Big Sur Adventure

My husband and I recently took a trip to Big Sur to celebrate our anniversary. In addition to the famous sights and hikes along this beautiful stretch of California coast, another draw for us was Treebones, a remote resort whose hillside grounds are dotted with Mongolian-style tents, known as yurts, overlooking the Pacific. It may sound rustic, but don’t be fooled. It’s definitely glamping—each roomy yurt is equipped with electricity, running water, and a big, comfy bed. The glamping theme is something we’ve tried to keep up since our honeymoon, where we did the fancy-tent thing in Thailand, then later spent our first anniversary at a safari-style glampsite in California wine country. So when we heard about these ocean-view yurts, we knew we had to plan a stay. Tip: If you want to pitch a yurt, book early—we reserved our yurt eight months in advance.

Here’s a look inside our yurt, filled with afternoon light upon our arrival.

The resort’s lodge is only a short walk away and serves make-your-own waffles and delicious homemade granola by morning and locally-based dishes, plus a full sushi menu, come sunset. The lodge is also where you’ll find bathrooms—you didn’t think I’d pee in the woods, did you?

While we loved cozying up in our yurt after sundown, we spent most of our waking hours exploring the great outdoors—and enjoying many great outdoor eateries. Here were our favorite experiences:

Big Sur Bakery made for the perfect pit stop on our way in. The laid-back, rustic vibe and outdoor tables with mountain views made us feel like we’d officially arrived, and the huge salad (me) and sandwich with the “best bread ever” (Nick) hit the spot.

The postcard-perfect McWay Falls and surrounding coastline is a must-see and only takes a short walk to reach.

We hiked along the Vicente Flat Trail, which isn’t very flat at all! It’s an uphill hike for most of the way until you choose to come down, making it pretty challenging, but the stunning views of the coast are worth it.

Our favorite meal was a hearty lunch at Big Sur Roadhouse, whose chef, a New Orleans transplant, serves local offerings with a Cajun twist (think gumbo with Big Sur seafood). The modern, airy spot was the ideal place to relax and refuel after hours of hiking.

Another fun hike was Partington Cove Trail, which leads to a cove and more exploring to do on along the water’s edge. Spotted: Otters floating around nearby.

Another scenic spot to eat was Nepenthe, with indoor and outdoor seating facing the water. We opted for seats outside, where the highlight of the meal was when a red-headed woodpecker swooped in and stole one of Nick’s fries. Also, since Treebones is further south than most of Big Sur’s dining options, we needed somewhere we could grab dinner straight from a full day of hiking. This place was casual enough for our dirty sneakers.

I also found my new favorite beach. Aptly named Sand Dollar Beach, this pristine stretch of sand gave us some pretty little souvenirs to bring home. Tip: This beach is dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry family members. We’ll definitely be coming back with Daphne.

And last but not least, the sunsets. Any of the roadside look-outs along Highway 1 offer prime views of the sun going down. If you’re lucky, like we were, you might see some whales, too. They were actually pretty easy to spot—just look for people stopped along the road and pointing excitedly as your signal to pull over.

We’re already planning a return visit—this time with the dog.