In May 2021, Stephen and I took a day trip to Monterey, California to explore the famous 17-Mile Drive.
Stretching along the coast of the Monterey Peninsula, the 17-Mile Drive begins in Monterey, winds through the luxurious community of Pebble Beach, and ends in the charming beach town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The drive offers several stops with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. If you’re an amateur photographer or simply love beautiful scenery, then this is the drive for you!
Brunch at Melville Tavern
Before heading out on the drive, Stephen and I were pretty hungry! We decided to stop and grab brunch at Melville Tavern in downtown Monterey.
As always, neither of us could decide what to order, so we decided to share a burger and eggs benedict! Both were delicious, but the Tavern Burger and Parmesan Garlic Fries were the standouts.
Melville Tavern had fantastic service and was dog friendly. Our waitress brought a treat and a bowl of water for our pup, Max- he was just as happy as we were!
The 17-Mile Drive
Finally, we were ready to set out on the 17-Mile Drive! Our journey began at the North gate. The guard presented us with a brochure detailing all of the stops and scenic points on the journey. It also provided some history and background to each of the points of interest, which gave the trip a personal touch!
Almost immediately, Stephen and I were greeted with stunning views of the Monterey shore through our car window. It was hard to drive the speed limit; the scenery was so beautiful, we wanted to slow down and soak it all in!
The Spanish Bay Beach
Our first stop on the drive was the Spanish Bay Beach. The beach is named for conquistador Gaspar de Portola who camped there with his crew while exploring the area.
While it provided beautiful views and plenty of shoreline, the Spanish Bay Beach was cold and windy! If you’re planning a visit, I recommend wearing pants and a comfortable sweater or windbreaker. I wore a one-piece swimsuit, but it was too chilly to take off my cover-up shorts or blazer. However, I did take some entertaining photos in my unusual beach outfit!
The Restless Sea and Point Joe
Our next stop on the 17-Mile Drive was a parking stop between The Restless Sea and Point Joe.
The Restless Sea was a picturesque vantage point offering views of, you guessed it, the restless Pacific Ocean! The waves were particularly fierce here, which made for a beautiful yet calming experience. Off to the side was a golf course flanked by the coast.
Point Joe was slightly more morbid. Apparently the spot was the site of many shipwrecks back in the day! It’s not surprising, considering the coast was especially rocky here.
While the rocky shoreline may be dangerous for boats and other sea vessels, it’s striking for photographers. It was here that I took some of my favorite shots of the trip!
China Rock
Before we knew it, Stephen and I were back in the car and on our way to China Rock. Formerly home to a small Chinese fishing village, China Rock provided even more vantage points from which to take stunning photographs.
Bird Rock
After taking countless photographs, Stephen and I moved on to our next stop: Bird Rock!
Bird Rock is a popular nesting spot for birds off the Monterey Coast. It’s also home to several sea lions and seals!
Out of all of the stops on our drive, Bird Rock was my favorite. There was plenty of space to walk around and sea the coast. Plus, you could hear all of the birds chirping out there- and all of the seals barking. It was so cute!
Funnily enough, the local wildlife was most active here at Bird Rock! Several bold seagulls and squirrels were begging for scraps from tourists. While there were several signs warning visitors not to feed the animals, many did anyway (both willingly and unwillingly- seagulls are notorious thieves!)
Seal Rock and Fanshell Beach Overlook
Our final stop on the 17-Mile Drive was Seal Rock. Like many of the stops before it, Seal Rock provided breathtaking views of the ocean. The greenery was a little more lush here, which created a striking contrast with the seashore.
Crocker Grove and the Monterey Cypress Trees
At this point in our journey, Stephen and I decided against parking at any more stops. Since we decided to explore the 17-Mile Drive on Memorial Day Weekend, it was pretty crowded. Parking was difficult and most of the scenic points were very crowded. Instead, we decided to enjoy the final half of the drive through our car windows!
The next stretch of the drive took us through a beautiful old-growth Cypress forest. The Monterey Cypress trees are unique to the area. They’re particularly spooky and gave the road a unique gothic feel!
The final section of the 17-Mile Drive took us through many beautiful homes as well as the luxurious Lodge at Pebble Beach. Before we knew it, we had completed the iconic drive and were on our way to Carmel-by-the-Sea!
Scenic Road in Carmel, California
Just a few minutes away from Pebble Beach is Carmel’s Scenic Road. Much like the 17-Mile Drive, Scenic Road offers memorable views of the peninsula and Carmel Beach. Almost immediately upon turning onto the road, Stephen and I were greeted with sunshine and a magnificent view of the shore.
All in all, Stephen and I had an amazing time exploring the 17-Mile Drive as well as driving through downtown Monterey and Carmel! I can’t wait to return to both towns later this year for a longer vacation.
If you’re planning a trip to the Monterey Peninsula, I recommend scheduling the drive during the spring or fall. While I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, the weather is often foggy and cold during the summer. I’d also advise against experiencing the drive on a holiday weekend. Many of the stops were packed with tourists, which limited our parking options and at points slowed traffic to a stop.
