When we went down to Big Sur I mentioned I saw a lighthouse on a giant moro rock formation at what is known as Pt. Sur. I have learned that you can actually go up to the top of it on a guided tour (first come, first served, no reservations, limit of forty total people per tour) on Saturdays, Wednesdays and Sundays. People who want to go up there can go to the parking lot at the base of the moro where they will be met by a docent who leads the group on a walk half a mile up the road to the lighthouse either at 10 am or 2 pm.
Once there you are permitted to climb the lighthouse tower, see the light itself and meander around the catwalk of the lighthouse. Then the tour includes a stroll past the lightstation buildings, a stop at a Visitor's Center, maybe a tale about the ghosts of past lighthouse keepers and continual views of the surrounding surf crashing on the rocks below. They say you may even get a glimpse of a migrating gray whale (January through May) or see incredible spring flowers if your timing is correct. This vantage point also gives one a fabulous view back to the coastline of Big Sur.
Families lived and worked at Point Sur from 1889 until 1974 when the light was made totally automated. Now the site is on the National Register of Historic Places and Point Sur is the only lighthouse of its age open to the public in California. Luckily many of the buildings have been restored. Similar to Moro Bay, the moro rock is home to eagles, peregrine falcons, hawks, California condors, pelicans and their pals-the ever present seagulls.
It is so nice we are saving up places to go next year when we return to this and other areas of California. In the meantime, if you follow in any of the footsteps along our journey, let us know what you think. We'll keep our light on here in
Puff the Magic Green RV hoping to hear from you!
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