RN: One of my favorite places to take short hikes is Point Lobos Natural Reserve, a California State Park located south of Carmel-by-the Sea. It contains a variety of gorgeous views of the ocean, coves, and cliffs as well as the abundant sea life we have come to almost take for granted on the Monterey Peninsula. Point Lobos only has 150 parking spaces, so most folks, like us have to park on the shoulder of Hwy 1 and walk in. It was totally worth it!

The fog wafted back and forth across the shoreline…

Holy cormorant!!

And more pelicans…

After Point Lobos, we drove to Big Sur for lunch and then proceeded another 10 miles down Hwy 1 to McWay Falls, which Mark had recommended to us. We couldn’t get there from Paso Robles because a long stretch of Hwy 1 was closed just south of Big Sur. McWay Falls is an 80 foot high waterfall formed by McWay Creek when it plunges off the cliff into the ocean below.

This is the coast line just north of McWay Falls.

And here is the waterfall in all its glory. Unfortunately, the path to the beach was closed so we couldn’t get any closer…