Going on a driving holiday on the California Coast this sept..first time, I'm from Asia and going with my girlfriend and another couple.

Spending a couple of days in the Big Sur Area. And need to choose which of the parks along the way we should explore : Pt Lobos ? Julia Pfeifer Burns state park ? pfeiffer big sur park ?

As we're only there for 2 days and want to do more than just explore the parks, which would you choose ? We would like to do a hike to enjoy as much of the natural beauty of the area (forests, coastal views, greenery). Nothing too strenous please!

Thanks

The view of the waterfall that lands in the surf of the ocean at Julia Burns SP is the reason to stop there. It's a small park though so no real hiking. My favorite park and park to hike in in the Big Sur area is Andrew Molera SP. I lived in Big Sur for years so I know the parks well.

Got to agree about the site of McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP. In our SB-SF coastal trip last year, which was filled with great scenery, that might be the greatest. It's pretty spectacular.

Pt. Lobos is not in Big Sur, but is a fantastic (and easy) park to explore. It's just south of Carmel. Julia Pfeifer Burns is generally considered the best of the parks in Big Sur.

.......i've visited all of the parks mentioned above and liked pt. lobos the best. andrew molera sp was nice also

Eric

I agree with rob, Pt Lobos is the best. If I had two days in that area I spend one at Pt. Lobos and the other at the aquarium. IMHO Big Sur is more of a state of mind that a specific area. Sept. is a great time for the California coast, but it can be foggy.

My vote is for Pt Lobos. It is easy and gorgeous. Park outside to skip paying park entry, as most people do.
Do the easy walk to the ranger stand, and buy the map.

Julia Pfeifer Burns and Andrew Molera are far down the coast. At JPB, the trees at the overlook are taken down, and thrown into a gully along the path. It was prettier before that.

At AM, I took a very strenuous hike one day; up, up, up, and then up and down about 50 small revines.