Big Sur: Breathtakingly Beautiful!
Written: Sep 19 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful scenery, magnificent ocean, serene and remote.
Cons: It's a loooong way to a bathroom!
The Bottom Line: Incredible views, crashing waves, huge cliffs and boulders. Big Sur is nature at its rugged finest... so close to civilization and yet so far!
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| diverpam's Full Review: Big Sur |
The two things I remember most vividly about Big Sur: 1) It is breathtakingly beautiful and 2) it's so remote that it's a terrible place to be headed when you really need to find a restroom.
It's Long Drive Up Highway 1
We approached Big Sur, after driving all day up the Pacific Coast Highway of California. We had started our trip in Los Angeles and we were on our way to San Francisco. The Pacific Coast Highway/Highway 1 is certainly longer than the more direct interstate highway, but it is by far the scenic choice. If you've never taken this drive, I highly recommend it.
Beautiful Scenery
The closer we drew to Big Sur, the more impressive the scenery. I was glad I wasn't behind the wheel so I could gaze out over the dramatic ocean cliffs and watch the waves crashing below.
I had long heard about the great surfing at Big Sur. I read all those magazines when I was a teenager. I, too, wanted to go to California and "Hang Ten."
Looking out over the water, I saw the huge boulders peeking out between waves. I couldn't imagine trying to navigate a surfboard through that obstacle course. Hanging Ten was the furthest thing from my mind at that moment!
Peaceful Natural Surroundings
The air was crisp and cool. The roadside was shady from the huge pine trees. I can still hear the roar of the ocean and smell the salt in the air. It was late December and the air felt a bit chilly, but not cold.
The ocean, so far below us, was dark blue and magical. It swirled and foamed and finally flung itself against the cliff walls. There was a mist rising over some of the rocks.
Standing on a boulder I looked straight down the side of a cliff. It was one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring sights I had ever seen. The waves crashed below and the ocean lay majestically before me. It was a beautiful sunny day.
Remote and Serene
I had always been fascinated by the ocean and had never had much opportunity to be close to it. The crashing waves had an almost hypnotic effect. We were practically in the middle of nowhere. I hadn't seen a building for miles and we weren't sure how far it was until we would see the next.
This was a great feeling, being outdoors communing with nature... until I realized I really needed to find a restroom. The sound of the ocean began to exacerbate the problem.
Sometimes You Just Need Civilization
I quickly herded my husband and children back into the car and we headed in the direction of Big Sur. I'm not sure what I expected, but we didn't find much in the way of a town.
What we did find was a building that looked like a log cabin. They sold hamburgers and they had bathrooms. The Taj Mahal couldn't have been any prettier to me at the time.
After making a quick pit stop (I would have been picking out a large pine tree and stuffing Kleenex in my pocket if we hadn't found that place quickly), I was definitely ready to eat. We were all getting tired and a bit cranky and we wanted real food. We had been eating junk food all day during our drive -- not to mention drinking too many soft drinks.
We opted for burgers, fries, and shakes, which we scarfed down so we could explore Big Sur before it got dark. Back on the highway, we soon realized that we had already done so. Apparently Big Sur was really no more than a stop along the road when it comes to civilization.
However, Big Sur is one of Mother Nature's most incredible feats. I still remember the peace and tranquility I experienced that day as I stood on the cliff overlooking the crashing waves at Big Sur. It's a great place to stop and gaze upon the ocean.
Conclusion:
Next time I would pack a picnic, stop alongside the road, take some pictures, and enjoy Mother Nature. Big Sur is truly a beautiful place to commune with nature.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
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Epinions.com ID:
diverpam
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Pam
Location: Collierville, TN
Reviews written: 263
Trusted by: 350 members
About Me:
~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
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