17 Mile Drive Tour: A Guide to Pebble Beach’s Historical Highlights

This 17 Mile Drive tour is a collaboration by Lynn Momboisse and Carmel Cares founder Dale Byrne. It takes in dramatic coastal cliffs, snow-white beaches, and the unique Monterey pine and cypress forests on a scenic cruise along the 17-Mile Drive. You’ll pass through the Del Monte Forest, the Pebble Beach habitat area, and venture off of the main road to explore some of the rewarding sights found along this stretch of Monterey’s peninsula. On this driving tour, I’ll share this pristine area’s fascinating history and local lore. I’ll point out the various spots where you can pull over and stretch your legs, exploring further on foot, including the boardwalk above the beach at Spanish Bay and the Restless Sea at Point Joe. I’ll show you all eight world-class golf courses found in Pebble Beach, including Pebble Beach Golf Links, Poppy Hills Golf Course, and Spyglass Hill Golf Course, which has connections to prolific writer Robert Louis Stevenson. You’ll have an opportunity to visit the iconic Lone Cypress viewpoint and see one of the most photographed trees in the US, and watch in amazement as 600-pound sea lions hoist themselves to the top of Bird Rock for some sun. On this drive from Monterey along the 17-Mile Drive to Carmel-by-the-Sea, you’ll have the chance to: • Browse the shops at Pebble Beach Lodge and the Inn at Spanish Bay • Learn the history of the Crosby Clambake and its connection to the Pebble Beach AT&T Pro Am golf tournament • Take in some of the oldest Cypress trees in existence at Crocker Grove • View some of Pebble Beach’s architecturally significant homes, including Olivida Penas, one of the first houses built in Del Monte Forest, Casita de Lemos, which is locally called the Gingerbread House, the scalloped roofline of Fan Shell House, and Crocker-Fagan mansion • Hear the backstories behind the Pebble Beach viewpoints we visit on this drive • Listen to the story of the Pebble Beach Road Race • Pass by the Casa Palermo Inn and Spa on the way to Stillwater Cove This two-hour tour covers approximately 23 miles of road. This is your adventure so you’re free to stop at as many of the viewpoints as you like along the way. If you take your time and get out at each of the stops, it can take you over 3 hours to complete. Of course, this will depend upon your interests which could include hiking, shopping, or dining. By the end of this driving tour, you’ll know the area like a local. Please note: The current Pebble Beach entry fee is $11.25 per car. This fee is not included in the cost of this tour. There’s more information provided under the Precautions section of the tour’s cover page.

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