My wife and I are travelling to California for July 4th week; we are spending a few days in San Francisco and then a few days in Big Sur. We've never been before; any pointers on where to go photograph? We'll have a rental car. I'm probably going to bring the Technika and maybe the Mamiya 7.
Also, any pointers on cool day trips, restaurants?
Thanks!
-urs0polar
There's a point below Carmel facing south just a few feet west of the road that's got a fabulous view. It's high and looks down on the beach below, cliffs to the left, blue ocean water to the right.
Avoid Santa Cruz on the 4th of July---it'll be one big traffic jam. There are lots of good restraunts in Monterey. One of our favorites is The Fishwife in Pacific Grove.
Napenthe is considered a classic restraunt and worth stopping for the views from the outdoor deck(the food is good as well!)
Near the South end of Big Sur is Ragged Point, which is usually booked solid for weddings in the summer, but stop anyway for a cappuccino---its beautiful.
There are tourist maps with most of the vistas & cool locations well marked. I don't know if the elephant seals will be beached when you will be coming, but its quite a sight--usually on the beaches at the South end of Big Sur. Point Lobos isn't to be missed of course.
Lime Kiln would also be a good place to see. FWIW, Cayucos is a rare "California classic" beach town that has survived unscathed and has a neat motel, The Shoreline, with rooms right off the beach & reasonable rates.
For architecture there are llght houses, Mission Carmel (the only California Mission built from stone)Hearst Castle and of course the Lime Kilns.
Have a great trip!
"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White
As you drive south along Hwy 1 there are plenty of places to stop and a number of paths down to the ocean can be found. Take your time and explore some of them, you are sure to find a photo!
The Weston Gallery in Carmel usually has cool stuff on display. If you get to talking with the curator he can show you lotsa nice images they have squirreled away.
Point Lobos, Garrapata, Pfeifer Beach.
Weston Gallery is always worth a visit. And it's not too far from the Forge in the Forrest. Mmm, Spaten Oktoberfest on tap.
If you have a good suspension, you can try four wheeling off Old Coast Road, and North Coast Ridge Roads. Both have some very nice views away from the touristy spots.
Pt Lobos can get a bit crowded on summer weekend afternoons, and there's limited parking. So wee days or mornings are preferable. Julia Pfeiffer park is a jewel further down
Hwy 1. There are many places to photograph. Just driving the shoreline of Pacific Grove
will give you plenty of opportunities to shoot.
Another vote for Point Lobos...but early morning, too crowded later in the day.
Pasta? Did you say pasta? Well OK you didn't but...The Loose Noodle in Monterey (Light House Ave) is wonderful!
Don't miss Photography West Gallery, it's at Ocean and Delores in Carmel, just two blocks from the Weston Gallery. Do not take a credit/debit card into either, you have been warned!
Be prepared for fog, it's what we natives call "June gloom". Although it usually lasts all summer.
Have a great trip,
JD
More traffic warnings: there will be horrible logjams of traffic leaving the Monterey area on
Sunday afternoons and on the evening of the 4th. These back up badly on 152 where it
connects to 101, thru Morgan Hill on 101, heading north on 1 into Santa Cruz. There are
also bad traffic jams on 1 south in Carmel on most weekend afternoons. If you're leaving
SF anyway, you might just take the slow way down Hwy 1. I'd personally rather be on a
slow road with plenty of beach and redwood turnouts than on the bigger highway simply
fuming. An even slower route but also scenic is clear down the ridge of the Santa Cruz
Mtns on Skyline.
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