Cruising California’s 17 Mile Drive

 

Seventeen Mile Drive, Lone Cypress

There are a lot of famous road trips in the USA, like California’s Pacific Coast Highway and Montana’s Going to the Sun Highway.  One of the best known drives in America is scenic 17-Mile Drive (actually distance depends on how you enter and leave) which extends from Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach.  17 Mile Drive leads you through a quiet neighborhood, into a forested area (including some rare stands of monterey cypress), along a rugged stretch of the Pacific Ocean and past the notable “Lone Cypress” tree.  The drive takes you by some of the best golf courses in the country, including world-renowned Pebble Beach, and some of the views you’ll enjoy on this short stretch of road are truly grand!

Seventeen Mile Drive, Pacific Grove. Huckleberry Hill

17-Mile Drive is essentially a suburban road through an exclusive neighborhood (whose owners likely wish you weren’t there).  You’ll pay a toll (about $10 per car) to drive it  — no motorcycles allowed.  Once you get past the toll-gate, you’ll find red-painted lines on the pavement to help you follow the route.

Seventeen Mile Drive, Pacific Grove. Huckleberry Hill

While it’s pretty and worth doing once, I’m not going to drive it again.  To me its just not worth the money.  The roads along this stretch of the California coast (just south of Monterey) all offer beautiful scenery and no toll required!  The Lone Cypress is an iconic symbol of California, but I’m not sure this is the same tree I saw here 30 years ago.  Maybe it is, maybe it’s been replaced, but I don’t need to see it again.

Seventeen Mile Drive, Poppy Hills Golf Course

The photos in this blog (with the exception of the lead photo) share with you our journey down 17-Mile Drive this spring.  My friend, Neil, had never driven it before so we enjoyed a pleasant hour or so, including stops  We started at the north end in Pacific Grove and ended rather non-climatically in Carmel.  For photo legends, hold your mouse over the photos or click on the thumbnails below.

Seventeen Mile Drive, Beach
Seventeen Mile Drive, Beach
Seventeen Mile Drive, Beach homes
Seventeen Mile Drive, Cormorants and Gulls
Seventeen Mile Drive, Point Joe
Seventeen Mile Drive, Point Joe
Seventeen Mile Drive, Point Joe
Seventeen Mile Drive, Point Joe
Seventeen Mile Drive, weathered trees
Seventeen Mile Drive, weathered trees
Seventeen Mile Drive, Spanish Bay Golf course
Seventeen Mile Drive, Coastal scenery
Seventeen Mile Drive, Coastal scenery
Seventeen Mile Drive, Bird Rock
Seventeen Mile Drive, Seal Rock
Seventeen Mile Drive, Crocker Grove
Seventeen Mile Drive, Crocker Grove
Seventeen Mile Drive, Coastal scenery
Seventeen Mile Drive, Monterey Cypress
Seventeen Mile Drive, Lone Cypress
Seventeen Mile Drive, Monterey Cypress
Seventeen Mile Drive, Coastal scenery
Seventeen Mile Drive, Coastal scenery
Seventeen Mile Drive, Coastal scenery
Seventeen Mile Drive, Pebble Beach Golf Course
Seventeen Mile Drive, Pebble Beach Golf Course

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10 years ago

Breathtakingly expensive if I recall. I’m surprised that you are allowed to take photos without paying into the local coffers! 🙂

10 years ago

Fine houses in their pristinely manicured gardens.

Don’t think I could even afford the taxes.

I do like the areas that remain untouched by golf and the hand of fortune.

I prefer the untouched to the “candy box tin” painting of nature.

I’ve been to many places where the presence of paupers –  like myself – detract from the ambiance of opulence. Even today I had a note attached to my car, that parking in a non-designated zone was being selfish. Even though they were full !

 

 

10 years ago

Well, the unwashed mass did enjoy his time there…. 🙂

10 years ago

The views are really pretty, but no motorcycles?? 

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