It is Pebble Beach - enough said right there. The location is perfect, the grounds are immaculate…read moreand planning a golf outing and stay soon.

Both breathtakingly beautiful and serene, this stretch of natural beauty can only be accessed via…read morethe 17-mile drive. There are 17 marked stops along this route, each with its own unique history and memorable view. The beach areas are gorgeous, albeit rather cold. And the crystal blue waters remind me of Hawaii; just without the tropical weather to go with. Much of the waters along this coast are in a protection zone, and large sections are designated as marine preserves. Although we were not so lucky in our timing, if you visit during the right times of the year, there are supposedly a plethora of marine wildlife to observe including seals, sealions, otters, dolphins and whales. At the end of this drive, we found ourselves at the famous Pebble Beach Resort. Here you can dine, shop, or even play on the world-renowned golf course that plays host to the PGA Tours, as well as other professional golf tournaments.

I absolutely love Carmel Beach. Some of my happiest memories are here with my great-grandparents,…read moreBarbara and Montford Bryan, so coming back always feels special and nostalgic. Getting to bring my daughter now makes the experience even more meaningful. Watching her enjoy the same beautiful beach and scenery that meant so much to me growing up is such a cool and rewarding experience as a parent. Carmel Beach is just magical, with beautiful views, peaceful vibes, and the perfect place to slow down and make memories. We'll keep coming back every chance we get.

Our visit was a good experience. We parked super far though because we didn't want to risk not…read morehaving a space down at the beach lot but it turned out there were plenty of spaces there. Anyway, scenic walk allowed us to tour the shops there. The steep walk back up to our car was challenging though so a great workout. Aside from people letting their dogs run around unleashed, it was a pleasant time.

I love this area. The wildlife spotting is amazing, and the views are spectacular. The beach is…read morenice, but really, it is all about the wildlife here. On one side, you've got sea otters playing in the water, on the other side, you've got deer wandering through the neighbors front yard. It's currently warm, and it's just such a cool spot. Definitely one of my favorite spots of all time. I love coming back here.

Beautiful place to walk or watch the sunset, it's dog-friendly & there's tide pools at low tide. We…read moreeven saw deers nearby.

The views were stunning! It's one of the prettiest spots along the coast. The Allan Memorial Grove…read moreand Sea Lion Point were easy to navigate. I also liked that the trails loop back around to the parking area, so it was easy to explore without worrying about getting lost. The trails can take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes depending on how much you stop to take in the views. Parking is limited, so get there early. Also bring a jacket because it gets windy and cold. They have three portable bathrooms and permanent bathrooms on site.

This is one of the most gorgeous state parks in California!! I've been wanting to visit for years…read moreand we finally made it here this past weekend. We were staying in Monterey, so it was about a 25 min drive to get there, we arrived before 11am. We parked before the park entrance along Highway 1 where there were NO signs saying "No parking at any time" THIS IS IMPORTANT because as we were walking towards the entrance, there was a parking enforcement officer giving tickets to all the other cars parked where the signs were clearly posted closer to the entrance. So make sure you pay attention! There is parking inside the park too for only $10. Once inside there were park rangers helping you with questions and guiding you on deciding which trails to go on, which was very nice and convenient! We took a picture of the map and choose to do the Cypress Grove, and the Sea Lion Point Trails. We only had about 3 hrs to hang out at the park, so those two were perfect easy hikes and roughly about 2.5 miles if you do both loops. We got spectacular views everywhere, you could hear the Sea Lions and see so many beautiful birds flying around. Wish we would've brought binoculars, so bring some with you if you remember. We can't wait to come back another time and do a full day of hiking because there are so many other trails! The park and restrooms were clean and well kept too, it's definitely a must visit once in your lifetime at least!!

8/18/25 and this guy claimed this as His Rock Simply,…read morebeautifully stunning! Slowly driving through this wonderful scenic route, we stopped at Bird Rock. You can't mistake the smell once you're there, bird poop! But the view is spectacular as you listen to the crashing waves against the rocks Leave no trace behind, keep this place as pristine as possible for the rest of the visitors & Mother Nature. Enjoy the lovely sights

Beautiful spot in Pebble Beach to take a stroll and enjoy the magnificent ocean views! If you're…read morechecking out the entire 17 mile drive, this is a great spot to stop and get out at! We really enjoyed it here and also got some great photos. 5 stars for sure!

A beautiful little relaxing place that you can just watch the waves crash. Not too far of a walk…read morefrom the parking place.

What a find! We were hiking on the South Plateau Trail at Point Lobos Preserve, and came across…read morethis beach. There is a path to your left. The stairs down to the beach are quite narrow and steep, so be careful going down! We walked down, took some pictures and rested a bit. There were people there, but not as many as in Carmel Beach. Definitely a must see if you're in Point Lobos!

Magnificent views and short hikes…read more I had a very pleasant short hike along some of the trails. Outstanding views of the sea and cliffs where the water carved out scenic scenes. Keep an eye out for seat otters in the water and seals on the sand in secluded coves. Parking can be a bit challenging on more popular days. I suggest driving to the end where China Cove is and keep an eye out for parking spots along the way. Be ready to backtrack to those open spots.

Absolutely breathtaking views. This gorgeous cove is hidden away deep in Point Lobos State Natural…read moreReserve. The parking lots fills up fast so you may have to park outside the park. We got there fairly late in the day, so we were able to go into the entrance with our car ($10 fee per car, it's free to park on the street outside). We were able to park all the way down in the last parking lot, then walked on the Bird Island Trail to get to China Cove - it's barely 5 minutes into the trail. The seals are so fun to watch down there and the view is like a postcard! I also highly recommend continuing to walk along Bird Island Trail to see Pelican Point and more gorgeous beach views. It's a fairly easy trail with a stunning view throughout. This is a must see!! Last entrance to the park is 6:30 pm and everyone has to be out by 7 pm. This wasn't confirmed anywhere online so we called them to get correct info on their current hours.

At the women's US open on Wednesday we had dinner at the taproom in Pebble Beach. Nick was our…read moreserver our service was impeccable. Food was wonderful, but Nick went out of his way to assist me with picking up an order for four days later. He contacted me as he said he would, and made arrangements for me to pick up my order. On my way home. I will definitely be back and hopefully Nick will be there to service us.

Known for its white sand, beautiful waters, and an abundance of beach stones that people often like…read moreto stack here, Spanish Bay is a serene, albeit a bit windy and cold beach that backs up into the Pebble Beach golf course. The bay derived its name from Spanish Explorers camped out here in 1769 who were attempting to find Monterey Bay. You can access Spanish Bay beach through several access points, one of which is Sunset Drive in Pacific Grove. This allows you to avoid needing to pay a toll to go through the 17-mile drive. We however arrived during our tour of the 17-mile drive, stop #3. The parking lot is spacious and has ample spaces available for parking. As mentioned, it is windy here so it's recommended that you layer up. Due to its colder climate, we didn't see anyone here with beach towels enjoying the sand. Surfers apparently love the waters here due to the powerful waves, but it is not recommended for swimming due to the cold temperatures and strong rip currents.

Though this is #3 of #17 stops on the 17 Mile Drive, it's where most people instinctually stop for…read morea visit. This beautiful beach is named for the Gaspar de Portola and his Spanish explorer crew, who were not happy campers, temporarily lodging here in 1769 as they took a year to find Monterey Bay because the men would not ask for directions. Though the sand is white and soft, my wife stepped on glass. Stupid campers. Though this is "the beach", it's chilly even on the hottest day (runs up to 15 degrees cooler than Monterey), and the water is perfect for polar bears. The fun is in stacking the big rocks, though nature purists believe that is assault.