Bixby Bridge
Highway 1, Big Sur
The increasing number of tourists seeking out “bucket list” places to visit – and then share with their followers on social media – is making life a little more challenging in some spots along the coastline, especially for Big Sur’s denizens. Between Christmas and New Year’s, around 25 residents gathered at Bixby Bridge to educate – not protest, they insisted – tourists about what the thousands of them stopping to take selfies at Bixby and other locations is doing to negatively impact the region. Some of the residents decry the use of the iconic bridge in films, TV shows and nearly every kind of advertisement you can think of, especially car commercials. And yet, as much as some might hate the use of the symbol, we also can’t help ourselves in sharing the image with the world. It’s prominently featured on the Monterey County government website, as well as other local websites, social media and in brick-and-mortar stores. We love it, and everyone else does too.