17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea (California)

Pebble beach is about an hour drive from South Bay and a nice place to drive to and relax. Highway-1 itself is so scenic and once you enter 17 Mile Drive (or Pebble Beach area) you will be welcomed with some breathtaking views of Pacific Ocean, fantastic golf courses as well as beautiful houses (don't even think about buying one here, they are goddamn expensive).

It will cost you $9 to enter the drive and it is totally worth it. The pebble beach is not as great as the one in Nice (France) I have been to, but still a gorgeous area to walk around or swim (if you can withstand the pacific cold water). Another nice area is the Poppy Hills golf course which is beautiful. Spanish bay is not to be missed. It provides cool view of the pebble beach. The lone cypress comes almost at the end of your journey but worth a stop. The lone cypress tress are the official symbol of Pebble Beach. Don't forget to go down to the actual vista point to get closer to get a terrific view of the ocean and rocks again.

Another place to visit within about 5 miles to 17 mile drive is Carmel-by-the-Sea, a small town worthy of an hour stroll for its aesthetics, art galleries and coffee shops. If you drive down to 17 mile drive, stop by this place and you will be happy you did :)

Here are some pictures from my trip. Others can be seen in my photographs on Flickr.