Maps: Our local office of
the California State Automobile Association [AAA],
408-373-3021, has an excellent map of the Monterey Peninsula which
I find superior to others I have seen. An excellent escorted
audiotape tour of the Big Sur coast is available at the
Thunderbird Bookstore, 408-624-1803. This audiotape is produced by
the Big Sur Land Trust and is introduced by Clint Eastwood.
Topographic maps of Big Sur and the Ventana Wilderness are
available at Montain Tools, 408-393-1001.
Entertainment, Dining and Events: I
find the weekly publication, Coast Weekly, to be most
informative. It's "free" and is available at many of the local
hotel/motels and local businesses.
Beaches: Carmel Beach is a favorite
of mine along with Sanctuary and Monastery Beaches to the south on
Highway 1 near Point Lobos. If you travel to the Big Sur area I
suggest Garrapata Beach, and near downtown Big Sur is the famed
Pfeiffer Beach -- where over 20 movies have been filmed. Pacific
Grove, also known as "the last home town", has a spectacular
scenic drive with Asilomar Beach at one end and the Monterey Bay
Aquarium at the other end.
Big Sur: You will experience 70 miles
along Highway 1 south of Carmel filled with vistas from
spectacular cliffs, canyons, mountains, trails and campgrounds. A
favorite place of my wife, Lee, for sunsets and full moons is from
the deck at Nepenthe Restaurant. My favorite deck for such events
is the Ventana Restaurant. Also, Ventana has a campground full of
old growth madrone and redwood trees. Another favorite is the deck
of the River Inn where on Sunday afternoon you can enjoy Dixieland
music while sitting in a chair or bench right in the Big Sur
River, sipping your favorite beverage and soaking your bare feet
in the clear mountain water. Loma Vista Cafe & Gardens is
another unique place to relax and enjoy the mountain view with a
cappuccino, good food, and the pleasure of exploring their
begonias and cacti nursery. Twenty minutes south of downtown Big
Sur is the world famous Esalen Institute - an aesthetic place to
attend "human value and potential" workshops, 408-667-2724;
www.esalen.org
is their Web site. You may want to include a session there before
or after your visit with us at the Holistic Healing
Center.
Carmel: Beautiful Carmel offers hours
of walking, shopping and exploring the uniqueness of its character
with over 70 art galleries and many fine restaurants.
Carmel Valley: This quaint village is
located 11 miles east of Carmel. It offers relaxed dining and
interesting shops. Further east on Carmel Valley Road to Jamesburg
Road you will find Windows To The West Outdoor Adventure Company,
408-659-2153; www.nativeguides.com
is their Web site. They offer horse pack trips into scenic Pine
Valley and a four-night trip across the Ventana Wilderness with
the end destination being a parking lot at Ventana Restaurant in
Big Sur.
Monterey: Historic Monterey is home
to much of California's early history and statehood. Cannery Row,
made famous in the writings of John Steinbeck, is now home to the
famed Monterey Bay Aquarium, 408-648-488; www.mbayaq.com
is their Web site.