Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

This year for New Year's we decided to head up the California coast and spend three nights camping in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. We spent most of Thursday driving up, making a couple of pit stops along the way. After stopping at for gas in Cayucos, I spotted the Brown Butter Cookie Company across the street. I had to check it out, so we wandered over and were both surprised with what was inside! There were seriously 12 women all sitting around one table making cookies together! It was like a hen's coup in there! We passed on the samples, but bought a couple of the chewy cookies and they were delicious and provided dessert nibbles for the rest of the trip.

The next stop that we made was at the Elephant Seal beach. 

Elephant Seal

I clubbed these baby seals.

And there was one regular itchy seal there too.

After watching the seals for a while we continued up the coast until we hit McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.

Sand Dollar Beach

McWay Falls

We arrived at the campsite in Pfeiffer State Park and was pleasantly surprised to find it large and well sheltered. There was a picnic table, a fire pit and even a tree that was shaped into a chair!

Our campsite was close to the river that runs through the state park and so we did some exploring before it got dark.

The next morning after breakfast we drove down to the visitors center to figure out the days plan of attack. We knew that we wanted to see Pfeiffer State Beach and after scrutinizing the map and much debate we headed North along the coast. This was the wrong direction (told you so!) but I was able to get some good shots along the coast.

On our way back down we decided to stop and hike up the closed Waterfall trail where we were able to get a good view of the Pfeiffer Falls.

Bridge on the way to the falls

Pfeiffer Falls

This trail doubles back and then continues up to the Valley View trail which has views of the entire valley and all the way to the ocean.

When we were done with the hikes we headed south towards Pfeiffer State Beach. After paying the $5 parking fee, we walked down to the beach where we enjoyed our picnic lunch and a couple of games of hangman.

We still had light to burn to we drove on to the highly recommended Post Ranch Inn where we enjoyed $30 cocktails while overlooking the ocean.

Post Ranch Inn drinkys

For New Year's Eve we lived it up and did a day trip into Carmel and Monterey. We stopped in Carmel first so that Bingo could check out the wave action. The waves were tiny so we walked into downtown and got some coffee and checked out the local scene. We drove onto Monterey so we could get some famous clam chowder along the pier.

Marina in Monterey

We left Monterey and headed down to Asilamar Beach, which was one of the prettiest beaches that I have ever been too. The waves were too small to surf here, so we played around on the beach for a while taking pictures and looking for shells.

 Bingo knew a secret way into the 17 mile drive, so we gave the security guy at the gate a wave and drove on through for free. The drive was beautiful and worth the $10 entry fee, but why pay when you can use the local entrance? Highlights from the drive:

We stopped in Carmel to check the waves one last time and Bingo spotted some ankle slappers out in the distance, so he grabbed his board and headed out.

On the way back to the campground, I snapped a shot of the last sunset of 2011.