Smartphone Driving Tour between Santa Maria & Monterey 'Big Sur'

Departure Point

• The tour starts at either Santa Maria or Monterey, although you can start anywhere along the route.
  The specific point for Santa Maria is Highway 101 at E Betteravia Road.

Return Details

• The tour stops at either Santa Maria or Monterey, although you can start anywhere along the route.
  The specific point for Monterey is the Pacific Coast Highway #101 and Highway 68, the Monterey Salines Highway.

Duration
4 hours - 5 hours

Languages Available

• Audio guide - English
• Printed guide - English

Points of Interest

Stop At: Santa Maria
Santa Maria, California
The city we’re just to the north of now, Santa Maria, was actually called ‘Central City’ originally. In 1885, it adopted the name Santa Maria.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve
100 Pier Ave, , Oceano, California
Oceano Dunes, one of the most expansive coastal dunes remaining in California offers visitors countless activities, from camping right on the sand and horse-back riding, to more hair raising adventurous options.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Santa Barbara Wine Region
597 Avenue of the Flags, Suite 102, Buellton, California
This region has a rich wine-making history dating back to 1782 when Father Junipero Serra, a Spanish Roman Catholic missionary, brought grape vines from Mexico to California and planted them here.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Arroyo Grande
Arroyo Grande, California
We'll tell you about the Spanish settlers who were determined to make Arroyo Grande a prosperous ranch and farm community as the land features a rich environmental ecosystem.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Grover Beach
Grover Beach, California
The name was not always Grover Beach. D.W. Grover first gave the town the name ‘The Town of Grover.’ The rather peculiar name lasted until 1959, when the town residents finally voted to change it… to something even more peculiar....
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach, California
The name ‘Pismo’ comes from the Chumash language and translates to tar.. And guess what, there are tar-springs nearby!
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Monarch Butterfly Grove
400 South Dolliver Street, Grover Beach, CA 93433
Now if you’re into Monarch butterflies, Pismo Beach is the place to be!
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Montana de Oro State Park
3550 Pecho Valley Rd, Los Osos, California
The oceanside park, Montana De Oro, a State Park that features seven miles of shoreline, streams, canyons and hills, providing nature-lovers with plenty of activities in a pristine setting.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
If you like bubblegum... this is the perfect place for you.. ok, well it’s actually uhh.. previously chewed bubblegum, but still. We'll give you the story.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: San Luis Obispo botanical garden
3450 Dairy Creek Rd, El Chorro Regional Park, San Luis Obispo, California
If you are looking to visit some beautiful Mediterranean gardens or just take a relaxing stroll, this is the perfect spot.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Morro Bay
Morro Bay, California
Visitors can drive right up to the base of Morro Rock, thanks to a causeway that connects it to the shore. It’s quite close to the highway and a wonderful place to stop and stretch your legs… and snap some great pictures.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Cayucos Pier
Ocean Avenue, Cayucos, California
So if you've always wanted to walk on one of those long piers you see in the movies, here is your chance.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: The Whale Trail
Highway 1, San Luis Obispo, California
There are over 100 Whale trail sites, which mark the best locations for spotting whales, on the west coast. California has 19 of them.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Kenneth Norris Rancho Marino Reserve
Cambria, CA 93428
In this habitat, you can find over two dozen mammal species, including mountain lions and badgers, over 100 bird species and hundreds of terrestrial plant-life.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Cambria
Cambria, California
So we're coming up to a small town that, if you are a history buff, may be a place you want to check out! Cambria’s history has been painstakingly preserved by a dedicated band of volunteers at the Historical Society.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Hearst San Simeon State Park
500 San Simeon-Monterey Creek Road, Cambria, CA 93428
As with most areas set aside for conservation, this park includes many different habitats including conserving things that date back thousands of years. Inside Hearst San Simeon State Park’s 3,400 acres sits the Pa-nu cultural reserve.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Friends of the Elephant Seal Visitor Center
Piedras Blancas, Elephant Seal Viewing Area: 7.8 miles north on Hwy 1 or 4 miles North of Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California
We’ve got a pretty awesome point of interest you may be interested in.... but only if you like watching incredibly huge and adorable sea creatures in their natural habitat of course.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Piedras Blancas Light Station
15950 Cabrillo Highway, , San Simeon, California
If you are looking for a museum unlike any other, you're in luck! The San Simeon area is home to the famous hilltop mansion known as Hearst Castle. If you have the time, we highly recommend you check it out
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Los Padres National Forest
, , California
This lighthouse was built in the 1800s and originally stood over 100 feet tall.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Fort Hunter Ligget
238 California Avenue, Jolon, California
As you drive this amazing coastline, keep an eye out for the critically endangered California Condor. You never know, you might just get lucky and spot one of these majestic, and incredibly-rare birds.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Jade Cove
Highway 1, , San Simeon, California
Fort Hunter Liggett is the largest reserve command-post in the country with over 165,000 acres of land. It's about 15 miles to the northeast of us, on the other side of those mountains.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Lucia
Lucia, CA 93920
Monterey Jade is an extremely hard stone that ranges in colors from deep greens, to turquoise, silvered greens, to black. The most common color is a grayish green.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Big Creek State Marine Reserve
Big Sur, CA 93920
We'll tell you about a super small hamlet.. And well… as the old saying goes "don't blink or you'll miss it". The most identifiable feature is the Lucia Lodge, which you'll soon see on the oceanside.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1, , Big Sur, California
One of the 29 Marine Life Protection Areas you can find and explore in this region is the 22 square mile region you'll be driving through.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Slates Hot Springs
Slates Hot Springs, CA 93920
Founded in the early 60’s by two Stanford grads, the Esalen Institute is a non-profit retreat meant to help people explore alternative forms of consciousness.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: McWay Falls
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, , Big Sur, California
The settlement became known as Slates Hot Springs due to a set of hot springs that the owner proclaimed cured his arthritis and other ailments.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Big Sur
Big Sur, California
If you're looking for a spot to take a break and stretch those legs, look for the Julia Pfeiffer-Burns State Park. You’ll find one of Big Sur’s shortest trails leading to the incredibly picturesque McWay Falls waterfall.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Garrapata State Park
34500 California 1, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93923
Never straying more than 11 miles from the coast, the mountain range forms the steepest coastal slope in the contiguous United States.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Whalers Cove
Point Lobos, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93923
Big Sur is a rugged and mountainous section of the central coast of California, between Carmel and San Simeon. It is frequently, and deservedly, praised for its dramatic scenery.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921
Get ready to drive across one of the most photographed bridges in all of California, the Bixby Creek Bridge! If you want to take pictures, or just take in the incredible views, you're in luck as there are many pullovers that you can stop at.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Monterey
Monterey, California
This is a great spot to take in the wonderful vistas and take a walk along the beach. You can explore some caves, nooks and coves along the shore.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Hearst Castle
750 Hearst Castle Road, San Simeon, California
Known as “the greatest meeting of land and water in the world” by famed landscape architect Francis McComas, the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve covers over 8 square miles of land and sea.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Bixby Bridge
Highway 1, , Big Sur, California
Here you'll find the Whaler's Cabin, constructed in the 1850's, which is now a cultural history museum, where visitors can learn more about the cultural history of Point Lobos.
Duration: Not Available

Stop At: Point Lobos
Hwy 1, Carmel, California
A small European style village known as Carmel-By-The Sea, this village has been consistently rated as a top 10 must see destination in the United States and we highly recommend a visit!
Duration: Not Available

Additional Information

• Service animals allowed
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Wheelchair accessible

Inclusions

• No time constraints, take as long as you like to complete the tour
• Only 1 tour booking needed per vehicle
• Flexible dates - tour is yours to keep and enjoy anytime on Tripvia Tours.
• No signal required or data used during tour
• Good mobile or WiFi connection needed for the initial download

Exclusions

• **Recommended attractions may be closed/inaccessible due to season or reasons beyond our control.
• Attraction Tickets
• Smartphone or tablet
• Transportation (use your own vehicle)

Redemption Instructions
Thanks for booking the between Santa Maria & Monterey "Big Sur" audio driving tour!

**HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE TRIPVIA TOURS APP & START THE TOUR**

Tour Code PACH75
1. Download and install the Tripvia Tours app (look for the logo with the multi-coloured letters). If you're reading this on your phone, tap on this link www.onelink.to/tripvia.
2. Open the app and find the tour you booked
3. Enter tour code PACH75.
4. Tap 'download tour', ​ ​***It is very important to ensure you have a good Wi-Fi or mobile data connection for the download process.
5. Follow the tutorial before leaving for your tour to learn how the app works.
6. Enjoy your tour!

Help → info@tripvia.tours | 1-866-874-7842


Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted

The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Tripvia Tours in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.

This offer is not eligible for promo codes.