We’ve cancelled so many trips this year due to the pandemic, but I am so glad we were able to make this one happen!

It has been a crazy year with lots of ups and downs, but no matter what part of the rollercoaster we are on, I am always so grateful and appreciative for our sweet family moments…And making this trip happen despite it all felt like magic.

With so many of our planned trips and outings cancelled this year, it didn’t surprise me that this one hit a few road bumps too. It turns out though it worked out for the best! Originally we were supposed to camp near Mammoth, but with the tragic fire burning up there, it wasn’t possible. So rather than cancelling our plans yet again, we decided to push thru in hopes of a solid plan B. My friend Sarah and I searched for a new destination, and she happened to find out that a camping spot they have always wanted to stay at in Big Sur had openings (there is also a fire up there, but Big Sur had been cleared from danger). I was so excited, in fact we all were. Big Sur was a trip I had always wanted to go on. So with our new plan in place we began to prepare for departure!

The Drive…

I am not going to sugar coat it, the drive up was a bit sketch because the skies and conditions were so bad (literally fires all around – it’s so devastating!). Both Wes and I were skeptical that it would be better conditions where we were camping, but somehow it was. So on Thursday night we settled into our campsite at Fernwood Campground and we were ready to enjoy!

Days One & Two…

Thursday night and Friday we stayed put and enjoyed all of the beauty that surrounded us on the grounds at Fernwood. Our camping spot was amazing as it was nestled right next to the Big Sur river. What a dream! We got to enjoy nature walks as a family, delicious bbq (and lots of s’mores for dessert!), hanging creekside (and in the river), bonfires and pure relaxation.

(Note: All of the pictures in this gallery were captured on my iPhone – so you might notice a style difference between these snapshots and my normal work. ;))

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Wines to enjoy while there…

I also did my research on Monterey county wines prior to our trip and ordered wines for pick up from Folktale Winery. I was really happy with the quality of wine and cannot wait to order more from them. I also look forward to experiencing more Monterey wines on a future trip.

Saturday, we went to Carmel – a place on my bucket list! It was stunning! We had the best morning walking the beach, gawking at Pebble Beach, having brunch and shopping. It was perfect!

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Due to the fire…

Most of the state parks were closed because of the fire, but we were able to stop in at Garrapata State Park on the way back and it was so beautiful.

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Overall, it was an amazing trip! Oh, and Sunday on our way home, we stopped for wine/lunch at our favorite Paso Robles winery, Zanoli. It was a great break in the drive!

Looking for your recommendations…

I absolutely love our trips as a family and I look forward to many more in the future! We also would like to try more campsites within driving distance (for a long weekend). Please share your tips in the comments as I would love to hear your recommendations. 🙂