A field guide to Big Sur & Hwy 1: sea creatures and legendary poets, redwood forests and winding roads, secret beaches and famed retreats.

Inside California's lore-rich coast: the ultimate Highway 1 itinerary; local insights on food, art, architecture, geology, lighthouses and yoga; the history and future of ocean science; moments with Steinbeck, Kerouac and the visionaries of Esalen; interviews with foragers, restaurant owners and community leaders.  

"South of Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, Highway 1 is a pilgrimage, an epiphany, a panorama, an achivement. It's also a path into an inscrutable and wondrous spot on our map."