( You’ll know it’s Bird Rock by its white color – Eww.)įanshell Overlook – Harbor seals can often be seen here on the beach and the rocks, and also at Cypress Point Lookout.
This area is a nice place to stop for a picnic, with ocean views, tables and a seaside trail. Several ships were wrecked on the rocks in this small bay, some thinking it was Monterey Bay to the north.īird Rock Vista Point – There really is a rock, and it is usually covered with cormorants and other shore birds. It’s not clear if the area is named after him, or if he adopted the name to match the place. Point Joe – In the early 1900s, a man named Joe built a driftwood shack on this beach and eked out a living selling shells and agates to tourists. ( Signs along the way are instructional, interesting and well worth photographing to read later.) Underwater rocks tend to make the seas seem restless by breaking the oncoming waves. This part of the shore is fairly rocky, with large granite boulders and very coarse, dark sand. The Restless Sea – “Why is the Sea So Restless?”, the sign asks. There is a big parking lot here and a lovely beach, but it is not as quiet as some of the stops farther down the road. Spanish Bay – It’s called Spanish Bay because a Spanish explorer camped here with his ship’s crew in 1769 while he was searching for Monterey Bay. If you dine or shop along the route, your toll can be credited to your purchase.) Best Photo-Worthy Stops ( The toll is waived for bicyclists, but it’s not an easy ride. It traverses forested hills as well as oceanside stretches and takes you through some of the most revered golf courses in the country. The famous portion of 17-Mile Drive then begins a few miles south of this point. The route allows you to explore at your own pace, with frequent turnouts and parking areas. It is the only private toll road west of the Mississippi, and the toll is currently $10.25 per vehicle. ( Don’t miss the sea otters – they’re adorable.)Īt the intersection of Del Monte Blvd and Esplanade Street in Pacific Grove, you’ll see the entrance to 17-Mile Drive. Rare sea turtles, stingrays, sharks and schools of native fish inhabit thousands of gallons of water where visitors can view the sea creatures up close. The Open Sea Exhibit alone is worth the price of admission. It is one of the best aquariums in the world, with 45 interactive exhibits showing marine life. If you have the time, spend a day at this massive research center. Heading north into town, you’ll be on the way to historic Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. If you scare a nursing mother, she may escape into the ocean and abandon her pups.)
17 mile drive stops full#
It’s a huge body of water full of protected marine life, and the beaches in some seasons are literally covered with northern elephant seals and California sea lions. This camera-ready scenic drive stretches from the city of Monterey to Carmel-by-the-Sea.Įntering Monterey on Del Monte Avenue, you’ll get nice views of Monterey Bay on your right, but you’ve already been following it since you crossed through Santa Cruz. Though some would say you’d be crazy to leave this legendary highway, there is a section of coastal road called the 17-Mile Drive that leaves US1 behind and ventures out along the Monterey Peninsula, through Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach. Heading south, the rugged hills and canyons on your left slope down to the wild surf far below the highway on your right. from San Francisco to San Diego, offering some of the grandest ocean vistas in the world.
17-Mile Drive: The Only Reason to Leave CA1ĬA1, or California’s Pacific Coast Highway, hugs the west coast of the U.S.
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