Mark & Dara

Getting to Big Sur
Most of you are flying into a major airport in the Bay Area. In an effort to save money and reduce some of our carbon output, we have your personal carpool organizer ready and waiting for your flight information. Email Tracy Tackett (tracy_tackett <> hotmail <>com ) the following information: names, where you are staying, airport/flight information, and availability in your car or your ability to combine with another car. DON’T DELAY – this is a limited time offer; Tracy’s availability to help coordinate expires on June 20th. Email NOW! J

**IMPORTANT NOTE #1: We’re quite concerned about the number of cars and the number of trips up our treacherous driveway – please make every effort to carpool if possible.**

From the airport, head to Monterey/Carmel. There are a number of highways so check out the maps we have here. For a detailed map with landmarks tagged (lodging and activities) check out this map on our website: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=EN&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&ie=UTF8&view=map&msa=0&msid=107947612926654082560.000443190b185920fd980&t=h&om=1&ll=36.300739,-121.635132&spn=0.5401,1.279907&z=10

A Note on Driving Up to the Newell Ranch
The driveway is a mile-long single-lane, steep, winding road with very few place for cars to pass each other. For this reason, we will be shuttling people from Highway 1 to the ranch on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. If you are not camping on the ranch, during those times please use the shuttle. Park your car at the first pull out on the right hand side after the driveway – this will be well marked. Shuttles will run frequently starting at 4:30pm for the Friday BBQ and 3:00 for the wedding. The shuttle schedule will allow you to come and go as you desire.

During other times, you are welcome to come visit us at the ranch - there is hiking, swimming (unheated outdoor pool), relaxing, meeting/seeing new and old friends, and of course, lots of games: ping pong, badmitten, horse shoes, bocce ball, and lizard catching.

Directions
Head South on Highway 1 from Carmel; its 23 miles (45-55 minutes) to the Big Sur valley. The first establishment in Big Sur will be the Big Sur River Inn. The Newell Ranch is about 6 miles past that Inn. You’ll pass several other establishments; of note are Nepenthe, Henry Miller Library, and Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn.

At Deetjen's you are very close. The drive way entrance is 1.4 miles south of Nepenthe, and 6/10th of a mile south of Deetjen’s, on the left hand (east) side. The driveway entrance is on an s-curve, so be careful turning across the oncoming lane as it can be difficult to see oncoming traffic.

**IMPORTANT NOTE #2: The drive can only be accessed safely coming from the north - DO NOT attempt to turn onto the driveway coming from the south. **

If you’re coming from the south, or if you miss the driveway on the first go, you’ll need to pull off (at the pull-out just south of the driveway), head back north past the driveway, pull out again at one of the numerous pull outs north of the driveway, and try it again. See the pictures below to help site the driveway (we’ve proven that the pictures do help!)

**IMPORTANT NOTE #3: There is gate at the bottom of the driveway and a keypad about 15 ft before the gate. Enter (see your email) and the gate will open and it will close behind you.**

About a mile up the driveway, you will come to a cross-roads; head right to the “RANCH HOUSE”. In a few hundred yards, you will have arrived. Congratulations.

Parking may be an issue, depending on the number of cars. We’ll have camping parking and day-visitor parking. Please follow the appropriate signage and park close together. Please leave your keys in your car in case your car needs to be moved.


Driving
Directions from San Francisco to Big Sur:
Take Highway 101 South to Highway 156 West.
Connect to Highway 1 South.
Continue through Monterey and Carmel to Big Sur.
Total distance is about 150 miles.

Directions from Los Angeles to Big Sur:
Take Highway 101 North to San Luis Obispo.
Connect to Highway 1 North.
Follow Highway 1 all the way to Big Sur.
Total distance is about 300 miles.

(some of this info came from http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org)
Airports
Four airports service California's central coast. They are listed from closest to the farthest away. HOT tip: Try out Kayak.com for online airline tickets - Mark and Dara's new favorite search engine that searches almost all the other travel sites. 9 times out of 10, we end up flying in to San Jose (SJC) and either bumming a ride or renting a car. You can also take the Monterey Airbus (below), then take Monterey Transit bus to within a mile of the ranch and Mark will come pick you up.

Monterey Airport (MRY): Closest (and probably most expensive unless you find a good deal). It is located approximately 30 miles from Big Sur Valley, and most major airlines flying into San Jose and San Francisco International Airports have commuter flights to Monterey Airport. Monterey Airport now has direct service from Denver (this is for you Rich).

San Jose International Airport (SJC): Second Closest and usually the most affordable. (Approximately 120 miles from Big Sur) Download directions from SJC to Big Sur.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Is a little bit closer than the Oakand Airport, but involves more of a hassle as it is huge and often busy. (Approximately 150 miles from Big Sur)

Oakland Airport (OAK): Slightly farther away from Big Sur, but small and easy to manage. Download directions from Oakland Airport to Big Sur.

Ground & Public Transportation

Monterey Airbus supplies transportation between Monterey and San Jose and San Francisco airports.

Monterey/Salinas Transit Information: 1-831-899-2555

Carmel Taxi 1-831-624-3885

AMTRAK 1-800-USA-RAIL (872-7245) or 415-546-4418. Located a 11 Station Place, Salinas, CA. Direct service from Seattle to Salinas (the closest station to Big Sur) takes 24 hours on the Coast Starlight wth onward bus connections to Monterey and Carmel. The cost is approximatly $200 round trip.