally by hand in the late 1940s by Lolly & Bill Fassett, and still run by their children and grandchildren, Nepenthe is a magical gathering place high above the Pacific Ocean where you can dine on fabulous food, join friends and strangers alike around the fireplace for drinks, and imagine Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton folkdancing 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 & take a look - I guarantee you'll find at least 1 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 & atop the roof of the Phoenix Shop. Order a gourmet coffee and something lovely to nosh, have a seat on the terrace & soak up yet another Big Sur attraction. Big Sur Galleries Considering all the poets, artists, travelers and vagabonds - not to mention the hippies, writers, bohemians, new agers, Gestalters (is that a word?) et al - that have frequented Big Sur's shores, hills, & dales, it's not surprising to find many art galleries, museums dedicated to famous writers, & 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":
Bixby Bridge Why is Bixby Bridge 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 3 days round trip!
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 visit Big Sur besides beaches & camping. Take a trip there and you'll discover - like I have - that it's a magical place!
And check out the beaches & the camping as well - these, too, are Big Sur attractions! Big Sur Beaches They can be dramatic, peaceful, and dangerous, but they're always beautiful! Big Sur Camping If you love camping in any form, you will definitely want to camp in Big Sur! Please continue your exploration of what Northern California has to offer by using the Nav Bar at the left, by using the links at the bottom of the page, or by using the customized search box below to find the specific topic that interests you. Like what you're finding here at DiscoverNorthernCalifornia.com? Then please share with your Social Network (see the buttons in the NavBar to the left, or at the bottom of the page). For more pictures of Northern California and other great stuff, check out my facebook page, www.DiscoverNorthernCalifornia.com. Become a fan, write on my Wall, contribute to the Discussion Board, post a Review -- join in the fun!  Return to Discover Big Sur from Big sur Attractions Return to Discover Northern California Home Page from Big Sur Attractions
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