Laura Johnson
Life and Arts Editor
Highway One is most aptly named. Not only does the expansive road running from Orange County to Oregon have one of the most breathtaking drives of a lifetime, but it is actually a national scenic byway — making Highway One, truly No.1.
Along this road of enlightenment, about 150 miles short of San Francisco, is a place so spectacular it only needs six letters to describe it — Big Sur.
No, Big Sur is not short for anything, nor is it a typo for “sir.” The word “sur” is a Spanish term meaning “south” — deriving from its original name, “El Sur Grande.”
Flanked by the glorious Santa Lucia Mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, this 90-mile long stretch of space can cause one to never want to take I-5 again.
Roughly a four-hour drive from Malibu, the trip translates to the same time it would take to get from here to Las Vegas. To reach Big Sur from Pepperdine, begin on Pacific Coast Highway and drive north, following any signs that have the number “one” on them.
Nothing will prepare a vacationer for what he or she is about to see. From misty to sunny in a matter of hours, the insane curves of the road take a car through what seems like a different country, depending upon which bend they are on. At times, it seems like the rolling hills of Ireland and, at others, the forests of China.
A perfect getaway for the weekend, Big Sur serves as an oasis for anyone trying to get lost in the wilderness. The only expense on the trip is the gas to get there. The best way to remedy that issue is to pack in as many people as possible in each car going up, as to better spilt the cost.
Some campsites are as low as $18. Split between 18 people, even a college kid can afford those prices for a weekend.
Food also can be made cheap by preplanning meals to be cooked fireside.
There are a variety of different campsites available. Campers can choose to stay anywhere, from a standard campsite to a bed and breakfast to a hike-in campsite — which is a campsite inaccessible by car.
Senior Zachary Tipps has been to Big Sur twice. For him, there is no better option than camping out while there.
“The hotels there are pretty nice, but kind of expensive,” Tipps said. “It’s an ideal place for camping, because it’s not too hot or too cold. Big Sur is one of the few places where the forest is right there with the ocean. It’s an experience all in itself.”
Jim Russell, Executive Director of the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce said that Big Sur is such a different type of place because of its eco-system.
“What makes Big Sur so special is the fact that we have mountains, the red woods, the ocean and waterfalls all together in the same environment,” Russell said. “There is so much to see and do here.”
This summer, the park was put at risk when the more inland part of the forest caught on fire.
“Many people don’t realize that, in order for a forest to stay healthy, it needs to burn every few years or so,” Russell said. “It’s also important to know that most of what can be seen from the road wasn’t damaged. Our attendance seems to be down because people thought the whole thing burned down. But, that’s not the case.”
The Pepperdine Campus Recreation Center offers students the ability to rent anything from tents and sleeping bags to flashlights and pots for cooking. Costs vary — and can be found on its Web site — but are all reasonably priced.
Senior Jenna Gonillio, who is a student worker for Campus Recreation, said that, although the program has never gone to Big Sur, it still is a great option for a weekend getaway.
Big Sur National Park has not burned down, so make sure to visit the site before it has the chance to. One can find out why Big Sur is truly No. 1.
09-11-2008