California

The Lone Cypress on the 17 Mile Drive

You may have come to this blog hoping to get lucky with some details on the poppy fields or the super Californian blooms of spring, or probably when someone disturbed your focus for a second with the mention of Bridal Falls in Yosemite. Seriously? California is so much more than those popular names. It's the vibe, the behavior, a style, maybe a phenomenon, its people, and the connection. Above all, it pulls you in with its oceanic sounds, showing the cute chubby face of that sea lion. A Californian is a nature buddy, and nature befriends you in California.

Pacific Grove

Having lived a big chunk of my life in California, revisiting this state was as nostalgic as an Indian woman visiting her parents for the first time after an arranged marriage. The spring of 2025 took us to the most scenic oceanic core of the coastal border. Yes! Indeed, it is Monterey Bay and Carmel-by-the-Sea!

The Pride Of Madeira

Still recovering from the delayed flight experience from India, I was undoubtedly far from ready to gear up for the trip. I was thinking of going as a minimalist, but when I can bear that courage to do so, I don't know. It will come; you must wait for that blog too ;). Four days and three nights were all we had in the spring break week. The rest were already occupied by high school activities and other personal errands. Hence, we limited our excursion to primary points in the Monterey Bay and Carmel-by-the-Sea.

We landed at the Monterey Airport, the tiniest and cutest little airport where the airbus stops right in the middle of the runway for you to absorb the air and fresh breeze of the travel experience in a subtle way. Picked up the rental and headed to Highway 1 towards Big Sur!

Big Sur

Bixby Bridge

This had to be our first stop vista on the Highway 1. The Bixby Bridge also known as Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coast of California is one of the most photographed bridges due to its aesthetic design, graceful architecture and magnificent setting. The bridge is 120 miles south of SFO and 13 miles south of Carmel in Monterey County on State Route 1. Hence the trail of pictures below. :)

Bixby Bridge/ Bixby Creek Bridge

Driving Highway 1, undoubtedly is the winner in the coastal journeys, with the Big Sur galvanizing displays of the  Bixby Bridge and the Keyhole Arch almost every corner of the coastal route. 

Keyhole Arch

Family Picture!

This poetic escape was a refresher for the high schoolers and a rejuvenation for the adults. Now the fact that our big chunk of the states journey belonged to California, this wasn’t a new destination.   Yet a much awaited re-calibration with loaded old memories intertwined making new ones.

Carmel Lilly Valley - Garrapata State Park Trailhead (#8)

They say add an element to the old portion to make it a new. So we halted at the magical valley onroute Big Sur. It was the lily valley of the carmel that had perfect scene of the wild lily blooms filling the valley view and the roaring pacific in the backdrop. It was the gorgeous Carmel Lily Valley at the stretch of the Garrapata State Park in the Doud Creek area. These lilies bloom in the late winter to early spring and march was just the right month. The views of the pacific cliffs alongside the lilies is nearly breathtaking!

Calla Lillies

Post exiting the valley, we were back on the road displaying countless vistas and stoppable stops. Soak in, soak in till it settles in!

Highway 1 Vistas

Highway 1 Vistas

McWay Falls

Ever heard of falls falling on the beach? McWay is amongst that category. This fall is an 80-foot-tall waterfall on the coast of Big Sur in central California that flows year-round from McWay Creek in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, about 37 miles south of Carmel, into the Pacific Ocean

McWay Falls, the only falls in the world that falls on the Beach

Many times I imagine myself to be behind the reel of life where nature is my buddy and my family is the set of four wheels rolling me on. Thinking of the director, it's indeed HIM sitting somewhere on his chair with the game plan.

McWay Falls Family Picture

They say as you age, your load of multivitamin becomes heavier on you. In Nishant and my case, its true, however, our pack of multivitamins is organic and truly natural. These views couldn't brim us enough with dopamine, seratonin, endorphions and what have you. Check out the views below and comment if you think otherwise

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   Besides the beauty, I think there is zenith of knowledge that one can absorb on any roadtrip. Again, the source is truly nature and the past. Suhana took her project elements of noHuman Goegraphy like Esselen group of native peeople of Big Sur, the pacific mall Steamship Co. connecting CA, BC, WA and Alaska.

2. 

   
   

   I don't remember the joke that caused the giggles below, but I do know that staying positive with the travel itinerary is important; the rest depends on your companionship and the vibe you share.

A simple grin

Nepenthe - Fine Dining Cafe & Restaurant

Remember the element I was talking about, it's to do with something different and new. It’s about experience of the visit that stands out unique. A primary key for all family trips. Since we could not spend much time on the Pfeiffer beach (closed due to high tides), we took a snack break at Nepenthe on the way back to our lodge. Eatery perched on a Big Sur cliffside offering California fare and a terrace with breathtaking views, with 4.5 customer rating, this one pleased us by its location and amazing hot cocoa and goat cheese crackers

Exemplary high perched walking decks with Big Sur views sunken down in our hearts

Asilomar Beach

We stayed at Pacific Grove, walkable Lovers point and 17 mile drive. The lodge was tiny and cute one by the 17 mile Drive, just 0.2 miles from the Asilomar beach. Our room was called the Pebble Beach with beautiful array of spring flower pots on the porch. There wasn’t a day we missed the sunset on the beach.

They say that you can't track the movement of the biggest star with naked eye, but you sure can count the seconds of the settings sun. So did we! Gorgeous and heavenly views of the dissolving orange candy in the lemonade.

Lovers Point

A brisk and poetic escape to Monterey and Carmel in 2025 spring break is an all time charmer for we four.  I would personally call it a dreamy blend of costal charm, artistic inspiration with nature’s best display at this time of the year.

Cannery Row, Ghirardelli Square & Fisherman's Wharf

Loved strolling along the Cannery Row, where the Bubba and the Forest chased Suhana for sea food. Sea lion and otters swam alongside our walk at the Old fisherman’s wharf and Ghirardelli was a rejuvenating fantasy delight!

17- Mile Drive

Whether you drive it, bike it, or walk it, 17 mile drive's romantic stretch of caostline makes you fall in love again. Located between Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach on the Monterey Peninsula, 17-Mile Drive takes you through a wind sculpted forest of cypress trees to a rocky coastline dotted with some of the most envy-inducing homes on the planet. It swept us along  the cypress trees and rugged cliffs, each turn was more breathtaking than the last.

The Lone Cypress Tree

The Pebble Beach

Carmel By the Sea

California born Suhana was blown away by the fairytale cottages and art galleries at the Carmel.  We just wandered down to Carmel Beach, where the orange candy melts into the Pacific, yep the golden sunset! 

Point Lobos

The hikers did try something new which we could not do when kids were just kids. Hiked the Lichen Trail at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve that is a short but enchanting path that feels like stepping into a hidden coastal wonderland.

Culture & Dine-Ins

Its all about the new element I have been talking about. A totally new experience dining at the waterfront of the Beach House, Lovers Point. It revived our palates with the new fresh and flavorful, innovative yet affordable californian cousine. Loved the ambience and the vibe here as well. The class of a californian is described by his/her treatment to the other individual. The stewards got to know us and our likes and then offerred the popular dishes that we savored.

San Jose - The Silicon Valley

It was the day to head back and we got lucky! Our flight got delayed by a couple of hours and we had chosen the San Jose Airpot for return journey. Our first thought went out for the innumerous connections and bonds that we build in our lives, valuable and memorable enough that dragged us back to this place. Nostalgic was the visit to Summerwoods Apartments in Santa Clara and popular indian cuisines of 2010s...The kid day care takers of that time, childhood memories of my kids, silicon valley jobs, my first Audi, career journey, and what not to describe....Ah! May we visit this place again :)

And I must say, Monterey and Carmel in spring is a place where the sea whispers, and time slows just enough to savor every moment….

Wanna join me next time in California?

Quick Itinerary tips

• Day 1 - Fly early morning from Dallas love field to Monterey, CA. Reach by noon and get rolling.

  Big Sur - Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, Peiffer State Park, Nepenthe, Asilomar Beach Sunset

• Day 2 - A relaxed and well planned day

  17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, Lone Cypress Tree, Cannery Row, Old Fisherman's Wharf, The Beach House Dining Experience

• Day 3 - Ready to Hike and pick adventure

  Point Lobos, Carmel by the Sea, Asilomar Beach Sunset, Uber Eats for easy and quick dinner as we were all tired post our hike.

• Day 4 - Head back home

  Silicon Valley visit (a bonus for us due to dealyed flight), board the flight back to Dallas