Finding The Stretch of Purple Sand at Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur, CA

Dusk @ Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur, CA

Big Sur is one of our favorite nature escapes in California. We had been to this place for a relaxing vacation for about three times now, however, our last vacation was our first time at Pfeiffer Beach. 

Purple Sand at Pfeiffer Beach

Though located at the heart of Big Sur, yet Pfeiffer Beach is not that easy to find. It is probably the favorite beach of the locals, but oftentimes missed by tourists, just like us before. Thankfully, before coming to Big Sur this 3rd time, I did some local search of Big Sur's interesting places to explore and hike. I found Pfeiffer Beach at the top of the list, described as " every photographers dream".

Big Sur, Yosemite and Eastern Sierra Road Trip from Southern California ( part 1 of 2)

 Big Sur, Yosemite and Eastern Sierra, California

Whatever the season, Big Sur, Yosemite, and Eastern Sierra are some of California's best nature get-away. We left San Diego early morning of March 29 ( Saturday) looking forward to have some relaxation and rejuvenating fun with nature. Let me share with you our 9-days, 8-nights itinerary of the trip.

Day 1: Drive to Big Sur from San Diego, CA.

We did not expect to be able to do anything on this day, because of rainy conditions. But thankfully, the rain was on and off, that we were able to have some moments enjoying Big Sur. 

 Me @ Big Sur

 Rainy Day @ Big Sur

Monterey Bay Walk

This is the second part of our day 2 Big Sur-Monterey Bay vacation. In the morning, we took a 4-hour whale watching tour with Monterey Bay Whale Watch, and in the afternoon, we took a very relaxing walk at Monterey Bay.

Sea Lions are Probably the Most Visible Wildlife in Monterey Harbor

As soon as our whale watching boat docked at Monterey Bay's Fisherman's Wharf, everyone sprinted away. However, as I got out of the boat, I saw a beautiful jelly fish swaying gracefully under the water. I took some time photographing until I was reminded by someone who was obviously hungry as you could hear from the 5-seconds video below. :) 

Day 1 of our Big Sur Thanksgiving Week 2013 Trip

Day 1 of our Big Sur Thanksgiving Week 2013 Trip.

The drive to Big Sur from San Diego is a long 7 hours. In that amount of driving, we could reach Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, or Zion National Park in Utah, but we chose to stay in California. Though I love both Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks, but we just spent some days at Zion during the summer hiking. Last spring, we hiked Grand Canyon from rim down to the river. I felt it is about time to listen to Big Sur calling. :) We actually also spent our 2012 thanksgiving vacation in Big Sur. Our memories from 2012 kept on inspiring me to go back to enjoy the wild scenery, and the wildlife.

from our Big Sur 2012 Thanksgiving Week Vacation

Big Sur 2013 Thanksgiving Week Vacation

We left San Diego about 7:00 am Saturday so that we could still catch some light when we reach Big Sur. Despite having been to the place several times, we still left with high excitement to see the wintering butterflies, whales, sea otters, critically endangered California condors and more wildlife in the wild Pacific Coast. For us, it was not much about seeing the place, which is described by National Geographic as one of world's Top Ten Drives of a Lifetime. It was more about experiencing the wildlife, the wild but beautiful scenery, and extreme peacefulness.

Why do I love Big Sur? Ahhhh, so many reasons, I will slowly share our experiences, perhaps, they would explain why I love to go back in this paradise again and again.

Anyway, here was our day 1 experience, whales will come later on day 2:

Wintering Butterflies at North Pismo State Beach

Pismo Beach is about 5 hours from San Diego. It is a very strategic stop for us, for two reasons: 1. lunch time and 2. experience again the flight of the monarch butterflies as they winter in North Pismo Beach. Below is a short 15-seconds video of the wintering butterflies, currently estimated to be about 30,000 monarch butterflies wintering in the eucalyptus and cypress trees by North Pismo State Beach.

It's very amazing  for me to learn of the flight of the butterflies, how they migrate, and how they winter together. I can't help but be filled with awe seeing them. I added background music in the video above. I actually love adding background music in my personal videos, somehow, I just find nature and music go very well together. I however try to be careful enough to add music that is not copyrighted,and are free to share. Music copyrights is very strict as youtube or facebook could block you if you got three copyright violations. It would be nice if I have my own music studio, maybe I could make my own music. I would probably get a novation impulse at musicians friend so I could make very good soothing music to go with my nature videos. Ahhhh, so nice to dream! Haha!

Going back to our drive, after the butterflies and lunch at Pismo Beach, we continued driving North on Highway 1. Before entering Big Sur, we stopped at San Simeon to check the elephant seals.

 Seagulls and Elephant Seals: Sights at San Simeon

INTO THE PACIFIC WILD

 Some wild snapshots of the wildlife in Big Sur and Monterey Bay, CA
 ( wildlife except the lady in pink jacket above )

So thankful to have a short 5 day vacation into the Pacific wild coast, in Big Sur and Monterey Bay. We left San Diego early morning Saturday, and came back very late in the evening of Wednesday, just in time for Thanksgiving. As usual, a Big Sur vacation does not disappoint. I have been here many times ( this actually is my favorite vacation destination in California), but I feel like I don't have enough, and could always go back for another vacation. Ahhhh, anyway, I will let the video below and the two picture collages speak about our Pacific Wild memories for now.  

WILDLIFE AND SCENERY FROM THE WILD PACIFIC COAST
( every pictures and video were taken in the wild coast of Big Sur and Monterey Bay, not in any indoor facilities such as aquarium or zoos )

I chose the music "How Great Is Our God" by Kimberly and Alberto Rivera because that is one of the songs that best represents my gratefulness to our Great GOD, feeling HIS GREAT LOVE for all life in this Earth. 

One, Two, Three, Wildlife Too Many @ Monterey Bay

One sea lion

Two breaching whales

Three Colliding Jellyfish

Wildlife Too Many

All wildlife pictures above were taken from Monterey Bay, California.

The whales were taken from the boat, while all the other three pictures were taken from the Coast Guard Wharf, Monterey, California. This is one of the popular places in Monterey for kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and well, just simply enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. 

Morro Bay, CA

 Morro Bay from Morro Bay State Park

Morro Bay is a quiet little oceanfront town in San Luis Obispo County, in the central part of California. It is strategically located in between two of California's bigger cities, Los Angeles in the South and San Francisco in the North, about 3.5 hours drive from these two cities. It is about one hour drive to the southern part of Big Sur coast. Its proximity to Big Sur was the reason why we chose Morro Bay as one of our destinations during our last Big Sur vacation. Staying in Morro Bay for 2 nights allowed us to see more of the south part of Central California such as Pismo Beach Butterfly Migration and Oceano Sand Dunes without draining our energy when we finally got to Big Sur for several days of  nature exploring.

Pismo State Beach Butterfly Grove

Where are the buttrerflies? Let me start you with images around the Butterfly Grove.

Oceano Sand Dunes

The scenery above may look a barren desert, where the vast sand may deceive you that this place is as hot as it can be. But is this place in the desert? Is this place hot? The picture below may probably answer the two questions.

Is He Running Away From My Lens? haha!

Though I have shared several posts here about some desert even coated with snow and ice, but oftentimes, the appearance of sand and red rocks give an impression that it is hot. Behind the barrenness above, are pieces of nature's puzzle that if you put together, you will realize that there is only ONE who created all these artistry that no man can equal. HE put all these together for everything serves a GREAT purpose.

Elephant Seals

"Ouch! Why Did You Have to Pat My Head that Hard?"

Who? @ Garrapata State Park, CA

Who is she? :) Hiking in the rain?

 and then, taking photos quickly when rain stops?

Northern Elephant Seals @ Piedras Blancas

An Adult Elephant Seal Bull, Piedras Blancas, CA

Point Piedras Blancas is one of the elephant seal rookeries that can be found in California coast. A rookery is a breeding site on sandy beaches protected from dangerous surf and predation. Elephant seals got their name from their size, the males can grow to 14 ft and 5000 lbs. The elephant seals were hunted almost to extinction by the 19th century,  being prized for their oil. There were only about 100 to 1000 Northern elephant seals left, and they found refuge in Mexican waters. The only surviving rookery that was left then was at the Guadalupe Island, Mexico. The rookery was granted protection by the Mexican government.  By early 20th century, elephant seals have been protected by both Mexico and United States laws. After US passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the numbers have recovered to over 100,000. Now, the population is growing at about 25% in California, new colonies are established, and are probably limited only by haul out space. However, the population can easily be reduced with weather conditions. In 1997- 98 El Nino, about 80% of the pups were lost to the weather.

Point Lobos State National Reserve: Wildlife (Part 2 of 3)

Looking North to the Town of Carmel and Monterey from Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

To continue my previous post on Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, on top of spectacular views from its hiking trails, visitors will be delighted with the wildlife here. I would like to also share that aside from land wildlife, Point Lobos is a popular site for diving because its offshore area forms one of the richest underwater habitat in the world. Anyway, here are some of our wildlife encounter at Point Lobos.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Monterey, CA (Part 1 of 3)

Where do you think this trail leads to? 

@Cypress Grove Trail, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

The 17-mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA

The Lone Cypress Tree at 17-mile Drive

The 17-mile drive was one of the places we explored when we were in San Francisco during my younger brother's work assignment in the Bay Area last spring 2007. Because my younger brother only had one day to spare for exploring due to his hectic work schedule, we were at a toss then where to tour him around. I asked a friend who lives in San Francisco if she only has one day to wander from San Francisco, which she would prefer to tour friends or family: go North to Point Reyes National Seashore and Muir Woods National Monument, or go South to Big Sur. Not stopping at all to think, she said with such joyful tone, "BIG SUR!" Adding that it is her favorite place on Earth, more than Prague! Haha, of course, it is hard to compare the two, since Big Sur is more about nature, and Prague is a historical and cultural city. 

Me and My Younger Brother at Spanish Bay

Come, Experience Big Sur

SUMMER, FALL, WINTER OR SPRING, there is always time to enjoy the breeze, to embrace the smile of the sunshine, and for some, a time to soak in nature. 

Big Sur Coast, CA