17-Mile-Drive - tips by travel authority Howard Hillman

17-Mile-Drive

travel wonder in America

Why the

17-Mile-Drive

is special

The 17-Mile-Drive on the Monterey Peninsula in California is one of the most scenic short drives on our planet. It encompasses a variety of highlights.

Famous vistas

The Lonely Cypress - This gnarled, twisted tree sits in solitude on a rocky perch. Two centuries of strong ocean winds shaped it. The endearing Lonely Cypress has become the icon of the 17-Mile-Drive and has been captured in countless paintings and photos (including the one above).

Seascape - The Lonely Cypress is but one of many photogenic scenes along the coastal part of the 17-Mile-Drive. These include the blue-green ocean and the white-sand cove beaches framed by rugged rock outcroppings and gorgeous tree groves. And, there's Bird Rock teeming with birds, seals and sea lions.

Pebble Beach Golf Links - It is generally regarded as the world's most stunning golf course. The Pebble Beach links dramatically skirt the rocky shoreline. Nearby are its three celebrated sister courses: Spyglass Hill, The Links of Spanish Bay, and Poppy Hills. All have lofty green fees, but enjoying their landscaped beauty from a distance is free.

Forest homes - The road passes through quiet Del Monte Forest punctuated with luxurious villas and mansions.

17-Mile-Drive

tips & insights

The 17-Mile-Drive and environs (including the shore, lodges and golf courses) is privately owned by the Pebble Beach Company.

The vast majority of visitors elect to take the self-drive tour, but organized bus tours are available for those who prefer them.

Admission runs about US$10 per car. You receive a free map guide.

The 17-Mile-Drive has five guard gates. I recommend starting the trip at the one nearest Carmel and finishing at a northern gate. The sun will too often be in your eyes on bright days if you travel in the opposite direction.

A red dotted line on the two-lane 17-Mile-Drive keeps you from getting lost.

You can stroll and have picnics on certain beaches.

You can also have lunch in the restaurant at the exclusive Lodge of Pebble Beach, which overlooks the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links.

The 17-Mile-Drive began during the carriage days of the 1880s, before the era of automobiles.

Nearby

destinations

These travel attractions are on the Monterey Peninsula:

Carmel-by-the-Sea

An quaint, artsy community known for its galleries and shopping boutiques.

Monterey

Home of the Monterey Aquarium (a Hillman Bronze Medal winner) and the historic Cannery Row.

Pacific Grove

On the tourist map because a multitude of colorful butterflies winter here.

Point Lobos

A nature reserve with a quiet, low-keyed personality.

These attractions are more distant:

Big Sur

California Highway 1 hugs this pristine, craggy, vast-scoped coastline. The first 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Carmel is the best part of the Big Sur.

San Simeon

William Randolph Hearst's storybook castle is just under 3 hours from Carmel.

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