windows_magazine_article.aspx

Driving along Highway 1 on the central coast of California is a full-sensory experience. Feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your skin as your car glides around every curve of the perfectly carved cliffs. Wonder at the vast, blue sea on one side and the towering redwood trees on the other. Listen to the roar of the engine powering your adventure, as it hums in harmony with the crash of waves on the shore below. Breathe in the salty air, with notes of a citrusy spice from the cypress trees. Immerse yourself in every moment of this ride because when you drive on Highway 1, it’s all about the journey.

A key element of Ventana Big Sur’s immaculate location is that our secluded sanctuary is just that– secluded. So we encourage you to embrace the scenic route, relishing in your drive between mountains and sea. Because matter where you’re traveling from, the central coast of California is the ultimate road trip adventure. directions!

Recently, car-enthusiast and writer for Road and Track, Mike Guy, took to the coast in a Maserati MC20 for a California road trip of his own. He wrote, “I have found the road, and it is the road that we all dream about, that we think we see in glossy photos on wall calendars and Instagram feeds of adventurous influencers: winding over hillocks of heather, with banked turns, off-camber surprises, deep dips, and hair-raising crests…

The Pacific Coast, up to Big Sur and Carmel and Monterey”. And like all the best road trips, Mike’s journey led him to Ventana Big Sur, “We finally reach Big Sur and the spooky canopy of redwoods, live oaks, and cottonwoods. I’m spending the night at Ventana… a resort that should be on any road-trip bucket list”. What can we say, Mike has good taste!

Now if you’re looking for a day, or a half-day, adventure on the road to discover the best of Big Sur, you don’t have to BYOV (Bring your own vehicle). Our Alila experience, Classic Cars, Classic Highway, allows you to embark on a journey of the senses and soul– and choose from a hand-selected fleet of 40 classics provided by Monterey Touring Vehicles. From vintage Porsche Spyders to classic Volkswagen vans, you can create your ideal adventure vibe with the car of your dreams, and set out to explore the beauty of the coast. 

As we head into autumn, nature will begin to transform yet again, and the roads will open up as summer travelers return home. The scene will be set for a new season of road trip adventures. And winter will follow, with Highway 1 becoming an intimate path, set along the moody, dramatic state of a cooler coast. Then, spring. Each twist and turn of the road will unlock a new sight of the earth in bloom, and if you’re lucky… An awe-inspiring glimpse of a whale in the midst of their own seasonal travels! And when summer comes to grace us with her warmth and vibrancy once again, the roads will be slower– and that’s okay. Sometimes, it’s best to pause and look at the world around you.

No matter the season, and no matter how long the journey, driving through the central coast of California is an immersive exploration of Big Sur’s unwavering beauty. 

Explore our Alila Experience and Travel Recommendations for your next cruise along the coast.