Natural History Wanderings

Big Sur Information for Visiting, Natural History and Photography

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Useful Websites for Visiting Big Sur:

A Guide to California’s Big Sur http://jrabold.net/bigsur/

Along the Highway describes major locations along the Big Sur segment of California Highway 1.    Information includes: Finding locations, Lodging, Camping, Food, Waterfalls, Highway, Bridges, Hiking, Backpacking and Coastal Access Hot Springs

• Big Sur California Chamber of Commerce, Lodging, Accommodations …
• Big Sur Camping Guide
• Big Sur California Chamber of Commerce, Lodging, Accommodations …
• Big Sur Camping Guide
• Big Sur Beach Guide
• Big Sur Wikipedia informational posting
• Hiking in Big Sur: http://www.hikinginbigsur.com/hikes.html 18 trails/routes with  photos, maps, and descriptions.

Natural History Websites and Books for Big Sur and Monterey County:

• Ventana Wilderness Alliance http://www.ventanawild.org/
• Ventana Wildlife Society: http://www.ventanaws.org/
• Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plants Society: http://www.montereybaycnps.org/index.php
• Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society: http://www.montereyaudubon.org/Monterey_Audubon/Welcome.html
• Natural Resources of Ventana Wilderness links to flora, fauna and geology sites
• Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History: http://www.pgmuseum.org/

The Natural History of Big Sur by Paul Henson and Donald J. Usner is not a website but a very useful natural history book.

Illustrated Field Key to the Flowering Plants of Monterey County and Fern, Fern Allies, and Conifers by Many Ann Mathews is an excellent print flora with useful line drawings.

Six postings by California Photo Scout with helpful suggestions for photographing a Big Sur Coastal Trip

• Point Lobos State Reserve
• Wildflowers on Highway 1
• How to photograph Shell Beach
• Hearst Park Otters and San Simeon Seals
• Old Coast Road – Bixby Bridge to Andrew Molera
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Some great photos of Big Sur by Patrick Smith: Northern Big Sur      Southern Big Sur

Always check road conditions before leaving as Highway One can close at times especially during heavy rains.

See posting: Big Sur Part 1: Highlights (naturalhistorywanderings.com) for Big Sur Highlights