The great author Henry Miller lived in Big Sur between 1944 and 1962. And no getaway in Big Sur is complete without a visit to the Henry Miller Library, which isn’t a library in the most traditional sense—it’s a unique place nestled in a redwood grove where locals and visitors come together. The library is an archive, cultural center, coffeehouse, beloved local institution, and one-of-a-kind live music venue.
In fact, the library will welcome some pretty sweet musicians to play this spring, including Yo La Tengo on April 30, Jonathan Richman on May 16, and Ed Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros on May 26. Be sure to visit its website for ticket information!
Tip: On your visit, explore the grounds—you may discover a hidden spot off the beaten path.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm everyday (except Tuesday)
Phone: 831.667.2574
Directions: Via Highway 1, on the mountain side of the road—a quarter-mile south of Nepenthe restaurant, and a quarter-mile north of Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn
Lodging: If you plan to spend the night in the area, check out these places to stay, from a cottage to a campground and a yurt to a romantic resort:
-Post Ranch Inn: a posh luxury resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean
-Treebones Resort: Mongolian-style yurts on a bluff above the sea (here’s a shot inside one of these yurts)
-Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn: a vintage 1930s compound of redwood lodges surrounded by towering trees
-Kirk Creek Campground: Numerous campsites, which look out over the Big Sur coast