Pebble Beach is a quaint town just south of Monterey. It’s worth a quick drive through or day trip to view the beautiful resort-style houses, gorgeous beaches, famous sights, and impressive 17-mile drive. Pebble Beach is a gated golf community right on the Pacific Ocean. There are guards at each end charging a $10 fee to enter, but don’t get discouraged by the fee. The views are pretty impressive!

Golf Courses

Pebble Beach is most well-known for its legendary golf courses, including Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Set over two different types of terrains, Spyglass Hill is one of the toughest golf courses in the world. Inspired by the classic tale, Treasure Island, it is an awe-inspiring adventure in golf. The golf courses line the ocean, with some holes as close to water as possible. Golfers and sight-seekers alike flock to Pebble Beach for these breathtaking views.

The Town

Inland from the oceanfront golf courses, Pebble Beach has plenty of opportunities for hiking, nature walks, and animal-viewing. Unlike many other oceanside resorts these days, Pebble Beach isn’t overly developed. There are even lots of trees and woods. You can hike the trails and see the region’s wildlife (especially the deer, there are so many deer without fear!), go kayaking, ride horses, or go bike riding around the town.

17-Mile Drive

The best way to see Pebble Beach is by driving the scenic 17-mile drive. Click To Tweet It’s a coastal road known as one of the most scenic drives in the world. It runs through the town from the dramatic Pacific coastline to the majestic Del Monte Forest. You can easily spend a whole day stopping at sights along the 17-mile drive, but even if you’re on a time schedule you can appreciate the drive.

The Lone Cyprus is a stop along the 17-mile drive. It’s a lone tree on a rocky outcrop that has prevailed for over 250 years. You may have seen paintings and photographs of this tree in the art world. It is consistently rated as one of the top 10 most famous trees in the world by numerous websites and publications. The Lone Cyprus is one of the top 10 most famous trees in the world. Click To Tweet

Fanshell Overlook is a pure white sand beach that attracts seals, who return each year to bear their young. During harbor seal pupping season, from April 1 to June 1, the beach closes to protect seals and their babies.

Spanish Bay is a great stop for a picnic. It’s a rocky beach with picnic tables overlooking the scenic Pacific with spanning views in both directions. Spanish Explorer Don Gaspar de Portela camped here in 1769 while searching for Monterey Bay.

Point Joe was the bane of early explorers, who mistakenly set their course for Monterey Bay and ended up here, crashing on the rocks. If only they had known they were so close, just a little south of their destination!

The 17-mile drive opened in 1881, and although the route has changed over the years, it still remains exactly 17 miles. Since 1990, nearly 8 million cars have visited Pebble Beach. To avoid venturing into the maze of neighborhood roads, 17-mile drive has a red-dashed line down the center so you’ll always know you’re on the right road.

You can see many of the sights along the 17-mile drive in movies like National Velvet with Elizabeth Taylor, The Caddie with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, One Eyed Jack with Karl Malden and Marlon Brando, and Disney’s Escape to Witch Mountain.

Have you heard of Pebble Beach before? What would attract you more to this town, the amazing and luxurious waterfront golf courses, the awe-inspiring 17-mile drive, or something else all together?

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P.S. You might also like Monterey and Carmel by the Sea.