A trip by Maya Chen

Highway 1 to Big Sur

17–19 Apr 2026 · United States

3 days4 stops1 country146 km

Three days down the coast in a borrowed Subaru. Fog most of the way, which is kind of the point.

Day 1 17 Apr
1

Half Moon Bay 🇺🇸

United States

Coffee on Main Street, then south before the traffic.
Day 1 17 Apr
2

Santa Cruz 🇺🇸

United States

Boardwalk at lunch. The Giant Dipper, obviously.
Day 1 17 Apr
3

Monterey 🇺🇸

United States · 1 night

Aquarium all morning, chowder on Cannery Row after.
Day 2 18 Apr
4

Big Sur 🇺🇸

United States · 1 night

A cabin with no cell service. Didn't miss it once.

17 Apr

Arcangeli Grocery 🇺🇸Pescadero, United States
Artichoke garlic herb bread, still warm. Half of it didn't make it to the car.
18 Apr

Monterey Bay Aquarium 🇺🇸Monterey, United States
The jellies room could be my apartment. Sea otter feeding at 10:30, don't be late.
18 Apr

Bixby Creek Bridge 🇺🇸Big Sur, United States
Fog lifted for exactly one photo. This one.
19 Apr

McWay Falls 🇺🇸Big Sur, United States
Heard it before we saw it. A waterfall onto a beach nobody's allowed to walk on.
27 Apr

Big Sur in the fog1 min read
Three days on Highway 1 and not one clear view. Still the best trip I've taken in California.

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