I'm not sure why the message about the Big Sur Fires isn't showing up under "California"... For those planning on traveling to the Bay Area be aware that the air quality is quite bad at the present time.
Also Hwy 1 thru Big Sur is closed.

Wow, I just read that too. Do you think they'll re-open the Hwy in two weeks? Does that mean that even Hearst Castle is closed? Wow, I hope the fires are contained asap!

UGH! I live in the SF Bay Area and they have issued alerts for those with respiratory issues...like me! The smoke has been bad all week and they expect it to continue.

So far, I think the Castle is still open but the fire is not contained so things change at any time.

You will probably be able to reach Hearst Castle by coming up from the south, but I wouldn't count on being able to drive Hwy 1 from San Francisco.

You can check the most recent status of the fires using

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres/conditions/

There is another big thread on fodors but for some reason it doesn't appear under California.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35139319

June 28, 2008 at 10:05am...writing from Pacific Grove...the smell of smoke is in the air and the sky is hazy.

Today's update from the LA Times.

There is now a fire above Goleta (Santa Barbara area).

Esalen was evacuated.

You still can't get through on Hwy 1.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...820,full.story