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Locals Talk
Corey Costanzo
Age: 35
Central Coast
When I took the Hotel Matchmaker test these are the words I selected: Fun-loving, serene soulful, adventurous active
My favorite activities include: Traveling, time spent with family, playing capoeira, watching rain fall while swinging from a hammock.
I was born and raised in: Brooklyn, NY
I currently live: Big Sur, CA
What do I do to make a buck?: Five years ago, I came to Big Sur via the corporate world, to take a 30 day massage workshop at the Esalen Institute (www.esalen.org). I picked up a cute pixie looking hitchhiker along scenic highway 1, someone straight out of a Tom Robbins novel, and wound up at a private Tibetean Buddhist temple hidden away in the mountains. There were 5 holy Tibetan monks holding a ceremony which "welcomed change" into the world; I didn't realize it then, but since I landed in Big Sur, I'd become a father, husband, chef, musician, small business owner, Marriage and Family Therapist Intern, massage therapist and didgeridoo healer. This is the magic of Big Sur. Big Sur is an intense, awesome place. Between the 100+ feet tall redwood trees, dramatic vistas of mountain meeting ocean, and diverse population of interesting people, it is hard to enter Big Sur without experiencing some life altering moment. If you are anywhere close to California, I warmly suggest that you drive the Pacific Coast Highway (route 1) and make your way through Big Sur. Stop at the Big Sur Spirit Garden (www.bigsurspiritgarden.com) for a chat with me or someone from my family for some local hotspots and ask me to teach you some didgeridoo!
5 things I love about Big Sur: When you visit this incredibly inspiring place, expect to have some aspect of your life enhanced by the raw beauty of the land, majestic vistas and interesting people you'll meet. The best place to get a true local flavor is at (1) Loma Vista, along highway one, where you'll find several family run businesses. The Big Sur Spirit Garden is one of those businesses. It's an art and culture center, retail garden and performance venue. On any given day you can find musicians jamming, people sunbathing, relaxing, sharing picnics or trading travel stories. Locals come get their coffee at Big Sur Bakery, just next door to the Spirit Garden, where a typical conversation almost always involves a whale, mountain lion or condor. (2) Hike, Hike, Hike and go to Pheiffer beach or hunt for jade at Jade Cove. When I'm feeling like I need a blast of sophistication and culinary delight, I head to (3) Ventana for dinner (the head chef's name is Anthony Calamari...how could you go wrong!). Post Ranch Inn will also make your head spin at its awesome beauty and amazing food. (4) Deetjen's Big Sur Inn is the perfect spot for a romantic getaway and great brunch. A great local spot is the (5) Esalen Institute, where you can bath under the stars on cliffs overlooking the pacific in natural hot springs. You have to be a bit adventurous though because it's only open to the public from 1-3am, otherwise, you could reserve the best massage in the world (Esalen was the first place to popularize massage in the west!) and spend a few hours on the grounds.
My favorite local hidden treasure you shouldn't miss: Big Sur Spirit Garden!!!
My perfect day spent in Big Sur: Wake up to kisses from my daughter, breakfast at Deetjens, jam at the Spirit Garden, drive down to Sand Dollar beach and Jade Cove and hunt for jade. Dinner at Ventana and home for Netflix movies!
