If you’re looking for a relaxing way to spend an hour or so, 17-Mile Drive along Pebble Beach is it. The stretch of road winds along the coastline and through beautiful woods, passing by stunning mansions to oogle, and allowing for stops at 17 spots. It’s free if you’re staying at one of the Pebble Beach hotels (The Lodge at Pebble Beach, The Inn at Spanish Bay and Casa Palmero), otherwise, the cost is$10.75 per vehicle. However, you can get reimbursed for that if you spend $35 at any of the restaurants within Pebble Beach. So, plan strategically and stop for lunch, drinks, or dinner! We did the drive while visiting last month and narrowed it down to our favorite 6 pull-offs.
1: Spanish Bay Beach – Stop number 3 on the map, the beach is beautiful and there are wooden walking paths through the grass that take you all the way down to the sand. Just watch for rogue golf balls!
2: Bird Rock -Stop number 7 on the map, this rock is Frequented by all kinds of birds and an astonishing amount of bird poo (In fact, 4-5 feet of the stuff was harvested FOR fertilized in 1930), it’s a favorite stop for bird watchers. The rock is also visited by seals and sea lions.
3: Crocker Grove -stop number 11 on the map, the grover is Home to the largest and oldest Monterey Cypress trees in the world. It looks like something out of a fairy tale!
4: The Lone Cypress – Stop number 12 on the map, this is a must! This single tree has been standing on its rockY perch for over 250 years. The Lone Cypress is also the logo for Pebble Beach Resorts.
5: Ghost Trees at Pescadero Point: Stop number 13 on the map, these trees are truly something. The cypress trees have been sun-bleached over time and give off a spectacularly spooky vibe. This is also a famous surf spot and can products swells of 50 feet in the winter.
