06/10/2026
California Coast 4-Day Itinerary 🌊💙✨
Last week I spent 4 amazing days road-tripping along , and I’m sharing my favorite way to experience it in just 4 days.
📍 Day 1 – Arrive to Monterey + Pacific Grove
Start your trip on the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail, the easiest way to hit all the highlights on foot or bike: Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Old Fisherman’s Wharf.
Stop for coffee at Alta Bakery
Lunch/dinner at Schooners
Fav Place to Stay: Monterey Plaza
📍 Day 2 – Pinnacles National Park + Kayak
Pinnacles is ~1.5 hrs from Monterey. In spring, you can spot California condors soaring over the rock formations. Don’t skip the Balconies Cave Trail.
On the way back, kayak the bay with Monterey Bay Kayaks .
Stop for coffee at The Power Plant Coffee .
Dinner at Wild Fish in Pacific Grove.
Fav Place to Stay: Monterey Plaza .
📍 Day 3 – Big Sur + Sunset at Los Padres National Forest
Drive Hwy 1 slow and just enjoy the ride. Stop at Garrapata State Park for a quick walk, easy short trails with beautiful ocean views, and if you’re lucky, sea lions hanging out on the rocks below.
Get to Pfeiffer Beach before sunset. One of the few beaches in Big Sur with direct access, or If you’re up for a hike, I highly recommend the Timber Top Trail. It’s one of the best hikes in Big Sur.
Dinner at Nepenthe .bigsur
Fav Place to Stay: Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn
📍 Day 4 – Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park + Carmel-by-the-Sea
Start with the Valley View Trail in Pfeiffer, short (~1 mi) but great views of the Big Sur River before heading north.
Breakfast and coffee at The Village Bodega
Then straight to Carmel-by-the-Sea (~30 min up Hwy 1). The town is small and walkable — Ocean Avenue is the main strip, but the best stuff is in the side streets and at the end of the road: Carmel Beach.
Save this post for your next California coast road trip and remember: the best way to enjoy a place is to help preserve it. 💙💫
