Five places: Get into some hot water Jul 20, 2009
There's no such thing as privacy at this Big Sur cliff-top hot tub area ... 55000 Highway 1, Big Sur. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Otter population falls as humans pollute ocean Jul 2, 2009
The largest density of otters stretches from the Monterey Peninsula to Big Sur south to Morro Bay (San Luis Obispo County) ... It wasn't until the 1920s that a remnant colony was discovered along Big Sur when the state was excavating for a road. (San Francisco Chronicle)
R&R Makes A Unique Comeback: Recessionary Road-Trippers Hit the Pavement Racking Up Miles & Smiles Jul 2, 2009
This scenic highway will take you along California's most amazing stretch of coastline, from Moss Landing to Big Sur, with lunar-like dunes giving way to sheer mountain cliffs rising from the ocean to the majestic coastal mountain range ... Urbanites seeking a sybaritic sojourn should keep heading south and high tail it along California's craggy coastline to the ultimate out West bastion: Big Sur ... Wild and rugged, the 90-mile stretch along Big Sur coastline is possibly the world's most... (PR Newswire)
Feds threaten to seize six California parks Jul 2, 2009
The sites are Angel Island, a former federal military and immigration facility in San Francisco Bay; the top of Mount Diablo east of San Francisco, where the Navy once operated a microwave relay station; Point Sur State Historic Park in coastal Big Sur; and three beaches Fort Ord Dunes near Monterey, Point Mugu State Park near Malibu, and Border Fields along the Mexican border. advertisement. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Feds could seize parks... Jul 2, 2009
The parks are Angel Island and Mount Diablo near San Francisco; Point Sur in Big Sur; and beaches at Fort Ord Dunes near Monterey, Point Mugu near Malibu; and Border Fields along the Mexican border. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. (The Drudge Report)
Hot streak in Fresno starts to lose steam Jun 30, 2009
Record temperatures were set elsewhere across the state, and the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory along the coast from San Francisco to Big Sur. It was hot Monday in Fresno -- 106 degrees -- but not hot enough to reach another record, and cooler weather is on the way. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Weekend temps expected to top 100 degrees Jun 26, 2009
Record temperatures were set elsewhere across the state, and the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory along the coast from San Francisco to Big Sur. Valley bakes under record-setting heat. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Los Padres restricts fires due to danger Jun 19, 2009
75 million acres in a 220-mile span from Big Sur south to the western edge of Los Angeles County. A service of the Associated Press(AP). (Hanford Sentinal, CA)
New Discovery Center May Not See An Opening Jun 16, 2009
"The Discovery Center is a hub for our operations in Big Sur, introducing California condors to the region, have a summer camp for youth," said Kelly Sorenson, with the Ventana Wildlife Society. Condors are a main focus, but the center also features a bird banding center, open to the public where biologists trap and research native songbirds. (KSBW 8, CA)
Coastal to vote on overnight camping plan for Malibu parks Jun 6, 2009
also take a moment to save 80 per cent of California State Parks including Big Sur. http://www. (Malibu Times, CA)
America's prettiest road trips Jun 5, 2009
In his famous novel "Big Sur", Jack Kerouac describes the Californian locale of the same name as a "poor haunted canyon which again gives me the willies." ... "Particularly the short stretch around Big Sur, inarguably the drive's highlight." ... Zack OMalley Greenburg for ForbesRoute One,along California's Big Sur Coast Highway might just be the most beautiful cliff-side stretches of pavementin the U.S.. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Nearly all Bay Area state parks would close May 31, 2009
(05-29) 21:20 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Nearly 50 parks, beaches and historic sites in the greater Bay Area region, including Mount Tamalpais, Angel Island and Big Sur, would close under a draft plan outlining how California's 279 parks would be affected by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts ... And some popular spots just outside the Bay Area, including the foggy redwood groves of the Mendocino coast and the craggy cliffs of Big Sur, would also shut down. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Then Came Bronson TV Pilot Movie (1... May 28, 2009
The TV pilot for Then Came Bronson was filmed on location in California (Carmel, San Francisco, Stockton, Big Sur, Sacramento, the Pacific Coast Highway). The main prop used in the movie (and subsequent TV series) was a red 1968 XLH 900cc Harley-Davidson Sportster. (Suite101.com)
Search is on for California condor shooters May 24, 2009
The radio-collared vultures were shot somewhere between Big Sur and the Pinnacles National Monument, where they are known to forage, said Adam Keats, director of the urban wildlands program for the San Francisco office of the Center for Biological Diversity ... The radio-collared vultures were shot somewhere between Big Sur and the Pinnacles National. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Science)
Calif. condor deaths shows lead still a problem May 17, 2009
"It's important to credit the hunting community for moving the needle in the right direction," said Kelly Sorenson, executive director of the nonprofit Ventana Wildlife Society, which monitors 20 or so birds released at Big Sur on California's central coast. But beyond the parking lots are oak-studded ranches, where thousands of ground squirrels and wild pigs are considered vermin and are shot by ranchers, who often are reluctant to switch to more expensive non-lead ammo. (Fresno Bee -- State)
Top 10 Hotels for Nature Lovers May 8, 2009
Ventana Inn & Spa, Big Sur, California. It's a good thing the Ventana Inn & Spa is on more than 200 acres of pristine California coast, because something has to lure you out of your room. (KFOXTV.com, TX)
FMHC celebrates the photography of Stephen Wilkes: Evolution May 8, 2009
The book contained many wide angle shots, portraying subjects ranging from beaches with a quarter million patrons, to the great bluffs near Big Sur. Wilkes had a great deal of freedom in his composition, which he put to such advantage that it became the norm in his later contracts. (Fairfield Minuteman, CT)
Joie de Vivre Hotels Launches Summer California Sweepstakes Apr 16, 2009
Joie de Vivre's 35 uniquely California boutique hotels range from the revitalizing Hotel Vitale to the family friendly Americania Hotel in San Francisco; from the hip Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles to the sexy-surfer-chic Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach, from the idyllic Ventana Inn n Big Sur to the oceanfront Santa Cruz Dream Inn ... Joie de Vivre hotels are located in San Francisco, Marin County, Silicon Valley, San Francisco East Bay, Big Sur, Sonoma County, Santa Cruz, Sacramento and Los... (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
PI Hired To Investigate Shot Condors Apr 11, 2009
Ventana Wildlife Society Director Kelly Sorenson said shotgun pellets were found lodged in a condor trapped last month in Big Sur. The condor was sent to the Los Angeles Zoo for treatment for lead poisoning. (KSBW 8, CA)
2 Condors Found With Pellets Lodged In Body Apr 4, 2009
A juvenile female was found with three lead pellets -- two in a wing and one in a thigh -- on March 26 in Big Sur. Tests revealed that the condor has lead poisoning. (KCRA 3, CA)
Catching up with ... Mills College's Fred Frith Apr 3, 2009
We started having a family and moved to Big Sur ... She had built a cabin and was raising a family in Big Sur. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Big Sur Campsites Suffer Year After Wildfires Mar 29, 2009
-- Businesses in Big Sur continue to suffer after last year's wildfires ravaged the area ... "If we can't have this bridge, can't have this campground open, then this community stands to lose a lot," said Jack Ellwanger, a Big Sur Lodge naturalist ... Like a proud father, Ellwanger showcases Big Sur daily to tourists the world over. (KSBW 8, CA)
Hundreds Tackle 5-Mile Big Sur Mud Run Mar 29, 2009
The fourth-annual Big Sur Mud Run began and ended at California State University Monterey Bay's Freeman Stadium on Saturday ... The Big Sur Mud Run is uncharted territory even for the most avid runners, and it includes push-ups, jumping jacks and drill sergeants. (KSBW 8, CA)
Highways to hell Mar 27, 2009
At the opposite end of Americas scary road spectrum are the adrenaline drives like California Highway 1 along the Big Sur coast. Built in the 1920s with convict labor and mule teams, the two-lane portion between Carmel and San Simeon snakes along precipitous cliffs, through deep ravines and across 33 bridges that often hang hundreds of feet in the air. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Soaking Up Scenery in the Sierra Mar 22, 2009
to be more rewarding to the eyes even than the much celebrated Highway 1 coastal route through the mystical region known as Big Sur. It's hard to keep your eyes on the tarmac as you drive this off-the-beaten path route tracing the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. (Suite101.com)
The pleasure principle Mar 16, 2009
San Francisco is proud of its libertine heritage, as Sean Penn recently demonstrated in "Milk." The search for personal transformation, including through sex, led to the oceanside hot tubs at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, cradle of the human potential movement, and in the 1960s, communes flourished in the city, many espousing free love. One Taste is but the latest stop on this sexual underground, weaving together strands of radical individual freedom, Eastern spirituality and feminism. (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
California must brace for climate change Mar 15, 2009
It's a future where walls will be needed to protect low-lying areas, steep cliffs along Big Sur and Devil's Slide will crumble away and a sand-and-palm trees Southern California lifestyle may vanish. The sea level report, by the respected Pacific Institute, an Oakland think tank, is the first of 40 studies on the effects of global warming on California by 2100. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Opinion)
Sea-level rise poses new flood risk to California Mar 12, 2009
AIRPORTS AND BIG SUR IN HARM'S WAY ... But some of the aesthetic beauty and recreational values associated with the California shore, one of the state's prime natural assets, are at risk, including the famed central coastal cliffs of Big Sur. (Scientific American)
A Sweet Find In Carmel Mar 6, 2009
There is also wine tasting nearby as well as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Big Sur coast, the Point Sur Lighthouse and, of course, Pebble Beach Golf Course. In addition to Carmel's restaurants, there are plenty of good places to dine in nearby Pacific Grove and Monterey. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Travel)
Seamounts May Serve As Refuges For Deep-sea Animals That Struggle To Survive Elsewhere Feb 22, 2009
Davidson Seamount, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) offshore of the Big Sur coast, is an exception. Since 2000, researchers have spent over 200 hours exploring its slopes and peaks using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Tiburon. (Science Daily)
'This Week': Ask California's Gov Your Question Feb 21, 2009
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger talks to the media during the Basin Complex Fire briefing at the Incident Command Post in Big Sur, Calif. on Wednesday July 2, 2008. (ABC News)
Nasty weather headed out, but troubles remain Feb 19, 2009
To the south, Highway 1 just south of Big Sur was closed for several hours because of a mudslide near Sycamore Canyon Road. The CHP said the road reopened about 11 a.m.. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Central Coast Storm Causes Damage, Headaches Feb 18, 2009
Rain was also a problem in Big Sur, where a flash flood warning was issued early Tuesday morning ... Despite a couple of mudslides triggered by the rainfall, Highway 1 was opened in the Big Sur area most of Tuesday ... So far, Big Sur has dodged significant damage from the first major winter storm of 2009. (KSBW 8, CA)
Storm soaks region with badly needed rain Feb 17, 2009
In Big Sur, business owners were crossing their fingers while dealing with a nasty case of deja vu ... The summer fire scorched the earth and left Big Sur vulnerable to mudslides, and owners of rustic cabins and luxury hotel rooms were relying on sandbags and concrete barriers ... The National Weather Service, expecting up to 5 inches of rain, issued a flash flood watch for Big Sur and other parts of Monterey County through 10 a.m. today. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Wet Weather Welcomed Feb 16, 2009
Weather concerns on the Big Sur Coast are keeping firefighters on their toes and they say "they're ready take on whatever Mother Nature has in store". The 2009 Amgen Tour of California will bring the world's best cyclists into the Central Coast rain or shine officials said Sunday. (KCBA)
Flood Watch Issued For Parts Of Monterey Feb 15, 2009
The floods and mud slides will be a particular threat in the burn areas of Monterey County, including the Santa Lucia Mountains, Los Padres National Forest, and Big Sur Coast. The warning comes as a big storm makes its way through central California. (KSBW 8, CA)
Tour of California's S.F. stop - 22 minutes Feb 14, 2009
This year, the route skips the spectacular Big Sur coast in favor of the Central Valley. It winds up Feb. 22 in Escondido. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Joie de Vivre Asks: 'What Would You Do With $100 And A Hotel Room?' Feb 12, 2009
Joie de Vivre's boutique hotels range from the luxuriously revitalizing Hotel Vitale to the "rock 'n roll" Phoenix Hotel in San Francisco; from the hip Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles to the idyllic Ventana Inn n Big Sur; from the oceanfront Dream Inn in Santa Cruz, to the historic Hotel Durant in Berkeley. About Joie de Vivre Based in San Francisco, Joie de Vivre () is a creative collection of lifestyle businesses. (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
California's Pain Only Beginning; Cuts to Parks, Schools and Roads... Feb 11, 2009
Some world-famous parks like Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park may not open this year ... A state parks superintendent inspects the site of an unfinished bridge (below) at California's Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park ... Pfeiffer Big Sur may not reopen this summer because work on a new bridge to the campground was halted, part of a $6 million renovation project that state officials have ordered frozen along with hundreds of millions of dollars in other state infrastructure projects. (The Drudge Report)
Boy Scouts Logging Feb 8, 2009
The Scout council avoided fines and quietly secured a favorable settlement agreement that, until now, has obscured a full account of their conduct at Camp Pico Blanco on the Little Sur River, north of the rugged Big Sur coast ... He sponsored the Big Sur Wilderness and Conservation Act of 2002, which gave permanent protection to federal lands in the area. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Crime)
