Not many years ago I was sitting in front of a slideshow presentation anxiously awaiting for it to announce my fate. Along with a small group of other military spouses, I was about to learn where my hubby and I would be spending the next 3-4 years of our lives. Our little spouse crew had spent the past year together supporting our hubbies through pilot school and banding together to endure the monotony of life far from civilization. I had nursed my husband through motion sickness “treatment” (aka a merry-go-round style seat meant to beat the motion sickness out of you), assisted through hundreds of study sessions, and continuously supported his squadron in the best way I knew how: cupcakes. So now that the hardest parts were past, there was only one fateful step left – finding out the plane he would fly, and the base he would be going to. As the screen pulled up, I felt my heart sink and my face fall: FAIP. “First Assignment Instructor Pilot,” ie my husband would be staying on to instruct the next group of student pilots, and I would be stuck in the middle of nowhere for four more years. I felt like crying. Then all of a sudden a new screen popped up: Just Kidding! His real assignment was California, our first choice location. Again I felt like crying.
I always knew California was my kind of place. The only time I’d ever actually been there was in college on a weekend road trip for a Maroon 5 concert, but as an East coaster there was just always something so alluring about the sunny weather and seemingly laid back lifestyle. I knew I would adore it, and how I have. This trip down the central coast is a perfect example of everything I love about the Golden State. Today I’m sharing my favorite way to do this drive:
Coming from the north, I like to make my way to Monterey first. I leave in the morning and time it so that I get there by lunchtime. There’s an unassumingly perfect cafe called Caffe Trieste that makes an amazing spaghetti marinara. Always add the meatballs. For dessert, I stop by Parker-Lusseau Pastries for an almond croissant or slice of French cake. If I have time to linger, I’ll package it to go and take it to Del Monte beach. It tastes so much better when your feet are buried in sand listening to the crashing waves.
With my belly full, I continue down Highway 1 towards Big Sur. I always stop at Bixby Bridge to snap a few photos, and then make my way towards McWay Falls. I’ve seen these falls during the day, in the early morning, and at night underneath the milky way, so I can attest that it’s equally beautiful at all times of day and never gets old.
My next stop starts me back north towards Pfeiffer Beach*. I time it so I can get there a couple of hours before sunset (ie before all the other tourists wanting to see the setting sun snag all the parking spots), and bring along some chairs and snacks for lounging on the beach. The sun’s golden light spilling through Pfeiffer Beach’s iconic arch rock is a beautiful sight and worth the wait.
Here’s where my itinerary creates a fork in the road. If I’m feeling an outdoor adventure, I’ll pitch my tent at a nearby site. We’ve spent a night at Big Sur campgrounds and enjoyed it very much. For a modestly priced night’s stay, we’ll return to Monterey. A plus to that is you can be eating your breakfast on the beach the next morning. Or, I do have a personal favorite: there’s a wonderful resort hidden among the hills and vineyards of Carmel Valley called Bernardus. It’s a perfectly quiet and relaxing little paradise, as well as a spectacular place to stop for dinner.
A few hours down Highway 1 and you can take all this in: coastal cliffs, beautiful beaches, redwood forests, vineyards, and waterfalls. If you don’t fall in love with California after seeing all that, then you may be beyond help. When I think back to myself four years ago, sitting in front of that screen waiting nervously for it to announce my fate, I wish I could tell that girl that it doesn’t matter what pops up and that she’ll be equally as happy wherever it is. But who am I kidding, it’s California and it’s gonna be amazeballs.
*Due to the landslides in Big Sur, many things have changed from the last time I did this drive, but if you’re coming from the north like me then everything in my post should still be applicable. Big Sur Campgrounds is accessible only from the North, and Pfeiffer Beach is currently closed but is set to reopen on September 30th.
