Lucia Lodge in Big Sur - Honeymoon Cottage
Hi friends and happy Monday! This week I am enjoying a relaxing vacation in one of my favorite places, Big Sur along California’s central coast. Today I’m sharing a unique and historic Big Sur hotel here which posts stunning clifftops views. Join me at Lucia Lodge.
Lucia Lodge in Big Sur
Location
Nestled on the cliffside 300 feet above the water’s edge in the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, Lucia Lodge is located directly off Highway 1 (aka Cabrillo Highway) only 20 minutes south of McWay Falls and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. This historic structure is one of the few lodging options within Big Sur, and Lucia Lodge is especially unique in that it’s situated on the coastal side of the highway.
Ocean views from Lucia Lodge in Big Sur
Overlook area at Lucia Lodge in Big Sur
History
This land was homesteaded by the Harland family back in the 1800s. As early pioneers, they lived in handmade log cabins here and even milled their own redwood. Later in the 1930s, the Harlans opened a lodge here when Highway 1 was completed. Over the decades, the property included a gas station, post office, general store, and restaurant. Sadly in 2021, both the restaurant and historic general store were lost to fire. There are plans to rebuild, but the timeline has been delayed due to mudslides and road closures in the area. The lodge, however, was thankfully spared, and 5th generation Harlans are still welcoming guests to this slice of heaven today.
Where the Lucia Lodge restaurant & general store once were
Lucia Lodge Cabins in Big Sur
Lucia Lodge Cabins
This property features 10 unique rooms, four of which are freestanding cabins overlooking the ocean from the cliff’s edge. These four rooms are the original cabins built when the lodge opened its doors nearly a century ago. The remaining six rooms are set back closer to the mountainside and range from full ocean view, partial ocean view, and mountain view rooms.
Honeymoon Cottage at Lucia Lodge
Queen bed inside the Honeymoon Cottage
Honeymoon Cottage sitting area with panoramic windows
Honeymoon Cottage
All of the rooms offer the opportunity to explore the beautiful property, but my personal favorite room might be the Honeymoon Cottage, also known as Room #10. This is the largest and most private of the original cabins. Located at the far end of the cliffside, it offers incredible panoramic views from inside the room...and of course the sights and sounds from the large patio outside are quite breathtaking.
The room itself is magical too. Inside the Honeymoon Cottage you’ll find a wonderfully cozy space with vaulted ceilings, a queen size bed, and seating area with Pacific Ocean views in full frame, thanks to the wrap-around windows.
Path leading up to overlook area above Lucia Lodge cabins
Path leading down to overlook area below Lucia Lodge cabins
Exploring the Property
A short staircase from the main cottages leads you down to a beautiful overlook area where you can sit and read a book or watch for whales passing by. The property also has a more “hidden” path behind the Honeymoon Cottage that leads up a short 1/8 mile trail to a small platform with a wood fence with spectacular ocean views. It feels incredibly secluded here and it’s a favorite spot of mine to watch the sun set.
All throughout the property you’ll encounter all kinds of plants and animals. If you visit in late Spring or early Summer, you’ll not only enjoy abundant wildflowers, but you’ll likely get to witness the playful swallows that migrate to this region every year.
Barn swallow seen at Lucia Lodge
Know Before You Go
• You can book a room directly with Lucia Lodge here. The staff is incredibly kind, helpful, and responsive...if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to them directly at (866) 424-4787 or info@lucialodge.com
• It’s important to check road conditions before you book your visit. Landslides are frequently a part of life along the Big Sur coast, and Highway 1 can be closed at times as a result...so double check road closures and conditions before your trip.
• Please join me in following the Leave No Trace Principles. If we leave this place better than we found it, we will be rewarded with years of natural wonder. If you’re unfamiliar with The Big Sur Pledge, I encourage you to familiarize yourself prior to heading out to this beautiful area.
• I’ve heard people refer to Big Sur as “God’s country”, “otherworldly”, and “life changing”...and I don’t disagree. This is an incredible place, but it is also a sensitive vulnerable land...local infrastructure is not set up to support mass visitors as many of our local state and national parks are. There are nearly 70 miles of Highway 1 coastline without access to travel services, such as gas, food, trash and restrooms, so please do your research before your visit.
• Lucia Lodge does provide Wi-Fi for its guests...however, cell service is often limited (or non-existent) in the Big Sur area, so plan ahead with knowledgeable navigation when exploring along this section of Highway 1.
• Since the restaurant and general store were lost to fire, the staff provides snacks in the mornings, as well as ice throughout the day.
Overlook area below Lucia Lodge cabins
Views of Big Sur from Lucia Lodge Honeymoon Cottage
In Summary
Thanks so much for joining me in Big Sur this week. For a virtual visit of the Lucia Lodge property, make sure to watch the Behind the Blog video at the top of this post, or watch it on YouTube here. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
Big Sur coastline seen from Lucia Lodge
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About Me
I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based out of Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and reviews on hotels & products, I seek to share my journeys to help you plan for your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the globe...and every Monday I post new content here, including a comprehensive blog post and YouTube video.
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This week we're taking a road trip along the California Central Coast to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, nicknamed "mini Yosemite". With its hiking trails, towering coastal redwood trees, abundant wildlife, and lodging options (including camping and Big Sur Lodge cabins), this CA state park along Highway 1 is one of the top places to go in Big Sur. Read this travel guide for all the park details.