We may have all been obsessed with Big Little Lies this past spring, but fall is actually a great time to visit the coastal region where the addictive HBO series was shot: The summer crowds have dispersed, and while the air is definitely crisper than in July, you can enjoy the same stunning scenery for off-season prices.
Drive in via the Bixby Creek Bridge, one of the most picturesque structures in the country—and the money shot in the BLL opening credits. (It’s actually about 18 miles south of Monterey, but let’s call that creative liberty.) You may want to time your trip around the nearby Carmel International Film Festival, which takes place October 18 through 22 and multiplies the tiny town’s population, with 24,000 attendees expected to take in more than 125 films. (A $50 day pass gets you access to all screenings before 5pm.) While you’re there, stop by local favorite the Cheese Shop and pick up some Brillat-Savarin and a baguette to smuggle into one of the fest flicks.
If you go in search of the pretty waterfront coffeeshop where Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman have their gossip sessions on BLL, you’ll be disappointed: It was filmed at Fisherman’s Wharf, a crowded tourist trap where you’re as unlikely to find an A-lister as you are a decent latte. Instead visit Cafe Lumiere for freshly baked pastries and enough whimsical coffee art to satisfy moneyed moms and hipsters alike. Finally, stop by Monterey Bay Aquarium, ironically a former sardine cannery. Don’t miss the million-gallon Open Sea tank filled with photogenic sea creatures. Fun fact: The aquarium was the inspiration for the Marine Life Institute in Finding Dory.