Limekiln State Park is on the southern end of Big Sur but it is worth the drive. There’s not a lot of camping, but when we arrived, the rangers carved out a spot behind one of their work trucks for our SUV, so we could enter. Thanks guys!
This is a full redwood to waves park with three do-able but fun hikes that will wow you and impress visitors…and dates. Get Limekiln State Park details here.
Beach Hike
A quick trot over the bridge gets you and your picnic to a beautiful slice of Pacific Coast beach. There are great bathrooms on the beach side.
Kiln Hike
Pictured above, the kilns are worthy of a Game of Thrones scene. Or Lord of the Rings. One can imagine trolls forging a necklace fit for a fairy queen or a knight’s sword in these awesome, larger-than-life kilns. You might have to hop over a few trees to get there, but it just makes this short, slightly uphill hike even more adventurous.
Falls Hike
Double back from the kilns to the falls view, and you’ll have another reward at the end of a short trail.
Spots not to miss on the Hwy 1 journey through Big Sur
A famous waterfall and selfie-spot
Julia Pfeifer Burns State Park is home to one of the most recognizable beach waterfalls ever. But don’t get confused because there are a few parks with very similar names. You can’t access the beach, but there’s a short (busy) hike out to an overlook that makes a perfect selfie spot.
Big Sur Tap House
It’s one of the first spots you get to in the area, and with hungry teens…and a dad…and mom on board, we indulged in wings and did not regret.
Bixby Bridge
Another ringer spot on this coastline. Your trip won’t be complete without a pic here.
There’s a vista point north of the bridge but we like this spot just south, where you can climb a hill for a great view.
This is also where sea otters were rediscovered after being hunted nearly to extinction. Families from here were then bred to re-pup-ulate the Central Coast, including Lovers Point Beach down the road from our Jewelbox Cottages.
Check out more on Limekiln and the Big Sur area on Josh’s blog, California Through My Lense.
We Won't Force You to Pay Hotel Rates, Despite Attempts to Ban Home Rentals in PG
Because #JewelboxCottages is our family's forever-home, we want you to know that even though an activist group of Pacific Grove residents and local hotels and bed-and-breakfasts are orchestrating a ban on home rentals so you'll have no choice but to pay exorbitant high hotel rates, we will always rent to you.
So follow this blog, stay in touch with me and other homeowners who still believe you have a right to visit our marine paradise – no matter your gender, race or creed – and that you shouldn’t be forced into pay ransom to a hotel to do so.
Please share with you friends and family and anyone who wishes to visit. Check out our Jewelbox Cottages and contact me, Mel, to plan your next trip to Big Sur, Monterey Bay and Pacific Grove.
