Big Sur California Travel Guide
Carmel-by-the-Sea Travel Guide
Highway 1 Scenic Drive
Bixby Creek Bridge
Oceanfront Dining at Sierra Mar Post Ranch Inn Big Sur
L'Auberge Carmel Luxury Boutique Hotel
Carmel-by-the-Sea Boutiques and Shopping
Carmel’s Gardens, Courtyards & Coastal Charm

Big Sur

And then came Big Sur.

Driving toward Big Sur is one of those times when the journey itself is just as special as the destination.

Highway 1

Highway 1 winds along cliffs high above the Pacific, offering one amazing view after another. Be sure to stop at Bixby Creek Bridge, one of California’s famous coastal landmarks, and take a moment to enjoy the scenery.

Mountains, cliffs, mist, ocean, and sky all blend into one stunning landscape.

Sip & Savor at Sierra Mar: Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California

“Celebrating the coastal bounty of Big Sur and our neighboring communities, Sierra Mar offers dishes centered around the dialogue of balance: on the plate, between land and sea, with sustainability always in mind.”

Having lunch with a view of the Pacific became a highlight of the trip. Sitting above the coastline, with ocean views stretching out before me, made the setting just as memorable as the meal.

It’s the kind of place where you want to stay a bit longer before heading back to Highway 1.

This is not a drive to hurry through.

Stay: L’Auberge Carmel, Carmel-by-the-Sea

I called L’Auberge Carmel home during my stay, and it couldn’t have suited the trip more perfectly.

It’s intimate, romantic, and nestled in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It feels more like a small European inn than a typical resort.

I kept my room’s windows open, letting the ocean breeze drift in while the waves crashed gently toward the shore, creating a peaceful melody.

After days spent exploring the coast or attending the perfume congress in Monterey, returning here felt wonderfully serene.

Stay

Tucked in the heart of town, L’Auberge Carmel is a beautiful retreat with European charm, inviting courtyards and timeless elegance. It’s the perfect home base for exploring Carmel’s shops, galleries, and coastal beauty.

Our Stay

Beautiful rooms, thoughtful details and effortless style make L’Auberge Carmel a perfect home base for exploring this beautiful coastal town.

Beautiful Details

From the elegant interiors to the thoughtful touches in every room, L’Auberge Carmel combines classic charm with modern luxury.

The location was another luxury. I could step outside and walk to dinner, the shops, small courtyards, and Carmel’s charming streets.

And with Aubergine right at the hotel, a beautiful culinary experience was waiting downstairs.

For me, a memorable hotel isn’t just a place to sleep; it’s somewhere that becomes part of your travel story.

Stroll Through the Lovely Gardens

Everywhere in Carmel you’ll find beautiful gardens, overflowing window boxes and charming courtyards.

Charming Corners

From flower-filled window boxes to hidden courtyards, Carmel’s gardens add to the town’s storybook charm. Take time to wander the side streets and discover the beautiful details around every corner.

Shop

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a dream for shoppers, with its charming cottages, hidden courtyards and one-of-a-kind boutiques. From perfumery and Shophop beautiful home finds to timeless fashion pieces, every corner feels like a discovery.

CARMEL BELLE

A favorite stop for beautiful gifts, fragrance and unique finds.

HIDDEN COURTYARDS

Wander through charming lanes and discover one-of-a-kind boutiques around every corner.

Leave room in your itinerary to do absolutely nothing but wander Carmel.

Some of my favorite time was spent exploring its little streets and discovering shops almost by accident.

Carmel is filled with independent boutiques, galleries, jewelry, fashion, home and design stores, bakeries and tiny businesses tucked into courtyards and passageways.

There’s something wonderfully old-fashioned about it.

You don’t need a shopping list or even a plan. Turn down a lane just because it looks nice. Step into a boutique if something in the window catches your eye. Stop for coffee. Treat yourself to something sweet. Then keep walking.

That sense of discovery is part of what makes Carmel-by-the-Sea so special.

A note from the journey – Sunday Guides Note

This was one of those special trips where business and pleasure came together perfectly.

I came to Monterey to immerse myself in the world of fragrance, spend time with Lisa, and gather inspiration for the continuing expansion of Paris House Beauty.

I left with so much more.

There were talks about perfume and chemistry, wonderful meals, tiny shops, a fairytale village, the elegance of Pebble Beach, the wild beauty of Big Sur, and miles of Pacific coastline.

Maybe that’s the best way to enjoy this part of California: don’t plan too much.

Drive slowly. Stop often. Wander the little streets. Order the pasta. Have the candy. Stop for lunch overlooking the Pacific. Open the hotel windows and listen to the ocean.

Sip. Savor. See. Stay. Shop. And live life beautifully.

England

Part Two, Coming Soon

Out and About with The Paris House

Dinner & Cake Decorating NYC

The Sagamore Resort, Bolting Landing, New York

Nubble Lighthouse, Cape Neddick, York, Maine

Beautiful Beaches, Porto Covo, Portugal

Porto Covo, Portugal

The Picturesque Cliffs of Porto Covo

Restaurant Guide: Comporta, Melides & Porto Covo, Portugal

Dining at Sierra Mar: Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California

“Celebrating the coastal bounty of Big Sur and our neighboring communities, Sierra Mar offers dishes centered around the dialogue of balance: on the plate, between land and sea, with sustainability always in mind.”