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Purple Sand & Stone Arches at Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur
For a few brief weeks around the winter solstice, the sunset casts an ethereal glow through the Keyhole Arch. 
It’s fun to just sit and contemplate the myriad of sea stacks from the beautiful beach. If you are heading to Big Sur, the exquisite Pfeiffer Beach is a must see. It is easy to miss the unmarked turnoff for this secluded beach. Take a severely sharp turn off Highway 1 on Sycamore Canyon Road at mile marker 45.64, the second right turn after Big Sur Station if you are heading south. The meandering, narrow Sycamore Canyon Road is bordered by the occasional and surprising home, given the solitude. Follow Sycamore Canyon Road just over two miles to reach the parking area.
Manganese saturates the rocky outcroppings with its purple hue. 
The disintegrating manganese in the cliffside creates a beautiful violet variation in the beach’s sand. Take a ridiculously short .1 mile hike on a flat, sandy path from the parking area to the beach. The path is flanked by Monterey Cypress and the Sycamore Canyon Creek, on the left, flows down to form a serene pool at the beach. The sun beats down on the purple-hued sand and huge waves roll and crash against the rocks and beach. The wind is usually blustery and harsh in this area.
You will be wowed by the sea stack formations here. There are three arches. Two stand side by side, close to the beach. The third, called Keyhole Arch, stands further north, alone and solitary in a wall of rock several yards out in the ocean at high tide. For a few weeks, beginning in mid-December, sunlight comes through the northern keyhole arch perfectly (or close to it) due to the angle of the sunset, and photographers will gather to get that perfect shot. The surf here can also be incredibly powerful, with huge dramatic waves.
The Keyhole Arch is said to be the most-photographed attraction in Big Sur after Bixby Bridge. Pfeiffer Beach is not a state park, but rather, a part of the Los Padres Nation Forest. During the spring, the low bluffs above the beach are dotted with wildflowers, including California poppies, verbena, Indian paintbrush, and lupines. The cliffs and arches at Pfeiffer Beach are primarily granite which continues to erode over the years with the sea’s crashing waves.
Helpful Tips:
- If you are heading south on Hwy 1, the Pfeiffer Beach turnoff is on the right, shortly after you pass the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park entrance. The very sharp right turn is at mile marker 45.64 on unmarked Sycamore Canyon Road. Sycamore Canyon Road is a paved, ungated road.
- Pfeiffer Beach does not allow you to park outside and walk in, as you can at other places such as Point Lobos. Au Contraire. You have to pay the $10.00 entrance fee to enter in your vehicle.
- There are a limited number of parking spots and when they’re filled you are out of luck. They do not allow overnight camping, and no RVs or campers are allowed in due to the narrow road.
- Be aware that there is a “nude” section at the extreme far north end of the beach so that if you see a swimsuit or clothing lying on the beach you may be approaching a naked person!
- Pfeiffer Beach can also be extremely crowded on weekends so you may want to visit during the week when it is less busy.
- There are pit toilets available but no water to wash your hands. I recommend bringing hand sanitizer.
- It can be quite chilly and very windy, bring a sweater or jacket.
- The walk from the parking lot to the beach is short and well marked.
- Dogs on leash are allowed on the beach.
- Picnic tables and benches are available near the parking lot.
- GPS coordinates for Pfeiffer Beach are 36.2383,-121.8150.
- No campfires are allowed.
- Swimming and wading are not recommended due to dangerous waves and rip currents.
Cost:
Daily admission is 10.00 or you can purchase an annual pass for 50.00. Both cash and credit cards are accepted.
Hours:
They are open daily 8 am to sunset.
Helpful Links:
For more information, see Sycamore Canyon and Pfeiffer Beach
Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, & beautiful vistas!
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The Feast of Lanterns in Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove, California, is a quaint Victorian seaside community filled with charming old homes. Each year it celebrates its history and culture during the Feast of Lanterns. It is Pacific Grove’s oldest tradition, beginning in 1905. It is a wonderful event that draws this charming small town together with a multitude of fun events and lasts for four days. The festival includes a lantern parade to the beach, fireworks over the bay, a sandcastle contest, a pageant, and a pet parade. The pet parade is held on Friday before the last day of the festival on the city’s main street, Lighthouse Avenue.
Pacific Grove has been billed as “America’s Last Hometown” and it is easy to see why, during this magical festival. Many Pacific Grove businesses & residents show their support by hanging brightly colored lanterns and lights in windows, trees, and on their porches. There are also a great many private parties held in anticipation of the festival’s finale.
Blue Willow Plate You may have heard the legend of the blue willow, a story about the beautiful antique china pattern. In this story, Chang falls in love with the beautiful Koong-se, and they fly away as immortal doves, forever free. Pacific Grove, known as Butterfly Town, has its own spin on this story, in which the lovers fly away as Monarch butterflies. This is depicted in their annual pageant, which takes place on the last night of the festival at Lover’s Point. The story takes place in pantomime. It culminates with a burst of fireworks overhead as the lovers are seen for a brief moment before departing in the guise of Monarch butterflies.
The Feast of Lanterns is held the end of July, with the culmination occurring the Saturday of the last full weekend in July. If you are planning on attending the last day’s events, be sure to arrive early in the day to set up chairs, blankets, etc. Bring warm jackets, etc. as it can become quite chilly during the evening. For more information on the festival as well as other upcoming events see Pacific Grove. Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!
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Mission Ranch in Carmel, California
Picture yourself seated on a terrace, drinking in the sweet ocean air, with stunning views of Point Lobos, Carmel River Beach, and the Santa Lucia mountains. Sheep graze peacefully in a sweeping pasture before you. A multitude of lovely shrubs and flowers surround every building, including hydrangeas, bougainvillea, hollyhocks, and angel’s trumpets. Live oaks, eucalyptus, and centuries-old cypress trees tower gracefully over them. You are sure to be delighted no matter where your gaze wanders. This is Mission Ranch.
Mission Ranch is located in Carmel, California, just around the corner from the beautiful Carmel Mission Basilica. It began in the 1850s as a farm owned by John and Elizabeth Martin and their seven children. The Martins had a dairy farm and provided Monterey County with fresh cheese and butter. Their former creamery is now the site of the Mission Ranch restaurant.
Mission Ranch is located on 22 acres owned by actor Clint Eastwood. In 1950, Clint Eastwood was 21 years old and had just been drafted. Off-duty from Fort Ord, he discovered Carmel and Mission Ranch. He loved the area and made it his second home. When developers threatened to desecrate the area and turn it into condos, he stepped up and saved the historic ranch.
This historic ranch consists of 31 rooms located in 10 original buildings on the property, including a bunkhouse, the original farmhouse, and a honeymoon cottage. Mission Ranch is a great site for weddings, family vacations, and romantic getaways. While we were at the restaurant for dinner, there was a wedding taking place. How peaceful and serene it appeared, next to the pasture full of grazing sheep!
The charming restaurant is famous not only for its lovely views but also its amazing piano bar. The piano bar is a great place to strike up friendships. We recently met a lovely couple from Cote d’Azur and had a great visit with them, even though they spoke little English and we, little French!
Mission Ranch is open every day except Christmas day. They have “early grazing” outdoors from 3-5 pm, but dinner service does not officially start until 5 pm. On the weekends, they offer a brunch from 10 am – 2 pm. During the week, you can get breakfast from 7 am-10:30 am. They do not accept reservations. I would recommend getting there early if you want to get a good table. When you arrive, you can choose to be seated inside or outside on the terrace.
We arrived at 4:30 pm and sat at the piano bar until we were seated around 5:15 pm. Fortunately, we were seated in the east section of the restaurant at a window table overlooking the pasture and sheep with a fireplace next to us. This is much quieter than the adjacent dining room near the bar and I would highly recommend it. There is a plethora of yummy food on the menu including appetizers, soups & salads and fabulous dinner entrees. I chose the slow roasted prime rib and it was too delicious!
- Pets are not allowed in the restaurant except for service animals.
- Bring a jacket or sweater for dining on the outdoor terrace as it can get chilly, even with the outdoor heaters.
- Piano music is played nightly from 5-9 pm.
Location: 26270 Delores St., Carmel, CaliforniaPhone: 831-624-3824Website: Mission Ranch.
Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, & beautiful vistas! -
The Tuck Box: A Fairy Tale Tea Room in Carmel
The Original Tuck Box 
The Tuck Box Today Once upon a time, in lovely Carmel-by-the-Sea, there was a fairy tale English cottage called the Tuck Box. It was built in 1927 by Hugh Comstock. Comstock’s wife, Mayotta, was famous for her unique hand-made “Otsy-Totsy” dolls. Time passed and the cottage changed hands. During the 1940s, two sisters, Mrs. Bumbridge and Mrs. Watson, converted the building into a tea room and named it Tuck Box after the traditional trunks British schoolchildren used to carry books, food, and supplies.
Vintage Tuck Box Tuck boxes generally had a child’s initials, last name, or school mottoes and crests painted on the outside. Tuck boxes were sometimes created with secret panels, false bottoms, and sliding sections for hiding goodies or contraband. No mother, wrote Roald Dahl in his childhood memoir Boy, would send her son off to prep school without, at the very least, the following in his tuck box: a home-made currant cake, a packet of squashed-fly biscuits, a couple of oranges, an apple, a banana, a pot of strawberry jam or Marmite, a bar of chocolate, a bag of Liquorice Allsorts, and a tin of Bassett’s lemonade powder. To these, a boy would add ‘all manner of treasures’, such as magnets, pocket knives, balls of string, clockwork racing cars, lead soldiers, tiddlywinks, catapults, stink bombs and Mexican jumping beans.
You won’t find stink bombs or Mexican jumping beans at this tuck box. Instead, you will find delicious sandwiches, fresh fruit, salads, steaming hot tea in whimsical teapots, and their famous scones with fresh cream, orange marmalade, and olallieberry preserves. It is a very cozy, relaxed setting. You may be seated inside or outdoors on the terrace. Caveat: if you eat here, make sure to bring money. Oddly, the Tuck Box does not accept any credit cards and will direct you to the nearest ATM if you do not have enough cash TUCKED in your wallet.
The Tuck Box is located on Dolores Street between Ocean and 7th Ave and is open daily, 7:30 am-2:30 pm. For more information, see Tuck Box. You may also enjoy reading Fairy Tale Cottages in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, & beautiful vistas!
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Twelve Romantic Travel Instagrams to Follow
Do sugary sweet photos of couples kissing make you melt? Do you love photos of girls in ethereal dresses in exotic locations? Do you adore old cities and romantic, haunting vistas? Then these Instagram accounts will leave you head over heels.
Whether traveling alone, or side by side with the love of your life, exploring the world is an adventure. Watching others do so with passion is inspiring to many of us! The following Instagram accounts are packed with inspiration for all of us romantics at heart.
This site is a compilation of alluring photos from dedicated travelers. Their motto is “plane tickets > material possessions”.
Kevin & Angie share their passion for traveling the world in a collection of stunning photos.
This Instagram account is full of dreamy, romantic photos from around the world.
This travel agency specializes in honeymoons, destination weddings, proposal trips, and romantic getaways.
5. sheisnotlost
She is Not Lost describes itself as a “community for female travelers finding their way”, and is brimming with bewitching and beguiling photos.
Travel writers Victoria & Terrence, the duo behind @followmeaway, share their romantic pics as they travel the globe.
7. theplanetd
Experienced travelers Dave & Deb invite you to view their exquisite, breathtaking photos in their travels to nearly every country in the world.
8. roamaroo
Scott & Collette, who dub themselves “Mr. & Mrs. Worldwide”, share their real-life romance in a series of fun and beautiful vistas from around the globe.
This creative couple, who also happen to be commercial photographers, give you a glimpse of their imaginative journeys to romantic places.
10. nathalie_wanders
Nathalie Roch is a French girl who shares her “wanderland story” in a series of ethereal, romantic photos that will take your breath away.
11. hopereid_
Hope Reid is an Aussie expat who loves to explore beautiful places and shares her amazing, romantic vistas.
A pair of travelers exploring the world share their wistful, romantic photos.
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Hen House Inspiration: The 20 Cutest Chicken Coops Ever!
- The Versailles-inspired Coop. Offered by Nieman Marcus for a mere $100,000.00, this posh abode contains multiple levels, including a nesting area, a living room for nighttime roosting, a broody room, “a library filled with chicken and gardening books for visitors of the human kind”, and last, but not least, an elegant chandelier.
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2. The Little Red Barn by GopherBoy Farms. This was built entirely from junk, scraps, and odds and ends. I would say he did a pretty good job, and I bet his chickens would agree.
3. A chicken tractor from My Chicken Home would entice even the fussiest hen. A chicken tractor is basically a chicken coop that has wheels so that you can transport the coop to various areas on your property. It will also protect your chickens from being harmed by predators.
4. This turquoise trimmed coop was pieced together with “salvaged and repurposed” materials. Source: Good Enough.
5. This darling coop by Crafty Farm Girl began life as a playhouse. Super cute!
6. Holier-than-thou chickens need their own church coop! This coop was originally posted on Craigslist in the Seattle area, and for some lucky poultry, their prayers must have been answered.
7. This rustic coop from freecycleusa.com is made of recycled materials. Love the cute little weather vane!
8. A Tree Trunk Chicken Coop. For real? This is in an industrial park in New York. Source: Flickr
9. This tiny teal coop from England can house up to three chickens and is adorable! Source: Oakdene Designs.
10. A medieval looking stone coop looks like something out of Game of Thrones! Source: Kalla.
11. Chickens like Christmas Cheer too. This owner decorates her beautiful walk-in coop with wreaths for the holidays. Souce: happydaysfarm.
12. This kooky coop reminds me of Pippi Longstocking or Baba Yaga. Definitely one-of-a-kind! Source: roseapples.tumblr.com.
13. Victorian Charm is in the details with this carefully constructed coop by The Bird House.
14. All aboard the chicken express! Another tractor, this one is ready to chug down the train tracks. Source: thepoultryguide.com
15. This mint green coop (countryliving.com) is so darling it looks like a doll house.
16. This whimsical Coca-Cola and tin coop from montanahappy.com is perfectly petite and adorable.
17. An old chest of drawers has been repurposed into a diminutive coop
18. Old vehicles can also be transformed into coops. The “cluck bus”, from Community Chickens is home to more than a handful of hens! This old car (source: alternet.org) has also been converted.
19. This quaint coop is plain and simple. From Homestead Revival.
20. I initially converted this treehouse into a home for my two geese, Abelard and Heloise, but have since turned it over to two of my chickens.
Wishing you peace, love, & happiness!
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Ventana: Birthday Celebration in Beautiful Big Sur
This is the third in my series of iconic Big Sur restaurant reviews; see links for Nepenthe and Big Sur River Inn.A thick veil of fog hovers over the water and blankets the hills as we head south on Highway 1. The road twists and turns, hugging the coastline. As we near Garrapata, torpedo-like rock formations of sandstone appear otherworldly. The ocean rumbles and waves gallop like horses toward the shore, creating milky froth as they crash into and over jagged rocks. There are four squid boats anchored off Rocky Point, their eerie green and yellow lights penetrating the mist.
We are headed for my birthday celebration at Ventana, a resort complex in the most heavenly location ever. Ventana means “window” in Spanish. Secluded between the Santa Lucia mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Ventana’s weathered cedar structures perch on a hillside 1200 feet above the coast. Picturesque Post Creek meanders through the 160-acre property, which contains landscaped pathways, canyons, groves of redwoods, Japanese hot baths and two pools. There are 59 guest rooms, suites, and villas and 15 safari-style canvas “glamping” tents, as well as tent only camping sites.
HistoryVentana is located on land first homesteaded by the Post family in 1890. The Post home, which housed several generations of the family, still stands at the entrance. Ventana first opened in 1975, the creation of Lawrence Spector. Spector co-produced the 1969 anti-establishment hit “Easy Rider” which was written by Peter Fonda, Terry Southern, and Dennis Hopper. Ventana still retains vestiges of its ‘70s hippie beginnings, from its original weathered cedar siding to its clothing-optional policy in the hot baths and the Mountain Pool and nude sunbathing in prescribed areas. From the beginning, Ventana has drawn celebrities, including Dennis Hopper, Ali McGraw, Steve McQueen, Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, Barbara Streisand, Julia Roberts, Robert DeNiro, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, and Lupita Nyong’o, among many others.
GlampingThe glamping area, one of the newest renovations, is nestled in a 20-acre ancient redwood forest a half mile hike beneath the main resort. Each tent includes beds with luxury hotel linens, hot and cold water, and propane- and wood-burning fire pits. All glamping furniture is built from “reclaimed” redwood from the property. Ascot wine-and-cheese picnic backpacks, custom curated picnic baskets, natural timber walking sticks, and daily housekeeping service are also provided. But wait, there’s more! The glamping tents also include electrical and USB plug-ins, teak-enclosed showers with heated floors, a sheet turndown service every night, hot cocoa, and hot-water bottles to warm your sheets. Apparently, these are often sold out. Actress Mandy Moore recently celebrated her birthday during a girls’ glamping weekend at Ventana.
ClassesThis IS Big Sur and not surprisingly, Ventana also offers some pretty far-out classes, including meditation, yoga, tai chi, Pilates, beekeeping, charcoal sketching, mandala coloring for couples, string art & mindfulness, candle making and aromatherapy, bird-watching, photography hikes, mushroom foraging, daily hour-long guided walks, and drum circles. Taylor Swift recently took a falconry class at Ventana during her stay this year.Glass HouseThe Glass House Gallery sells paintings, sculptures, jewelry, clothing, ceramics and local photography. You can have your picture taken on the see-through overlook outside the gallery and fool your friends into thinking you are standing on the edge of a precipice!WeddingsVentana hosts many weddings. Their website states “Imagine saying your vows overlooking the canyons and forest or surrounded by redwoods. Enjoying a sunset reception or dinner under a canopied arbor. And dancing under the stars to celebrate your new adventure together.” Apparently, both Natalie Portman and Ann Hathaway could imagine this. Both had their wedding receptions here.
The RestaurantThe Sur House restaurant features delicious concoctions by Executive Chef Paul Corsentino. Meals feature coastal cuisine, including local seafood, free-range meats, and fresh produce from Ventana’s gardens. There is also a 10,000-bottle wine cellar featuring central coast wines selected by local vintners and Ventana’s sommelier. Craft cocktails and beer are also offered. Sur House decor is both elegant and rustic, featuring natural wood and leather furnishings.
We arrived at our 6:30 pm reservation time and had planned to dine on the terrace. Instead, we were told that we could not be seated outdoors for our meal because “the temperature drops too quickly” and it would be too cold for us. The temperature was a balmy 75 degrees, nonetheless, we were ushered to an indoor table by a window where, like a fish in a glass aquarium, I could envy, in the distance, a couple having drinks at a table overlooking the ocean. After ordering our food, I dashed outside to get some photos of the terrace.
Ventana offers a prix fixe meal; you are offered four courses for a set price. However, they do allow you to order items a la carte. My friend and I shared our first and second courses, the tuna tartare and soft shell crab with tropical fruit, melon salsa, and Napa cabbage. For the third course, my friend ordered the Alaskan Halibut and I the Ora King Salmon. These were both superb. For my birthday, they brought a platter with samplings of ice cream, mousse, fruit, and cake. I felt like I had just finished Thanksgiving dinner when we were through. It was decadent and thoroughly satisfying.
Following our meal, I watched through the window as hummingbirds levitated up and down through the air. Then three black crows landed on the terrace, the black of their feathers contrasting with the deep oranges and reds of the landscaping and furniture. It was a wonderful birthday. Good food, fresh air, and a beautiful vista of the ocean. And that’s what Big Sur is all about.
- For more information see Ventana.
- Address: 48123 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920. Directions on how to get here.
- Phone: 800-427-7623.
- Sample Menus
- Check road conditions before you go, it is easy to do. Go to Caltrans and enter 1 (the highway number) then search.
Thank you for visiting my blog. Wishing you peace, love, happiness, & beautiful vistas!
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Obon Festival in Seaside, California
Obon translated means “Lantern Festival” or “Festival of the Dead”, and is a holiday honoring those who have passed on. Obon is somewhat like the Day of the Dead, the Celtic Samhain, or in Catholicism, All Souls Day, which all involve paying homage to loved ones who are now departed. But it is also a celebration, filled with large gatherings, family reunions, and bright lanterns. One very beautiful Obon ceremony in Japan is the lighting of paper lanterns and sending them out to sea in honor of ancestors who have died..
The first American Obon Festival was held in Hawaii in 1910 but not in the continental United States until 1931 when it was held at the Buddhist Church in San Francisco. Obon Festival has since remained one of the most important Japanese-American traditions here.
The Buddhist Temple of the Monterey Peninsula held their 72nd annual Obon Festival today, July 8, 2018, at 1155 Noche Buena Street in Seaside, California from 12:00– 5:00 p.m. This festival draws a huge crowd and is always fun. People show sincere Obon enthusiasm and the wearing of Japanese inspired clothing is encouraged.
When you first approach the temple you see three koinobori (also known as carp) windsocks flying. In Japanese culture, the carp symbolizes courage and strength because of its ability to swim up a waterfall. In Buddhism, the fish is an embodiment of well-being, happiness, and freedom, and symbolizes living in a state of fearlessness, without danger of drowning in the ocean of sufferings.
As you enter the temple you see origami crane garlands draping the walls and hanging from the ceiling. In Japan, the crane is a symbol of good health and luck. It is said that if you fold 1000 cranes, you are granted a good wish. “In folding paper cranes, we see how a small square of paper can magically transform into an expression of beauty, love, and compassion. The crane comes to life after we set an intention, pay careful attention to each fold, and at the final step, spread the crane’s wings wide for it to soar.” See Paper Cranes
Free tea is offered to the public. It is delicious! 
Udon, before being liberally sprinkled with scallions & shichimi What can you do at the Obon Festival? First, sample delicious Japanese foods prepared by chefs from local Japanese restaurants, including: tempura, sushi, beef and chicken teriyaki, udon (noodles in broth), Kushi katsu (deep fried pork), gyoza (steamed dumpling with ground pork and vegetables), lumpia (deep-fried egg rolls), & chicken karaage (fried chicken). I tried the udon and it was amazing!
Learning Japanese is easy when you have a good teacher! 
This Japanese Black Pine Bonsai is 69 years old! While at the festival you can listen to the rhythmic Taiko drumming and dance during the Bon Odori, or community Japanese folk dancing. You can listen to an educational lecture on Buddhism. You can learn how to speak and write Japanese. You can watch martial arts demonstrations and witness a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. There is also a beautiful display of bonsai and ikebana flower arrangements and great demonstrations on how to do it yourself. If you missed this great event today, there is always next year!
Beautiful Ikebana Arrangement Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, & beautiful vistas!
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Nepenthe’s Phoenix: Bohemian Bliss in Big Sur
Nepenthe is an ancient Greek word meaning an elixir for sorrow, literally, a “drug of forgetfulness”. And sorrow you will indeed forget when you see the jaw-dropping panoramic view of the Big Sur coastline at this iconic restaurant. Nepenthe started out as a very simple cabin in 1925, located downhill from the log house where writer Henry Miller lived. Orson Welles bought the cabin as a gift for his new bride, the movie star and World War II pinup girl Rita Hayworth. Unfortunately, the relationship failed, and the Big Sur cabin was abandoned. After Welles and Hayworth divorced, Bill and Madelaine “Lolly” Fassett, with five children in tow, purchased the cabin and 12 acres for $12,000. They employed Rowan Maiden, an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright, to create Nepenthe. Redwoods hewn from area canyons and hand-made adobe bricks were used. Nepenthe opened in 1949 with an open terrace design so that people could enjoy drinking, eating, reading poetry and dancing under the open sky.
Nepenthe became a place for creative expression and bohemian culture for people who enjoyed living freely and had disdain for traditional societal propriety. According to “Nepenthe Big Sur Stories and Folktales” (see Nepenthe Stories), visitors arrived from all over the world; “vagabonds, poets, artists, lovers… when there were fewer people on the coast, when nights were longer and days lonelier, Nepenthe was a place to gather”. Famous visitors included Henry Miller, Anais Nin, Man Ray, Ernest Hemingway, Joan Baez, Kim Novak, Steve McQueen, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. The latter two performed scenes for the 1965 film, “The Sandpiper”, at Nepenthe. Even today, Nepenthe continues to invoke the spirit of the previous beatnik and hippie cultures.
The Phoenix Shop opened in the 1960s, featuring gifts and local artwork, pottery, books, candles, clothing, hand-knitted hats, and jewelry. Café Kevah opened in 1992 above the gift shop and offers a great place to grab brunch.
When you first enter the Nepenthe terrace, you see a five-foot-tall rising phoenix with bronze feet, the symbol for Nepenthe. This was created from a huge live oak originally growing here. When it died, sculptor Edmund Kara transformed the tree’s trunk into this amazing sculpture.
If you visit Big Sur and want to check out Nepenthe, one caveat is that they are crazy busy on the weekends. It is not unusual to find the parking lot full and cars parked for a half mile down Hwy 1! If you are able to get seating, I recommend the outdoor counter overlooking the beautiful view (except on foggy days such as in this photo!).
Hours are as follows:Nepenthe – open daily 11:30am -10:00pmCafé Kevah – open daily 9:00 am-4: 00 pm (weather permitting)Phoenix Shop – open Daily from 10:30am-7:00pmNote that they do not take reservations unless it is for a large group.
Nepenthe is located on Hwy 1, about 30 miles south of Carmel, near the Ventana Inn and Post Ranch Inn. You will see the Nepenthe sign on the west side of the highway. Make sure to check road conditions before you go, it is easy to do. Go to the CalTrans website here caltrans.ca.gov and enter 1 (the highway number) then search. Or you may phone 800-427-7623. Wishing you beautiful vistas, peace, love & happiness! -
Big Sur River Inn: Dip Your Toes in the River
The venerable Big Sur River Inn is perched on the banks of the Big Sur River. It began humbly in 1934, when Ellen Brown opened the inn and began serving hot apple pie to guests. Her famous apple pie, which is still on the menu today, gave the place its original name, “Apple Pie Inn”. Ellen was a descendant of the famous Pfeiffer family for whom a park and beach are named.
The Big Sur River Inn is now known for its famous Adirondack chairs in the river. Yes, IN the river. I must add that the river is so shallow, a chicken could wade across and get nary a feather wet. It is also well shaded and lined with gorgeous smooth river stones. You can take your glass of wine or bottle of beer and sit IN THE RIVER with your family and friends. You will love dipping your toes in the cool and crystal clear water. Could there be anything more idyllic on a hot day? Big Sur River Inn is located on the west side of Highway 1 and is surrounded by lush forestry and campgrounds. Its central location makes it an ideal place from which to explore Big Sur’s redwoods, hidden coves, and famous landmarks. It is less than 3 miles from Big Sur Station, Andrew Molera State Park, and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
Since I am a local resident, I have never stayed at the Inn, but I have eaten at their restaurant and the food is amazingly delicious. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. You may choose to eat indoors in their rustic cabin-like dining room, on their lovely deck, or in those famous chairs in the river. Big Sur River Inn clearly take pride in their landscaping, so that in every direction you look you see a beautiful floral vista. There are also a myriad of wildlife here. During my most recent visit, I was serenaded by a group of gorgeous blue Steller’s Jays as they socialized on the river bank.
On Sunday afternoons, there is live music on the riverside deck. There is also a gas station (the only one for miles) and a small general store with food and camping supplies on the premises. For more information see River Inn. If you are searching for a down-to-earth, affordable, fun and relaxing place to visit, I would highly recommend the Big Sur River Inn!
Thank you for visiting my blog! Wishing you peace, love, happiness, & beautiful vistas!
