| Flora / Fauna tips and photos posted by real travelers and Big Sur locals. • 19 Photos
• 11 Reviews
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 Redwoods by chewy3326Leave a Comment Directions: Throughout the California Coast
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 Monarch Butterfly up close and
personal by M0B1US
The best place to see them is at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary, where they spend much of the morning spreading their wings soaking up the sun’s rays until their wings are sufficiently warm to take flight. This is a great time to catch them as to see them swarming in the air is a beautiful sight.
It takes these butterflies about four weeks to go from eggs to chrysalises to birth, feeding, mating, laying eggs and migration. For me the most amazing thing is that the butterflies that reach Pacific Grove in autumn are the fifth generation, or the great great grandchildren of the butterflies that set out from here in the spring before – how do they know where to travel???
These Butterflies are fiercely protected by the local population, there are even special butterfly wardens to look after them and educate visitors.
For more information you can visit the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History and the Pacific Grove Public Library, which are next to each other on Grand and Central Avenues. Leave a Comment
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 ZZZZZZZZZZZZ by M0B1US
The best time to visit is around January/February when the females birth their young and the mating begins, peaking around Valentine’s Day (what a romantic lot!). The elephant seals can be visited from 8 am to sunset all year round.
There are often guides in blue jackets on hand to allow visitors to get up close and personal with these amazing animals. This is an excellent opportunity to observe these remarkable creatures in their native habitat and along the viewing areas are a number of excellent educational and informational signs.
The beach is easily spotted from the highway with ample parking and we had a fabulous time watching the seals doze in the sun and sand, and watch as one female became bad tempered and started chasing other females off around her with loud raucous barks.
The beach is maintained by the ‘Friends of the Elephant Seal’, a non-profit organisation dedicated to educating people about elephant seals and other marine life. Their office in San Simeon is located in Plaza de Cavalier and it's a great place to get more information, gifts and other goodies.
This makes a great stopping off point on the Big Sur drive!
One last word of warning is that these seals should under no circumstances be approached closely on the beach as they are wild animals that are prone to vicious attacks if felt threatened! Male seals can weigh at 5,000lbs - do the maths! Leave a Comment Address: Piedras Blancas beachPhone: 1-805-924-1628Directions: North of San Simeone on Highway 1 at the beginning of Big SurWebsite: www.elephantseal.org/
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 yup, they look a bit like an
elephant by richiecdisc, 2 more photos
We saw a good size group of Elephant seals at the Piedras Blancas Rookery which is just north of San Simeon and south of Ragged Point, the generally accepted beginning of the Big Sur area. There were lots of young growing pups which you could view from a platform for free. It was particularly amazing to us as we had not read anything about it and just stopped as we saw a bunch of cars parked. Leave a Comment
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 she was looking right at me I
swear by richiecdisc
We were just enjoying the views of the lighthouse and its surrounding rocky outcroppings when I noticed this pod of sea lions. They are very intelligent animals and the one seemed to be looking right at me through the zoom as if she “knew” I was snapping photos of her. Leave a Comment Directions: We saw this amusing group near the Pigeon Point Lighthouse.
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 nice timing makes for some
colorful hills by richiecdisc, 2 more photosLeave a Comment
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 by Krystynn
If, however, you are pressed for time.... then drive through quickly.... En route, you can stop your car at some scenic look-out points and take some memorable photo shots for your album! :-)
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 elephant seals by slabeaumeLeave a Comment Directions: southern range of Big Sur, near San Simeon.
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 Fish Tank by ChiliweenieLeave a Comment
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