Monterey is located between San Francisco and Carmel-By-The-Sea. From San Francisco, Monterey is approximately 2 1/2 hours and 120miles away. Between Monterey and Carmel-By-The-Sea, the 17-Mile Drive is located, which should definitely be another point on the Roadtrip-To-Do-List.
Parking is for free on Sundays!
Half Moon Bay is a small town with 12.000 residents. The town is especially known for its annual Art&Pumpkin Festival and all the Pumpkin Patches and Christmas tree sales around.
In Downtown you can find many cafés. Perfect for a relaxed afternoon drinking tea. Around Half Moon Bay are man farms where you can buy local fruits and vegetables.
Capitola is a great alternative for a day trip to Santa Cruz. Capitola is really close to the crowded tourist destination! The little town has a mediterranean touch with its tiny, colorful houses and the small local shops and the calm wharf!
In Big Sur I visited the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and the McWay Falls.
To get to the oh so famous waterfall you have to pay really good attention because this place is not well-marked!
The 17-Mile-Drive is located southern of San Francisco along Highway One. To get there, there are five entrances (from North to South): the Pacific Grove Gate, the Country Club Gate, the S.F.B. Morse Gate, the Highway 1 Gate and the Carmel Gate. The fee of $10 is oh so worth it, you will see! As a pedestrian or bicyclist you do not have to pay to enter the scenic road.