We planned a last-minute getaway to Big Sur last week and the boys had so much fun! We were a little concerned, as we looked at the website the night before, when we saw that our hotel didn’t have phones, WiFi, cell phone reception, or TV’s – but it all ended up working out in the end because the boys were happy just to wander around in nature!
Here’s where we went:
- Big Fish Grill (Monterey, CA)
We ended up eating here because we took a slight detour on our drive to Big Sur and ended up an hour out of our way. We were all starving by the time we got to the coast, so we decided to stop at the wharf for some lunch. Big Fish Grill sits right at the end of the pier, overlooking the water. A few of the other restaurants at Old Fisherman’s Wharf are not kid-friendly, but this one sure was! No one seemed to mind my rambunctious one-year-old stumbling around the entire restaurant until the food arrived. The service was fast, the food was tasty, and the view couldn’t be beat! There were plenty of options for vegetarians, and the kids were happy with their meals as well.
- Carousel Candies (Monterey, CA)
Can you travel with kids and not hit up the candy store? We picked out a few treats after lunch – truffles for Donnie, and a giant lollipop that was supposed to be for Logan but Roman hijacked it for a few minutes and then screamed at the top of his lungs when we took it away. We did pay $5 for the lollipop, which is extremely overpriced, but that’s what you get for shopping at a major tourist spot!
- Big Sur Lodge (Big Sur, CA)
Nestled in the middle of a state park, Big Sur Lodge is an awesome family destination! Once you get over the fact that there are no TV’s, phones, cell phone reception, or WiFi, you can truly appreciate the beauty of the natural surroundings. We stayed in a one-bedroom cabin that was gorgeous on the inside, despite its unassuming appearance from the outside! We had so much space – a full kitchen, a bedroom, a full bathroom, and a spacious living room where both boys slept (Logan on the sofa bed, Roman in his pack-n- play). Our cabin had a front deck that was a great little space to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee while the boys ran wild. There was a pool, but it’s not heated, so it was way too cold for us to be able to enjoy this trip. Word to the wise – don’t come in the peak of summer, because there is no air conditioning in the cabins! We were actually so cold at night that we ended up using the little fireplace to heat the place a little bit so the boys wouldn’t freeze. There was plenty of space outside to explore and walk around, and only a quick drive down the road to the main building that housed a gift shop, restaurant, and coffee shop. Being right in a state park was a pretty fun experience, too! We appreciated the many stroller-friendly hiking trails!
- Nepenthe
Perhaps the best-kept secret of this area, we stumbled upon Nepenthe after a failed attempt to go to dinner at another restaurant that turned out to be too much of a bar. Thankfully, Donnie had saved the information for Nepenthe on his phone (before we lost all cell phone service), so he remembered where it was located. Just a short drive from our hotel, we arrived at Nepenthe to discover a big set of stairs leading uphill from the parking lot. Still unsure of what to expect, we trudged up the stairs and came upon one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve ever been to! The restaurant property was huge, with a large indoor dining room surrounded by glass windows, and a huge outdoor patio where every spot had an ocean view. You could even sit along a countertop that ran along the perimeter of the patio, enjoying a beautiful mountaintop view of the Pacific Ocean.
Aside from the dining areas, there was also a large gathering area with benches and pillows and a Ping-Pong table. I’d guess they host a lot of outdoor events during the summer.
The food, although a little pricier than what we’re used to, was delicious! From fresh salads to hearty steaks, there was a little of everything on the menu. The kids enjoyed their meals as well.
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (Big Sur, CA)
Our hotel was located within this state park, and it was absolutely stunning! There were many handicap and stroller-friendly trails, making it the perfect spot for families. We saw beautiful redwood trees, walked along the river, and looked for wildlife. There were easy trails and trails for more experienced hikers. The only downside was the amount of poison oak – we had to constantly make sure Logan stayed on the trail and didn’t wander off. It was everywhere, even close to where we were staying for our trip. Our stay at the Lodge got us free admission into the park, and any other state park, which was a nice perk!
- Andrew Molera State Park (Big Sur, CA)
Our hotel stay got us free admission into any state park, so a quick drive down the road led us to Andrew Molera State Park. Part of the trail required crossing a river, and even though it was very shallow, it was not something I wanted to attempt while wearing Roman in a backpack carrier and trying to make sure Logan didn’t fall over in the water. Supposedly, the trail led to the beach, but we weren’t sure how much further it actually was. So we settled for a brisk walk along the other part of the trail, and then headed back to the car to go search for a place to walk down to the beach.
- Garrapata State Park (Carmel, CA)
We didn’t do any hiking, but we took the stairs down to the beach and let the boys run free. Logan loves the ocean and had a blast running back and forth along the water. Roman is fascinated with sand and crawled around collecting bits of seaweed. There was no one else around, which made it relaxing and a great spot to unwind after our morning walks in the other two state parks.
- Big Sur River Inn and Restaurant (Big Sur, CA)
I had been to Big Sur as a child, and I only remembered one thing: chairs in the river. I did a quick search and found out where these chairs were located: The Big Sur River Inn! After the morning’s adventures, we were pretty hungry and tired, so we stopped here on the way back to our cabin and had some lunch. Like the other places we ate at, the food here was delicious! We ate outside and enjoyed the fresh air. Minus a really scary allergic reaction to something that had Logan’s face swelling up, we had a great time relaxing here for a bite to eat before walking down to the river. The boys loved sitting in the chairs and sticking their feet in the ice-cold water. There were also tiny fish swimming around in the shallow water. If we didn’t have the kids with us, I probably could have curled up for a nap in one of those chairs.
- Big Sur Lodge Restaurant (Big Sur, CA)
The Big Sur Lodge has a restaurant in the main building, so we decided to have a quiet dinner and ordered food to go so we could eat it back at our room. The food was surprisingly tasty, but a bit overpriced (just like everything else in this area, it seems!), and they were out of pizza, which was the only thing we wanted to order from their already-limited menu. We ended up getting the boys macaroni and cheese to share, which was actually made from scratch and was amazing! The food took a long time to be ready, which was difficult to handle with two overtired kids, but thankfully there was an oversized checkers board in the lobby so Logan and Donnie were able to entertain themselves while I chased Roman around.
- California Grill (Watsonville, CA)
On the way home, we drove along the coast so we could meet my grandparents for lunch in Watsonville. My grandma suggested a restaurant she hadn’t tried yet: California Grill. The restaurant shares a building with a medical practice, which was a little odd, but the restaurant dining room itself was very upscale and the food was great! They had a large menu and many of the ingredients were locally grown! The meat and seafood is locally-sourced. The staff were all very friendly and the restaurant was a great place to go with kids!
Overall, we had a wonderful time on our quick trip to Big Sur! It’s definitely a place I’d return to – even without kids in tow – in the future. Big Sur is a wonderful vacation spot for kids and a great place to disconnect from the distractions of technology!
