Big Sur Road Trip

The towns of Carmel and Monterrey to the north, and Morro Bay and Santa Barbara to the south are all worth a visit and there are some beautiful places to stay here too – some of the most romantic and stylish in the US. Monterrey is slightly more touristy than Carmel, while Santa Barbara is known as the American Riviera, with good beaches, a long promenade and excellent shopping. Dotted along this coastal road are charismatic and chic villages such as Carmel (Clint Eastwood's home town) with its smart boutiques and restaurants, Monterrey, Pebble Beach, Big Sur, Morro Bay and Santa Barbara, and also such curiosities as Hearst Castle – final redoubt of the reclusive billionaire on whom the film Citizen Kane was based.