Point Sur State Historic Park

A hauntingly beautiful landmark rising straight from the sea. Point Sur State Historic Park is one of the most unforgettable sights along the California coast — a dramatic volcanic rock crowned by a historic lighthouse that has guarded mariners for over a century. The guided tours are fascinating, offering stories of shipwrecks, isolation, and life atop the windswept point, all while surrounded by breathtaking ocean views in every direction. Even from Highway 1, the sight of the lighthouse against the sky feels almost otherworldly. It’s history, mystery, and natural beauty all in one — a must-see stop in Big Sur.

Absolutely a hidden gem. It’s is one of the most beautiful parks with lovely overlooks. We were able to catch a few whales off in the distance.

We didn’t know what to expect, but we’re thrilled by this experience. Unique, interesting, and gorgeous. Our volunteer docent Tyren was exceptional. This could easily be the highlight of our trip to Big Sur. Highly recommend. We arrived at 9:15 and were third in line.

It was cold and rainy the day that I went, so I didn't get to fully enjoy it like I wanted to. But it was so beautiful and scenic that I had a blast overall I'll definitely go back when I'm up in NorCal and when the weather permits!

A hidden gem along the California coast, offering a deep sense of peace. Perched on a rugged cliff, the views are breathtaking, with the Pacific stretching out endlessly. The quiet, untouched beauty of the area makes it the perfect place to step away from the world and immerse yourself. There’s something calming about just being there, surrounded by the raw coastal landscape.

Beautiful walking trails and no difficulties for people with medium mobility issues (use of a cane for example).

Atleast once in your lifetime. It's worth it. There's a fee but it's a necessity to keep the park running and buildings well preserved. The tour guides are very knowledgeable too and nice!

It's a unique experience along the coast highway. We were there on Wednesday morning, queued on 9:45, the park ranger closed the gate as soon as no more car waiting , so you don't wanna have the traffic jam. It's the guided tour by two volunteers. They divided us into two groups of around 13 of each. Slowly walking towards the top with experienced stories shared with us. They will charge $12 per person after the tour, which I think it's lowest price for a nice guided tour. You also have the chance to buy some souvenir on the top. They will escort everyone out together after 2 and half hour tour.

The extremely large woman is absolutely rude. My family and I believe there's more to this place than they say (oh yes conspiracy theorists) it says "state park" but you're not to be "alone" away from your tour guide. The part of the tour everyone goes for is OFF LIMITS (nothing to see behind the 3rd locked gates with brand new underground electrical and new huge electrical box. That area is used for "weather current studies" yuh ok. A couple guides were more careful with their words than others. This tour would be great for people that question nothing and eat what's spoon fed to them. The lighthouse and land is attached, but they charge for both separately. Use your money to go to Pfiefer or even just grab food in Big Sur.

5 Stars Took the Big Sur Lighthouse Tour and it was an unforgettable experience! It's a 3-hour walking tour and totally worth every minute. A few things to keep in mind: you can't make reservations--it's first come, first serve and they only take up to 40 people, so be sure to arrive early. It's a bit of a trek, so wear warm layers and comfortable shoes--you'll be walking quite a bit. That said, the guide was great about pacing, stopping along the way to let everyone catch their breath and take in the views. Speaking of views... absolutely breathtaking. Ocean cliffs, rugged coastline, and of course, the historic lighthouse itself. It was also surprisingly educational--learned a ton about the area's history, maritime stories, and the lighthouse's role over the years. Highly recommend this tour if you're in Big Sur. It's peaceful, scenic, and something a bit off the beaten path that you won't forget.

Thank you so much to our friendly and knowledgeable Docent who wonderfully paced this hike with useful information, photos and historical experiences that showcased how largely the NorCal and Central Coast cohesiveness came together. It's a 3 hr tour and you need to get there as they limit the visitors to first come first serve. The views are spectacular, we were lucky to have visited when it was clear and not windy. It's encouraged you bring your jacket, water and comfortable walking shoes. You pay at the top and if you are lucky you will see Whales in the distance along with sea lions, sea otters and dolphins like we did. It was a perfect day.

Came here on Saturday for the lighthouse tour. You can't make reservations online in advance, so we waited at the gate in our car 30 minutes prior to the tour start date (10 am). Definitely show up early because they limit the number of people per tour and will close the gate once it's full. There are Porta Potties at the bottom and also portable toilets with flush. Hollie was our guide. The tour was about 3 hours long and was pretty informative of the history of the lighthouse grounds, accidents in the area etc. We also got to go inside the lighthouse. Tours are $15/person and you pay once you get to the top. Overall, a good way to spend a couple of hours in Big Sur!

We arrived way too early to wait in line to get in but we ended up being the first car. About 28 persons were in this tour on a Tuesday. The sign really isn't visible from the road. It's posted on the wooden gate and we saw several cars stop, parked and the drivers got out to look to make sure they were in the correct place. The volunteer guide arrived at 9:30 AM to go inside to set up while we were told to wait. A second volunteer guide came out later to check off our names and directed us to drive up the road to where the 1st volunteer was standing. There is an outhouse with running water and flushing toilet you can use right before the hike uphill. After some safety rules, the guides split the group in half and we proceeded upwards while getting a history of the coast, lighthouse and what life was like for the keepers who lived here. Great views of the ocean but we were all fogged in and couldn't see much. We got to go into the lighthouse, old home of the keepers, blacksmith's work house, a haunted building and small gift shop where you pay your entrance fee. There's a lot of work the volunteers need done to raise money and renovate thee Ed buildings snd roads before they're allowed to bring the original lens back to install. Mostly for decoration as the current light is an outside, small LED lamp. Hope to be back one day when their lens gets reinstalled, it's spectacular in the pictures.

This lighthouse tour is off Highway 1 in Big Sur. They have Saturday walking tours starting at 10am lasting close to 3-4 hours. I believe they only take up to 40 people per tour and it's on a first come first serve basis. I recommend arriving about 45 min early to ensure you get in. There is a locked gate off Highway 1 with a dirt area you can park and wait till they open at 10. One inside, you will drive to the base of the hill and park which is where the tour will start once everyone is in. Wear comfortable shoes and bring warm clothing as it is a good hike up the hill and very windy. They broke us up in groups of 15 and began the tour. The volunteers do a great job explaining everything about the Historic Park and answer any other questions you might have. The views are amazing and if your lucky you will get to see some sea lions, otters or even whales. They allow you to take as many pics as you like and you are able to walk through the Lighthouse and see just how the lighthouse keepers and families lived while on the hill. I am a big fan of lighthouses and the stories that go along with them. This is a perfect tour for all ages and anyone fascinated with lighthouses. The price for adults is $15 and $5 for kids ages 6-17. All children age 5 and under are free.

We joined the 90 minute navy site tour because we were late for the 3 hour light house tour - it was pretty chilly and we were a bit tired so maybe it was for the best. Mike was our tour guide and as an ex Navy officer he was so knowledgeable and interesting. I don't want to give away too much but the site only more recently became declassified and they haven't even released much info yet. The site itself is also a ghost town and not super cool, but the stories and tour guides kept us curious and wanting to find out more. I absolutely recommend this and it was only like $10.

Just don't go back to Big Sur Hangin' around, lettin' your old man down Just don't go back to Big Sur Baby baby please don't go Baby baby please don't go -- The Thrills "Big Sur" And now I pass my Yelp friend Emmalouise once again in our review contest... The drill here is well known. Get to the gate by 10 on weekends (or 10:03 like I did). Have almost 3 hours to spare (or 2:45 hours like on our tour). Get informed to death about the history of this and other lighthouses. See spectacular scenery. Meet nice folks. Buy a few things at gift shop for mini me. They also have cool full moon and Halloween tours. As Magnus wrote, amazing pristine beach is either part of ranch or part of state park and not accessible. Man it is a gorgeous beach. Bring water like I did as it is a long tour. Wear layers. If this tour leaves you out of breath hit the treadmill or exercise bike or go for a hike when you get home. Plenty of stops on tour and no way anyone should ever get out of breath on this. Docents were very nice. Highly recommended at least once! $12 fee helps keep the gates open.

As a Monterey local, I had been dying to go here but just never knew exactly how. Recently saw an event via Facebook for their Moonlight Tour and knew I needed to jump on it. The volunteers were extremely knowledgeable about the rich history of the lighthouse and you can tell they're passionate about what they do. The moonlight tour itself was a lot of fun! My biggest tip: when you think you've worn enough layers, wear more. My group and I showed up in long sleeves and jackets, and we definitely could have used at least another after that evening wind started to kick in. The tour is first come first serve, so we made sure to show up about an hour early. You just wait by the entrance gate where the road to the lighthouse starts. The volunteers will roll up about a half hour before the tour is scheduled to begin and they go over all the directions with you. The moonlight tour is amazing and the way the moon shines on the ocean is hauntingly beautiful. Worth the $25 fee!

Beautiful view along the coast of Big Sur. Super windy, so be sure to bring a windbreaker jacket. You have to cross through private property in order to reach the base of the lighthouse, so you have to park outside of the gates. They open the gates at 9:45AM and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis, so come early. I was expecting a more strenuous hike, but instead got a very mild hike and a rich, detailed history of the Point Sur Lighthouse. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and friendly. When you reach the top, you get the chance to explore the lighthouse and the houses atop the plateau. Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for those ages 6-17. You pay the admission after the 3 hour tour when you reach the top of the plateau. This was more of a leisurely walk and learning more about the area versus an actual hike. If you're into lighthouses, definitely worth checking out (and open to the public!).

One of the most beautiful places to visit along the coast of California.. The breathtaking views even traveling to the lighthouse itself is amazing. Point Sur Lighthouse has so much history and can only be visited during tour hours so be sure to check the calendar and make plans before arriving. One of my friends whom recently passed was fond of coming here.. He took the tours so often that all the docents (tour guides) who volunteered there recognized him every time he came to visit. As I had never visited the lighthouse myself, after his passing, a group of us decided to make a group trip in remembrance to his favorite place in the world and I took the opportunity to finally visit. Knowledgeable docents, beautiful views.. and an opportunity to reminisce among friends. An experience that makes me wish I could live there... The tour of the furnished lightkeeper's house that is on display was just a crazy tease that did not help at all.. lol..

Ten Easy Steps™ Vol. 3: Lighthouses No. 1: Point Sur Light Station, Big Sur, CA I think that anyone who has lived (make that "survived") one full year in the state of California should be invited to the governor's office in Sacramento and one of the staff should hand them a golden-colored bucket, and in that bucket, there should be a list of things to do in the next few years of their residency to make them truly Californian in outlook, rather than just another transplant from somewhere else. Of course, there will be places like Yosemite and Death Valley, the Golden Gate Bridge and Muir Woods and a Spanish mission or two, but there also should be a section devoted to the lighthouses of the California coast, especially its northern, rocky, rugged places, like Point Arena or Point Reyes. And of all the lighthouses on that list, the one atop that big rock in Big Sur has just GOT to be there right at the start. If you don't leave a 3-hour tour here (just make sure your tour guide isn't named Gilligan) feeling a little more Californian and a little less of whatever you were before you got here, I would be shocked. Shocked! There is just so much history here - natural and human - to love. And be slightly scared about. And that, in a nutshell, is what feeling Californian is all about: a little scared about the place, but in love with it, nonetheless. So, how to make your next road trip to Big Sur one truly to remember? Sounds like another job for the Ten Easy Steps™ ! 1. Wake up early. You will need to in order to arrive at the locked gate before the docent pulls up in his car, usually about 9:45 or 9:50am, to let you into the grounds. Cars line up in single file at a narrow dirt pullout right next to the locked gate. This happens Saturdays and Sundays at 10am unless the highway is closed due to a landslide or flooding, and some Wednesdays at 1 pm. 2. Check out the Central Coast Lighthouse Keepers web site well ahead of time to plan for your visit. There is a great deal of useful information here that ensures you won't arrive at the wrong date or time: http://www.pointsur.org/ 3. Bring hat, gloves, and wind-proof clothing! And if you bring a hat, make sure it stays on your head even in 50 mph wind gusts. It may not be windy on the highway, but at some point on the walk up to the lighthouse, you will feel the power of the Pacific, and it ain't gonna be pretty if you came dressed for the beach. 4. Take a small backpack with water, snacks, and other supplies (lip balm, sunscreen, extra hat and gloves, binoculars, sun glasses, etc.) The tour lasts 3 hours, you know, and only at the end do you reach the visitor center, where $1 hot drinks and free water is available. Otherwise, you'll have to suffer in silence. 5. Don't fill up on 22 oz. lattes before the tour! There are 2 outdoor stalls at the parking area, then several additional ones at the top, near the stone residence buildings. The restroom facilities are clean and well maintained - pretty fancy as far as PTs (portable toilets) go - but I just don't think you want to worry about such things when perched 300 feet above a surging, foaming, wave-crashing ocean, now do you? 6. Bring binoculars. You never know when a whale might swim by, or if something cool is happening on the ocean, or if you want to get a little bit closer to the action on highway one. What? No binoculars? Perhaps a trip to Cabela's is in order before you go ... 7. Wear actual hiking shoes. Yes, the trail is paved, but being out in the ocean like it is, the place gets pretty banged up. Lots of little rocks tumble down in an ongoing process of erosion, and - haven't you heard - California is on a major geological faultline, and that's abundantly clear when you look at the Santa Lucia mountains from Point Sur station. Also, you will be climbing metal stairs to reach the lighthouse's inner core, where the fresnel lens was and where its replacement currently resides, and you don't want to wear the Manolos in case the heels get stuck in the tread. 8. Save energy for the best part of the tour - no, not the ocean vistas and cool historic stuff in the lighthouse and carpentry/blacksmith shop. I'm talking about the gorgeously restored Lighthouse Keeper's house, which you visit near the end of the tour. It's done up as a 1950's nuclear family idyll, replete with rooms for the kids, a well-stocked kitchen, a laundry room, a study, a bathroom, and bedrooms to match. There is a lot of museum-quality stuff lying all around, provided by the amazing Lighthouse Keeper volunteers using money raised by local philanthropists (you know, people like ... um, Clint). While some sections are roped off, most are open for you to explore. How cool is that? 9. Bring the kids! If you have them, of course. This is definitely kid friendly adventuring, and who is going to be more Californian than them? 10. Take time to enjoy the view. It is unforgettable!

Great tour! The view on Highway 1 along Big Sur just to get to Point Sur Light Staton was already beautiful enough but to be able to view it up top from the lighthouse was even more spectacular. Saturday tours are 10:00a and 2:00p. Get there early if you can... cars begin to line up outside of the gate. First come, first served and they don't take reservations. Adult admission is $12 but they also have moonlight tours for $20. Name and # of people in your party are taken down at the gate and you pay at the gift shop. Children welcome. Ages 6-17 are $5 and ages 5 and under are free. Seen little ones on our tour... by the end of 3 hours they were being carried by their parents. We took a tour to get a history about this place and to view the lighthouse. You will hear a lot of history just about the ocean alone - hazards and shipwrecks. We were able to actually go inside, upstairs, and outside the lighthouse. It is a working lighthouse that is visible for 23 miles out to sea and became automated in 1975. The original light used in the 19th century is now on display in the Maritime Museum in Monterey. Oh so windy! Make sure you hold on to the railings because we were warned that anything not secured will fly away (glasses, phone, cameras, hats, scarves, yourself?) I am not sure if it is this windy there all year round but heed warnings, please. Dress in layers. The volunteer docents were nice, friendly and well informed and the approx. 3-hr tour was interesting and full of history. Wear comfy shoes! A lot of walking because you will tour the whole place from where you parked to the lighthouse to the once occupied resident homes and back down again. Bring water. Although water and coffee are available at the gift shop and donations are accepted. Fun day! Zak, Nick and Aaron of Ghost Adventures came to investigate the many claims of paranormal activity at Point Sur, one of the most haunted lighthouses in America. Review #0202

Fascinating place with an interesting history in a beautiful location. The guides are extremely knowledgeable, and I learned a lot. Really glad we went. Worth noting is that if you have physical ailments, especially below the waste (hips, knees, ankles, etc.), this visit is likely not for you. The walk up isn't bad because the tour makes frequent stops on the way up to talk and point things out. Coming back down is pretty much an express walk, and it can be hard on the body.

This was the tour of a lifetime! Loved every minute . Great history, great docents. Incredibly beautiful. An excellent and interesting way to spend an afternoon in Big Sur,

Great tour if you really want to get into the nitty gritty of the history of life in Big Sur! the tour guides are very very knowledgeable and friendly. There is a hike up to the big sur lighthouse, however, you stop so often that you really don't feel tired at all. I mean i'm no crossfit yolked girl or anything but we did stop more often that I would've liked. Anyways, great tour of the lighthouse, you get to go up and see the views as well as where the people used to live, great little house- wouldn't mind living there myself! So the guides are all volunteers and I don't even think you actually have to pay, they just tell you it's a suggested gratuity of $12 a person which is not bad for the 3 hour tour. Recommend it for people who like to learn a bit of history and see great scenery. :)

This is one of my favorite things about the Big Sur Area. For the longest time I would drive past the gate and windy point and wondered exactly WHAT THE HECK is up there. Finally, curiousity got the best of me and I decided to take the tour with a friend. Tours are limited to 30 people, and it is first come first served. After the 1 mile drive down the poorly paved windy road to the base of the point, the docent meets you and you begin your informed ascent. For $8, the three hour tour provides you more information about the history of Big Sur, Light Stations, and the old days than you might get at a typical museum. Plus getting to see a Frenell Lens up close is pretty awesome. The views are among the best in Big Sur, hands down! You could see miles in all directions, and the ocean is a deep shade of aquamarine around the point. If you're lucky you might even spot some aquatic life...sea lions, dolphins, maybe even whales! This tour is totally worth the time and trouble. (19 miles south of Carmel)

Our family enjoyed the three hour tour of Point Sur State Historic Park. The guides were wonderful and kept our two children, ages 7 and 10, engaged and interested in the history and details of the Point Sur lighthouse. Great views from the top and you get to go into the lighthouse, the workshop and a fully furnished (1950's style) lighthouse keepers home. The end of the tour includes a small museum with artifacts, videos and a small store. You pay for your tour ($12/adult $5/child) at the museum store. Be sure to wear a warm jacket, long pants and comfortable walking shoes. It is very cold and windy at the top of the rock and the tour includes a lot of walking.

Great view with lots of history. The downside to the tour is that your required to move as a group, which means if you go on a bad day and it's horribly windy, you can't decide to go home. Once you drive your car in, you have to wait for the tour to end to leave. The tour is kind of a trek up to see the lighthouse, but you stop along the way, and for a nice day the views should be really good.

Try to land a tour at this place when the MOON is full - they do a lovely sunset / nighttime / moonrise hike up to the lighthouse and then when you get there, you might be lucky enough to hear a ghost story and actually hear some recordings of supposed supernatural voices heard inside some of the historic buildings up on this giant rock. It's first come first serve for this hike, so get there a little early and park along the road near the gate so you can be ready to hop out and talk to a tour guide. The sunset / moonrise hike is a MUST for you shutterbugs. And FYI, an old man about seriously 83 or 85 years old was able to hike up to the lighthouse, so don't you worry your spry little legs about it.

Ok, yes another California State Park, they are all great so visit them all ok? We had such a lovely visit on March 7th 2009. The day was stunning. The view amazing. The docents, hilarious and informative. PLUS, we saw Gray whales and sperm Whales in the ocean everywhere! They were breaching and it was fabulous. You meet at the gate at 10am or 1pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Limit is 40 people it is $10 a person. You drive down through ranchland with cows on either side of you. You park one mile below Point Sur Lightstation and then you hike up and hear stories and history and it is wonderful! A well worth it adventure! It is just north of Andrew Molara State Park. (another nice one!)

Re: RV length restriction: If you have a Roadtrek/ Pleasure-way/ Airstream van or Sprinter 18-22 foot factory width you will be OK. If a wide body (I'm 90" wide) you'd really be pushing your luck. If you have a truck and camper - assuming total length is 22 feet or less, width 90" or less you should be good. No trailers. Unhook, leave it in the staging area alongside hwy 1 and drive in. 4 door long bed dually... I don't think would fit. I BARELY - and only because the docents were feeling generous AND because only 20 people showed up - was able to drive my 24'. The restriction is because of a narrow gate at the far end by the light station but mostly because the parking area is... not a parking area. It's the old 10 foot wide road which you park on. You then make a u-turn on this 10 foot wide road to leave. (It is slightly widened, where you u-turn, but we're still talking 16-20 feet max width. They parked me in the u-turn spot.) You can not walk in. The road crosses private property filled with cows and bulls. A 24 foot Winnebego View would be the absolute largest possible in the best case situation: generous docents in a good mood and not many people showing up.

Lighthouse tour was awesome. The docent Janice was such a sweetheart. She's been doing this for 7 years and really knows her stuff. You can tell her hearts in it. They were so well informed and delivered the information in way that kept your attention and interest. It's a beautiful trek up the hillside and the lighthouse and surround buildings are immaculately restored. It's absolutely gorgeous. We got lucky with the weather and it was beautiful and sunny, but it is also incredibly windy. BRING a jacket and be prepared. They also do moonlight tours at dusk to watch the sunset and moonrise, every month and tell ghost stories. So sad my camera ran out of batteries, so I have to go back to get some pictures.

Amazing. I have been going to Big Sur for 25 years and never knew about this. Thank you yelpers. $10 for a docent led tour--the only way you can go. It takes about 3 hours but the hike is simple. Be prepared for the wind and cold, but its only bad on the first side of the hill and the docents take it all into concideration.They stop every 1/4 mile or so. Museum at the top with drinks available. It is a great history tour (the lighthouse existed before hightway 1 ) Try to go when its sunny. One of the best days I have had!

What I liked most about this tour is how limited and intimate it was. See, they only do tours like 3 days a week, twice a day I think. Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00am and 2:00pm; Wednesdays as well, just not sure on times. It's a 2.5 - 3 hour tour, during which two guides walk the group up along the paved road to the top of the rock to visit the buildings. There are many stops along the way as the guides tell stories of the shipwrecks and how the point came to be a light-station. You pay at the top, which is really the "end" of the tour: $10. The views are pretty good, though it was very overcast at the time I visited (2:00pm on a Saturday).

The diving, right there beside the rock, is really special as well. I have a gracious dive buddy who loves to dive Big Sur and, when he's making a run south, this is where we usually do a dive or gather our bearings while making a run to other destinations. For you who like to dive, the bottom, just south of the rock, is about 50-70 feet deep with flat rocky bottom and a TON of kelp. I don't recall any dramatic pinnacles, but this is a really nifty dive and seeing the side of that rock from the water is just surreal.

What a great place to visit! We waited for an hour outside the lighthouse road, on the highway, to make sure we got in because only a limited number people can take the tour. So glad we did! The tour was very informational and the views of the coastline were beautiful! The docent was so knowledgable and friendly- volunteering his time to give people like us the info on how a lighthouse runs, who used to live there, etc. If you're worried about not being able to make the walk up, don't worry! They stop frequently to let you catch your breath, and are totally conscious of who needs a break. Was a cool experience, you should try it!

Cool place to see. We were fortunate to have a pretty clear day, and almost no wind. The tour guides said it is normally a lot windier. The 3 hours seems like it might be too much, but actually it was pretty solid. They pace you by telling stories while stopping from time to time on you ascent up the hill. Great to hear the history of the Lighthouse and the views from the top are amazing! We worth the trip, and would highly recommend it.

My husband and I did a moonlight tour last night, and I highly recommend it. We arrived to the gate on Highway 1 approx. 40 min before the tour was to begin, and there were already 4 cars ahead of us. Once the gates were open, the docents ask you some questions before you head down the road to the parking lot. (they want to make sure you have no pets or children with you). Everyone was asked to back-in their vehicles. I was asked to park on a side area next to a dune, in front of a van. A truck then backed-in and parked in front of my vehicle. Needless to say, when the tour was over, we could not leave until the lady in the truck arrived to leave, and she was the LAST ONE to get to her vehicle. . Regarding the tour itself, it was very informational. The first part of the hill you descent up is a little steep, but the docents make stops all along the way to discuss the history, which allow others(like us) to catch their breath. My husband is 59 and I am 55, and we were able to walk the steep hill. Another great part of doing the tour is the magnificent views! Bring your camera!! Tip #1: Prepare to dress in layers and I recommend wearing a beanie hat (men and women) because of the strong winds. Also, wind breakers and gloves are a good idea. My favorite part was walking around the outside balcony of the lighthouse. We had a full moon and a clear night. One of the houses was restored and was amazing to walk through. Please be sure to visit the room in the back of the visitor center, which discusses the Macon airship. I bought my beanie in the gift shop. You can bring your ghost hunting equipment to use on the tour.(like a tape recorder, temperature gauge, EMF detector...small things). The docents provide flashlights to use, or you can bring your own. As we drove on the road to leave, we could see the cows in the dark...which was quite.funny. Tip #2: I recommend not driving your expensive sports car to the lighthouse property. A man in front of us was driving a Mercedes sport car.. The road to the parking lot area has dirt, cow stuff and small bumps in the road. I don't think he knew he would be driving a little off-road, so he had to drive with extra care and caution. Tip #3: There are outhouses to use near the parking lot. Be sure to visit them before you go up the hill. The other ones are by the visitor center on top.

So beautiful, up here! Don't forget to bring comfy shoes.

If you can pull it together and get to this place by 9:30am, it's worth all three hours. Great docents, amazing views (we saw whales!) and fascinating history.

Time for Point Sur light Station...the access to this historic lighthouse is provided only through Guided tour on weekends in limited numbers!! It was for 3 hrs, a little strict and a little too long :P It was very windy and loud sounds of the pinnipeds added to the gusting wind.

Yelo heloed me find this. My girlfriend and I both love lighthouses. We arrived at 9 30 on a sunday, and our tour guide Jim came to open the gate about 5 minutes later. He was full of energy, and it was actually his birthday. Really shows character. His wife and him make a good duo, both with their own little facts about the place you can tell they love the volunteer work they do and educating others. The tour was easy going, just a walk up a paved road. Jim took a couple stops to tell us a little about the history, and the odd ball interesting facts. Overall, tons of fun, worth $12. Bring a jacket! It gets super windy!