Big Sur with Kids in Winter

Are you panning a trip to Big Sur with kids in winter? If not, you should – a lot of very pleasant surprise await you in Big Sur in December – February! Big Sur is a part of Central California coast that is well-known for its unique rugged beauty represented by stunning cliffs, beautiful beaches, redwood groves, rivers and waterfalls. If it were up to me I would have designated this amazing part of California a National Park – it is a true gem of the state.

There is more than one reason to love Big Sur in spring, summer, fall or winter. I already published a detailed family friendly Big Sur itinerary perfect for warmer months, which technically can be used any time of the year. However, there are certain unique things to do in Big Sur with kids in winter and wonders to see that you cannot witness any other time of the year. Below is a detailed list of must-do things in Big Sur with kids in winter:

1.Calla Lily Valley

Visiting wild Calla Lily valley is a truly unique thing to do in Big Sur in winter. There are calla lilies growing all over Northern California but mostly in gardens. Calla Lily valley is a beautiful hidden valley that has hundreds of wild calla lilies bursting in bloom in winter. You can see some Calla Lilies in spring too but the peak flowering season is in January.

How to find Calla Lily Valley: there are no signs anywhere in Big Sur indicating where this valley is and you cannot clearly see it from the window of the car while driving even though it is very close to Highway 1. But don’t worry, I will give you exact instructions how to find it and you won’t get lost:

1. Drive along Scenic Pacific Highway 1 up until Garrapata State Beach (not to confuse with Garrapata State Park which is nearby but it is a totally different location).
2. Park at the designated parking along Highway 1 on the ocean side of the road (parking here is FREE)
3. Take the trail towards the bluffs above the ocean and then when you reach the verge of the bluffs, turn right and walk along the bluffs
4. Just follow that trail until you see calla lilies below the bluffs at which point the trail will lead you down to the flowers.

The whole walk is very easy, even for small kids – about 10-15 minutes maximum. The trail is narrow and not stroller accessible. Once at the sea level walk along the valley which leads to a secluded  beach.

2. Andrew Molera State Park

Andrew Molera State Park is a nice place for hiking any time of the year but in winter you can find elusive fall colors here. I know it sounds like oxymoron, fall colors in winter :-), but since it is hard to find fall colors in California beyond mountainous areas, a visit to Andrew Molera Park in Big Sur in winter is a real treat.

I would estimate that the peak of fall colors is in December but the photo below was made in the middle of January and the colors were still pretty amazing.

We witnessed this beauty on Bobcat Trail which is about 1 mile long one way. There is no elevation gain and therefore it is a pretty easy trail for kids. You can see sycamores and redwood trees along this trail.

Parking here is plentiful and it costs $8 per car at the time of publication.

3. Sea otters pups

Sea otters who live along California North and Central Coast give birth to pups in January – February. We love sea otters any season but the babies do create, as my son call it, “cuteness overload” effect in Big Sur in winter.

Please, be respectful of the animals and don’t approach closely. The photo below is made from the beach from the distance of about 80 feet with a zoom.

4. Grey whales migration

Winter in Big Sur is the time to see grey whales migration. The window to observe these magnificent animals is pretty long: December through March, because at the beginning of winter they travel to Baja California to give birth and at the end of the winter they migrate back to Alaska with their calves.

To be able to photograph whales well is a skill I have not yet mastered – please, don’t judge me harshly :-). Bellow is a photo of the tail fluke as the whale is diving in. This is the most decent photo I have got among 20 or so I took. But what you will see with your own eyes is simply amazing!

Pro tips: 1. It is easier to see grey whales through good binoculars as they do not swim too close to shore. Same may apply to viewing sea otters.

2.If you love ocean wildlife and have time to drive a little further South along the coast to San Simeon, you can observe elephant seals there.

5. Big Sur Forages Festival

Are you a foodie and a fan of wild mushrooms? Then you must not miss the wild mushrooms festival in Big Sur in winter, aka Big Sur Forages Festival.

As you may know, mushrooms like cool, rainy weather. This is why winter is a prime mushroom season in Northern and Central (coastal) California and a great time for foraging (if the winter is wet enough).

The festival usually takes place in January and events includes guided foraging hikes, educational exhibits, mushroom dishes tasting and much more! The festival unfortunately cancelled for 2021 due to COVID-19 but hopefully it will be back in 2022.

Pro tip: if you are not an expert, do not gather mushrooms on your own – some are very poisonous, even deadly. If you want to learn more about wild mushrooms foraging in the United States I strongly suggest the following great book by David Arora from which I learnt A LOT: All that Rain  Promises and More. By the way, it is not too big in size and it fits in my pocket when we go to the forest, which comes very handy.

Other tips for visiting Big Sur with kids in winter

1.Big Sur in winter is much less crowded than in other seasons. This means you won’t be stuck in traffic on Highway 1 (which only has 1 lane each way) even if you visit on the weekend.

2. The weather in Big Sur in winter can be rainy and windy but if you check the weather forecast in advance you can avoid stormy days. Some areas of Big Sur are prone to mud slides if the winter is very wet with lots of rain. Always check local alerts before driving. The temperature during the day is mild in Big Sur in winter, mid 50s – low 60s F.

3. Where to stay in Big Sur in winter: both hotels and camping accommodations are available in Big Sur in winter. Check out my detailed review of Big Sur Campground and Cabins. Hotels in Big Sur proper are a quite expensive so I suggest booking your stay either in Monterey or San Simeon depending which way you are driving from: Northern or Southern California.

4. If you are making it a day trip to Big Sur with kids in winter, this is a really cheap itinerary. Andrew Molera State Park is the only place where we had to pay money ($8 parking). For the mushroom festival you do have to buy tickets but if you just want to come and look for for mushrooms it is a free walk in the woods, if you park along the road at designated pull-outs. So this itinerary definitely earns its place in my “Adventures under $10” category.

If you found this information about things to do in Big Sur with kids in winter helpful, please do me a little favor and share this information with others, for there’s a good chance that it will help them with their travel plans. 🙂 Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram where I post many more cool photos and videos about our trips than I could include in a blog post and organize some nice giveaways!