Big Sur This is the view from the Napenthe Restaurant overlooking the Big Sur coastline. Once you get here you will not want to leave. Additionally, you will probably meet folks from all over the World. We met and chatted with couples from England, Australia, Germany, Austria, and Minnesota. This is Julia Pfeifer Falls just south of the state park of its same name. You park on the East side of the Hwy 1 and walk under a tunnel beneath the highway that leads to a trail which presents this view. You can travel a few hundred yards further and see the whole sweeping coastline of Big Sur.   Calla Lilys are all over the place down here. They are almost like weeds.   Seals lounge on any convenient shore. Good Places I you go into the main Carmel city, our experience indicates that you will indeed be treated much better and actually find better value. For a really great value and experience, visit Il Fornio on Ocean Avenue. The corkage fee at Il Fornio is $10. This of course only applies if you bring your own wine. Anthony will take very good care of you. Another outstanding place with an equally beautiful view as that of Highlands Inn is Napenthe with a large enclosed dining room with fireplace. There are also other outside tables facing directly West where you can casually watch the sun set below the Pacific Ocean. Corkage fee was $10. Casanova is a restaurant downtown very close to the Carmel Village Inn and is located on 5th Ave between San Carlos & Mission Streets.  It is quaint and rather nice but the prices are bone crushing.  You can check for yourself at 408.625.0501. The best of the area in our view is Napenthe.  See details below. The second best place is Rocky Point Restaurant, just South of Carmel.  Here is what the view in the afternoon looks like: Places To Stay and for Eating Carmel Carmel Village Inn: Ocean Ave & Junipero Ave. 408.624.3864 Pine Inn: At Il Fornio. 408.624.3851 Carmel River Inn: West side of Hwy 1 across from "Barnyard" & "Crossroads" centers; 408.624.1575 Il Fornio: Ocean Ave between Lincoln & Monte Verde. 408.622.5100 Le Escargot: Mission St. East of Fifth Ave. Market Place: 5th Ave & Junipero Ave. Big Sur Big Sur River Inn: About 15 miles South of Carmel Loma Vista Cafe Gardens: Hwy 1, Big Sur CA 93920 408.667.2450 Rocky Point Restaurant: Just South of Carmel on Hwy 1 Napenthe: About 2 miles South of Big Sur River Inn: 408.667.2345.   Tara is the manager; tell her we said Hi! As the sun sets, it is even better: All Photographs Copyright © by Gary Gaugler - All Rights Reserved - Use By Permission Only