Monday, 1 April 2013

Pebble Beach, Carmel and Big Sur, California, USA

Pebble Beach
We set off in the morning from Monterey Bay where we were staying for the weekend and drove south to the coastal community of Pebble Beach and the spectacular 17-Mile Drive.

17-Mile Drive
The 17-Mile Drive is one of the most famous scenic drives in the world.  This scenic drive in Pebble Beach, takes visitors along the spectacular Pacific coast and then through the majestic Del Monte Forest (optional).  We started the scenic drive on the northern tip of Pebble Beach at the Pacific Grove Gate and made our way south along the coast, stopping at various viewing points along the way.  In addition to the magnificent coastal scenery, Pebble Beach is home to 5 golf courses, including the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links, all of which are accessible via the 17-Mile Drive.
This is a beautiful part of the world and we hope to go back for another visit one day.


























Pebble Beach Golf Links
We made a stop at the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links.  Recently ranked the best public golf course in the US by Golf Digest, this legendary golf course is one of the most scenic and challenging in the world.  This golf course was the site of the 1972, 1982, 1992, 2000 and 2010 U.S Opens and it will host the U.S Open for the sixth time in 2019.  It is a breathtaking course with many of the holes situated alongside the ocean.  Not a cheap experience, as a round of golf on this course will set you back a whopping $US 495.00 per person. 













Carmel-by-the-Sea
After we completed the 17-Mile Drive around Pebble Beach, we continued south to Carmel-by-the-Sea.  There is something very enchanting about Carmel-by-the-Sea and I (Sam) was really looking forward to going back (visited this town with our good friends Jenny, Cathy and Veronica many years ago).  This quaint town on the Monterey Peninsula, is world-renowned for its white sandy beaches, performing arts and its many art galleries, boutiques, hotels, shops and restaurants.  We spent a lovely afternoon walking around the town and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.  Before leaving we made a stop at Hog's Breath Inn, an inn and restaurant that once belonged to actor Clint Eastwood, who served as mayor of Carmel from 1986-1988.  
Both David and I agree that Carmel-by-the-Sea would be a wonderful place to live.




















Big Sur
After an enjoyable visit to Carmel, we drove further south on the coastal highway, over the Bixby Creek Bridge to Big Sur.  The coastal highway overlooks the spectacular Big Sur coastline where the Santa Lucia mountains rise from the Pacific Ocean.  Big Sur is known for its breathtaking views and it is a popular tourist destination.  Although it is a sparsely populated region of the central coast of California, there are quite a few hotels, spas and campgrounds in this area.











Pfeiffer Beach
Our last stop for the day was at Pfeiffer Beach, just south of Big Sur.  We had to drive about 3 kilometres from the main road to get to this secluded beach, but it was worth it.  There were a number of people on the beach sunbathing and just enjoying the outdoors.  While there we saw a small wedding ceremony taking place on a hill overlooking the ocean.......a lovely setting for an intimate wedding.








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