Part of the appeal to Big Sur is that it's off the beaten track, which means that it's beautiful and unspoiled...but it also means that there are logistical challenges to getting there.

Flying into the Bay:  The best way to fly is into San Francisco International Airport (SFO), or, if you can, fly into San Jose International Airport (SJC) and cut an hour off of the drive.  We recommend using Kayak, Hipmunk, or your favorite airline search engine in order to find the cheapest flights.

Getting to Big Sur:  It takes about three hours to drive to Big Sur from San Francisco (two hours from San Jose).  If you have time, we recommend that starting in Santa Cruz, you drive down the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH or Highway 1), which is a beautiful experience in and of itself (see more details below for longer road-trip recommendations on PCH).  Once we have RSVPs, we will send around a list of people and arriving flights, so that people can caravan with each other down. 

We really appreciate you coming all the way to Big Sur to celebrate with us.  We are going to arrive on Thursday and we encourage those who can to join us for a longer stay and go hiking, explore the coves and beaches, and enjoy nature.  

Below we have a list of (almost all) the lodging options available in Big Sur.  We also encourage you to check out TripAdvisor or any of the house rental websites.  Please try and book as soon as you know that you will be joining us because all the hotels in Big Sur tend to book out well in advance. 

The following two options have very limited availability as many of our relatives have already booked the rooms, but they are worth noting because we will have shuttle service to and from the ceremony leaving from here:

·    Glen Oaks.  Dave, his groomsmen, and a lot of his family are going to be staying here (and have largely booked this up).  This boutique hotel made Travel+Leisure's list of World's Most Romantic Hotels in 2011. Except for some exposed brick walls that have been cleanly painted over, all the rusticity is outdoors; interiors have a bright 1950s retro feel.  The restaurant attached to the hotel, The Roadhouse, is the location of the Welcome Drinks on Friday night. 47080 Highway 1, (831) 667-2105.  

·    Big Sur Lodge.  Located right in the middle of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, the lodge offers basic motel-style lodging in a gorgeous setting with access to myriad redwood-lined trails throughout the park.  Standard rooms have a deck and views of mountains and trees; family rooms can sleep up to six people.  They do not allow group bookings, so if you contact them, please do not mention that you are in town for a wedding.   Many of our guests have already booked rooms here and have extra beds in their rooms, so if you are interested in sharing, we can connect you. We will have a shuttle leaving from here for the ceremony. (Mid-range). 47225 Highway 1, (831) 667-3100.  Note: Big Sur Lodge says it is now fully booked, but additional rooms may open up close to the event. 

Other great options with more availability (shuttle service TBD):

Budget (relative to Big Sur, not real-life)

·    Ripplewood.   One of Big Sur's earliest resorts, and also family-oriented, this was a toll station when Highway 1 construction was completed in 1938. It lays claim to the only cabins standing on the banks of the Big Sur River, detached wood-paneled units with well-equipped full kitchens and private decks overlooking the water.  These are old rustic cabins and almost all are in the redwoods and by the river, they have a very "Big Sur" vibe.  Some of the river side cabins sleep 4, but most sleep 2.  One advantage is that this hotel adjoins Glen Oaks, so it would be an easy walk to the Welcome Drinks and the shuttle.  47047 Highway 1, (831) 667-2242

·    Fernwood.  Known as a riverside campground with the friendliest tavern in Big Sur ever since it opened in 1932. Tiny but well-equipped, it's one bedroom cabins have full kitchens, dining room tables, bathrooms with tub and shower, and two bunk beds.   There are also some nicer cabins and some that even have have hot tubs (!).  This is actually the hotel attached to our after party location--the friendliest watering hole in the area--so easy to stumble home from here... 47200 Highway 1, (831) 667-2422.

Mid-range

·         Big Sur River Inn.  Big Sur's first hotel and restaurant, built on the banks of the Big Sur River by one of the area's original homesteaders.  This is a family-oriented resort, with a river-view restaurant, general store and burrito bar, and outdoor pool.  A motel-style building has 20 contemporary rooms, and the main lodge offers four two-room Riverside Suites, which just got a refresh.  It is close to the rest of the hotels, but not walkable to either the Welcome Drinks or the Wedding night after-party.  46840 Highway 1 at Pheneger Creek, (831) 667-2700.

·         Deetjen's.  Deetjen's is a National Register historic property that preserves its creaks and gaps in the doors along with the "Big Sur style" architecture, a descendant of the architecture of Helmuth "Grandpa" Deetjen's native Norway. The antique-filled rooms were built from the 1930s to the 1960s, and each possesses its own personality in the secluded setting at the edge of a redwood forest. The lush gardens and award-winning restaurant are the other top selling points. Because it's one of the oldest hotels in Big Sur, there are some rooms with shared baths or single beds which tend to be inexpensive but do pay attention when you book that you know which you are getting.  They discourage groups, so do not mention that you are in town for a wedding.  48865 Highway 1, (831) 667-2377.

·    Lucia Lodge.  This hotel is located just a couple of minutes away from Point 16, the location of the ceremony.   Built into a cliff, they have spectacular, seemingly endless views.  The lodge is still in the family that built it in the 1930s (cabins seven through 10 are the originals). With just 10 rooms, it still exudes that old-time Big Sur atmosphere.  Rooms are basic but updated.  This options is about 35 minutes from the other hotel options and from the welcome drinks.

High-range

·         Post Ranch Inn.  If there is an award for hotels, this one has won it.  It is a bucket list experience. Architect G.K. (Mickey) Muennig  designed this hotel in the 1990s to sit perched over cliffs of Big Sur.  Rooms are very private with breathtaking views of ocean or mountains.  Prices are exorbitant. 

·         Ventana. A lovely, luxury hotel with lots of amenities, an onsite spa and a beautiful setting with an award winning restaurant.  Though not quite at Post Ranch Inn levels, prices here are also quite high. 

Non-Hotel Options (House Rentals and Camping)

There are also a number of vacation rentals, which tend to sleep between 2-6 people.  Feel free to check AirBnB, VRBO, Homeaway and any other vacation rental website that you might know. 

There are also many campsites all around Big Sur area, including sites at some of the hotels mentioned above, including Big Sur River Inn, Fernwood, and Ripplewood. Most of these site will rent you a tent if you don't already have one and many have RV hookups, if you decide to rent an RV and make a real American road trip out of it. 

If you choose to stay in a house or camp, please double check that the house or campsite is actually in Big Sur and close to where we are having the ceremony and/or other activities.  Many of these rentals list themselves as "Big Sur" but are actually as far as Carmel, which is a great town but about 60-90 minutes away or deep in the redwoods.  Also, please don't forget that you'll need to have a designated driver who is comfortable driving on the windy and dark Highway 1 and surrounding mountain roads. 

There are a number of different restaurants, cafes, and bars throughout Big Sur, although getting to each likely requires getting on the PCH and driving 10-15 minutes.  

Also, important to note, there are no ATMs or real supermarkets in Big Sur, so make sure that you stop in Carmel before driving in to stock up on food/snacks, booze, and cash.  If you are planning on cooking where you are staying, the Carmel Safeway is located in The Crossroads strip mall on the east side of the PCH (5 Crossroads Boulevard, Carmel, CA 93923), and you don't have to venture into the city of Carmel.  There is also a General Store that has all the essentials. 

• Big Sur Bakery and Restaurant (831) 667-0520 A favorite for Nicole and David, half-mile north of Ventana, offers glorious Meyer-lemon bars and jelly doughnuts, plus a constantly changing menu featuring dishes like oven-roasted oysters and wild salmon with succotash. The brunch options, including nine-grain pancakes covered in strawberries, are pretty inventive too.

• Big Sur Coast Gallery & Café (831) 667 2301. The Big Sur Coast Gallery & Cafe has indoor and outdoor seating available with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Open daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

• Big Sur Deli & General Store (831) 667-2225. Located at the center of Big Sur next to the United States Post Office. A full service deli, featuring made to order and specialty sandwiches, burritos, tamales, BBQ chicken and more.  Opens early for coffee, chorizo burritos, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries.  A large selection of micro-brews and wine as well as Big Sur souvenirs. Open daily from 7:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.

• Big Sur Lodge Restaurant Outdoor Patio, Café & Deli (831) 667-3111 Incredible views of majestic redwoods from the dining room windows and outdoor patio. Fireplace setting. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also offer a café and deli.

• Big Sur River Inn (831) 667-2700 Breakfast, lunch & dinner are served daily by a huge stone fireplace or on a deck overlooking the Big Sur River. Live entertainment on Sunday afternoons. They also have the Habanero Burrito Bar serving burritos made to order, daily from 11 AM till 7 PM. 

• Big Sur Roadhouse (831) 667-2370 The Big Sur Roadhouse blends Cajun style with California cuisine with a beautifully modernist decor. They are open all day for breakfast, lunch, dinner and small bites in between. Best to make a reservation.  We are holding Welcome Drinks at the restaurant.

• Big Sur Taphouse (831) 667-2197 A beer and wine bar offering a wide selection of microbrews on tap and bottled beers from breweries across the country. Open daily from 12:00 P.M. - 12:00 A.M.

• Cafe Kevah (831) 667-2344 Offering brunch & light lunch in an outdoor setting. Located on a terrace just below Nepenthe. Open mid-February through December, 9am-4pm weather permitting.

• Deetjen's Big Sur Inn (831) 667-2378 Fine dining in cozy, historic Big Sur. Breakfast daily from 8am - Noon and Dinner from 6 - 9pm. Reservations recommended.

• Fernwood Bar & Grill (831) 667-2129 Family friendly atmosphere and home style food. Serving from 11 am to 11 pm daily in the rustic dining room or on the deck built around towering redwoods.

• Lucia Lodge (831) 688-4884 Restaurant offers spectacular deck dining. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.

• Nepenthe (831) 667-2345 One of the most picturesque dining spots in California, this restaurant overlooks 50 miles of coastline. Open daily 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Incredible views from the back deck.

• Ripplewood Resort Cafe (831) 667-2242 Home-style breakfast on their garden patio. Hours: 8am – 2pm everyday. 

• Sierra Mar Restaurant (831) 667-2800 Located at the renowned Post Ranch Inn, high atop the cliffs, offering breathtaking views is Sierra Mar, winner of Wine Spectator's prestigious Grand Award. Lunch, from noon to 3 p.m., offers a three-course prix fixe menu while dinner features a choice of a four-course menu that changes daily or a nine-course Taste of Big Sur tasting menu, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Reservations are required for dinner.

• The Grill at Treebones Resort (805) 927-2390 Farm to table cuisine. Open Daily for lunch from noon to 2:00 p.m. Dinner 6-9 pm. Sunset Sushi bar open six nights a week 5:30 – 9 pm. Call for reservations.

• The Restaurant at Ventana Inn (831) 667-4242 Open for lunch from noon to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays and 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Bar is open from noon to midnight. Outside terrace offers great views. Located at Ventana Inn.