Big Sur, CA

Home for me is and will always be California. I was born, raised and educated in the Golden state and I can tell you with complete confidence that it's a wonderful place to visit (and live). What's the best thing about Cali? Some say weather, haters say traffic, but in my opinion, it's Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1). Better known as "PCH", this highway connects the northern and southern regions of the state, and highlights all that California has going for it: gorgeous views of the coastline and sunset, vineyards, national parks, and lots of rolling hills and fields covered with wildflowers. A PCH roadtrip is something everyone should do before they die. Best of all, it's incredibly easy and can be very quick- making it the perfect weekender activity for Californians that need a break from work or for out-of-state visitors who are pressed for time.

Itinerary

Day 1

• Leave from the Orange Country area at around 8:30am
• Breakfast @ Olsen's Bakery in Solvang. A quick coffee and Danish (get the almond krinkle). I've never been a fan of danishes, as they are too sweet for me. If you've never been before, the city is very quaint and a cute place to do some sight-seeing while you stretch your legs. A recommended alternative for a pit stop is Santa Barbara. 
• Lunch @ Sebastian's Cafe in San Simeon. Awesome! This place sources from the nearby Hearst Ranch (grass-fed cattle), so all beef products are amazing (pastrami, burgers, roast beef sandwiches, etc.). If there's no place to sit, get your lunch to-go and picnic at the beach next door.
• Stop at Big Sur scenic points:
• Big Creek Reserve
• Bixby Bridge (a must-see)
• Point Sur Lighthouse
• Check in at downtown Monterey (around 6:30pm). So in all, 7 of driving, 3 hours of breaks
• Dinner @ Crabby Jim's. Deciding where to eat was fun- most of the restaurants on the Old Fisherman's Wharf give out free samples of their clam chowder and encourage visitors to do a taste test before deciding on a dinner destination. I was really impressed- for being such a touristy location, the clam chowder at Crabby Jim's was solid- and it came with a view of the coast!

Day 2

• Checked out of the hotel at 9:30am
• Espresso @ Bright Coffee. Cute! One of the neatest coffee shop concepts I've ever seen and most importantly, really good, robust coffee (like Blue Bottle Co). If it's near by, definitely check it out!
• Julia Pfeiffer State Park and McWay Falls- The waterfall is right beside the park and if you have more time, definitely do one of the many hiking trails in the area.
• Elephant seals near off the highway of San Simeon. Here is the rough location 
• Lunch @ Sebastian's Cafe again. It was that good.
• Tour of the Hearst Castle (45min tour, $25 admission)- As for as tours go, it's pretty expensive and comparable to the Getty in terms of architecture novelty (Mediterranean vs Spanish influences) though the Getty definitely has the better, more extensive art collection. That being said, it has the most fabulous indoor pool I have ever beheld.
• Arrived back in the OC at 9pm.

Like I said, it's an easy 2 day trip, and even better if you have the extra time to do the hikes! Here's a map of our roadtrip and a map of the Big Sur sight seeing points- helpful in seeing where everything is relative to each other. Here are some last tips: be prepared to drive off the road in order to park for some of these scenic points (an be careful merging back onto the highway), brace yourself for the windy roads near Big Sur (not ideal for people prone to motion sickness), and make an amazing playlist for the ride (streaming Pandora etc. doesn't work too well). Cheers!