Monterey County
Location and origin
Big Sur - the name originates from Rio Grande del Sur, the biggest river in the South - is one of the most beautiful wooded coastal regions in northern California. It begins about 4mi/6.5km south of Carmel in Yankee Point, and stretches along the coast-road No. 1
as far as Salmon Cove, some 17mi/26km north of San Simeon. From Highway 1 there are splendid views over the picturesque coastal region. To the east, however, stretches a true wilderness; the Santa Lucia Mountains and Ventana Forests, with more than 220mi/350km of trails, are ideal for experienced walkers. The long-lasting dispute between those supporting further economic development of the area and the nature conservationists ended with the compromise that they would agree to the building of only 850 new houses here, none of which could be seen from the coast road. In addition, only small hotels with less than 300 rooms may be added to the 165 hotels already there. The main objective is to leave untouched the natural beauty of this region.
Artists
The name of Big Sur is linked with numerous artists; the writer Henry Miller lived in Big Sur in 1944 when it had only 60 inhabitants. At that time a friend of Miller's intended to set up a Henry Miller museum. John Kerouac, one of the "beat" literary figures, wrote the novel "Big Sur" about a "beat" leader who settled here. Robinson Jeffers immortalized the area in his poems; Joan Baez organized a festival here for many years called "Celebration at Big Sur"; since 1962 the Esalen Institute has had its home here; its aim is to help people to a new feeling of awareness by means of meditation and psychedelic insight.
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