Take my 3 day road trip down Highway 1 along California’s middle coast, with stops in Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel By The Sea, and Big Sur.
Day 1
Swanton Berry Farm (opens at 8)
Shark Fin Cove
West Cliff Drive
Sea Lions at Santa Cruz Wharf
Walton Lighthouse
Lunch: Crow’s Nest Beach Market (dog friendly patio)
Blacks Beach (dogs ok)
Explore Downtown
Dinner: Chocolate (dog friendly patio)
Stay at AirBnb
Day 2
Breakfast: Chill Out Cafe
Explore Capitola Village, Wharf/Esplanade
Drive to Monterey 45m
Old Fisherman’s Wharf
Cannery Row
17 mile drive
-China Rock (Vista Point)
-Bird Rock Vista Point
-Seal Rock Beach
-Cypress Point Lookout
-Crocker Cypress Grove
-Lone Cypress
Lunch: Tree House Cafe (fcfs, dog friendly patio)
Carmel Beach (dogs ok off leash!)
Explore Carmel By The Sea
Dinner: Mission Ranch Restaurant (fcfs, no dogs)
-Arrive before they open at 4:30. There will already be a wait (overnight guests have priority). Enjoy a drink and the scenic grounds while you wait for your table.
Drinks: Brophy’s Tavern (across from hotel)
Stay at Carmel Fireplace Inn
Day 3
Breakfast: From Scratch (dogs allowed, fcfs, opens at 8)
Bixby Creek Bridge 25m
Point Sur Lighthouse
Pfeiffer Beach (off road access, dogs ok)
McWay Falls
Partington Cove (hike down in, best in summer months at high tide)
Lunch: Nepenthe
Drive back to Carmel 45m
Point Lobos (no dogs – even in cars)
-Bird Island Trail (to Gibson Beach): easy .8
-Sea Lion Point Trail: easy .4
-Cypress Grove Trail: easy .8
-Whalers Cove
Relax at Mara Beach (no dogs?)
Dinner: Folktale Winery (dogs ok)
Stay at Carmel Fireplace Inn
If you have extra time near Santa Cruz:
Henry Cowell Redwood State Park
–Garden of Eden Swimming Hole (arrive early, gets crowded)
–Redwood Train Ride (75m, 40pp, schedule varies)
