Big Sur is a place that I go often to reflect, to breathe the air. When I find myself off balance, or even slightly out of tune with the world around me, I just jump in my car and head north.
I become centered as soon as I'm driving up the coast.
Big Sur is one of my most favorite places on the planet. It is spectacular. And each time I drive up it is a fresh adventure, a new beach to check out. I just fell in love with Fess Parker Inn in Santa Ynez, which is a great place to stop for breakfast. Try their homemade Greek yogurt and granola, it's the best ever! All the vineyards in Santa Ynez Valley are worth their own day's adventure but it can be a great spot for lunch and maybe one wine tasting, just to enjoy the beauty of the area.
One of my all time favorite hikes is up behind the Ventana Inn in Big Sur. Drive up Coast Ridge Road, behind Ventana and just park and walk along the road until you find the trail head. The flowers and views are so gorgeous, and you might even come across an enclave of butterflies. After a big hike, I have to stop by the Big Sur Bakery for an organic latte and to pick out one of their wonderful homemade jams.
It's remarkable to think I've traveled only a few hours from my home and seen so much beauty and such different geography... that really makes me a proud Californian. I often think with our busy schedules and harried lives that we don't realize what is in our own back yard. We are constantly traveling somewhere else to relax instead of taking advantage of all the homegrown beauty that is so close to us. I travel so much for my work, that getting in my car and exploring all that my home state has to offer is so appealing, so liberating! And no place is more peaceful and rejuvenating than Big Sur.
This year has been particularly travel heavy for me and all I would think about while boarding a plane for yet another long flight was just getting in my car and driving to Tassajara in Carmel Valley. Tassajara Road is so beautiful in and of itself, particularly in the early morning or when the sun is setting, it is spectacular to see.
Tassajara is an incredible place where there are stunning hot springs deep inside the heart of the mountains. It's actually a Buddhist monastery school but from April to September it is open for guests. They have Zen meditation and retreats about Buddhism, Qigong or Zen in the Workplace (who doesn't need that), so much to offer! It's my spiritual heaven. It's where I can hear myself and listen, I don't have to talk. The trails, the hikes, the baths along the stream, the natural hot springs all heal me. It is as simple as that. I want to be a conscious human being and Tassajara is a place for some guidance through life by breathing and observing without judgement. And I have to mention the wonderful bread that they serve with every meal, they're famous for it!
I often go to Esalen in Big Sur. Great food, and incredible workshops on everything from Enneagrams to Improvising Our Lives, it's amazing what they have to offer. They have wonderful hot tubs, that are fed from the natural hot springs, that overlook the ocean. I can sit in the hot tub and listen to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocky cliffs below. For me, this is heaven. And it reminds me of the Mediterranean, where I also feel very rejuvenated. My family is from the Mediterranean and I believe that our heredity has a lot to do with the places that we feel most comfortable or more centered.
Another place that I love to stay for a night when I feel like splurging, is the Post Ranch Inn. It's also a great spot for lunch. The dining room and patio have absolutely stunning ocean views, and the food is divine. But if you can swing a night there it is almost otherworldly. All the rooms are little cabins either built into a tree or into the side of the cliff. And there are beautiful slate soaking tubs in each room, most with stunning views to look at while you relax in the tub. There's also a very luxurious spa, but I find the beautiful walks, the dramatic views and the morning yoga all that I need to feel completely revived.
Whatever may be the cause -- the air, the beaches, the views, the hot springs or heredity -- the fact is I find myself the most grounded in Big Sur.
