Located between the Santa Lucia Mountains and the misty Pacific ocean, Big Sur is a stunning stretch of natural scenery along California’s famous Pacific Coast Highway. The sparsely populated area has several state parks with hiking and camping options. The ocean’s natural Kelp forests attract numerous species of wildlife, including sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, elephant seals, gray whales, and several species of sharks. Aside from an abundance of unique fauna, visitors will appreciate the numerous beaches along the winding cliffside road with views across the Pacific Ocean.