Since we were already on the 17 Mile Drive – we drove it. Our guide was the red lines on the road. The 17-Mile Drive is a scenic road through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula in California, much of which hugs the Pacific coastline and passes famous golf courses, mansions and scenic attractions, including the Lone Cypress, Bird Rock and the 5,300-acre Del Monte Forest of Monterey Cypress trees.
The drive serves as the main road through the gated community of Pebble Beach. Inside this community, nonresidents have to pay a toll to use the road. Like the community, the majority of 17-Mile Drive is owned and operated by the Pebble Beach Corporation. The 17-Mile Drive is a 17-mile (27 km)-long scenic loop having four primary entrances – the main highway entrance at California State Route 1, and entrances in Carmel and Pacific Grove. ( Wikipedia)
Many beautiful private homes in the area
Some homes are named – I like this one 🙂
Pebble Beach Golf Course
A significant portion of the drive is by the water
The Lone Cypress Tree in the 17 Mile Drive is the highlight of the drive. It is the most photographed tree!
Standing on a granite hillside off California’s scenic 17-mile drive in Pebble Beach, the Lone Cypress is a western icon, and has been called one of the most photographed trees in North America. The tree is located between Cypress Point Golf Course and the Pebble Beach Golf Links, two of world’s most well known golf courses. Possibly as old as 250 years, the cypress has been scarred by fire and held in place with cables for 65 years.
The Monterey Cypress grows naturally only in Pebble Beach and Point Lobos
A drawing of the tree was registered as Pebble Beach Company’s trademark in 1919. The company, said the trademark protected not only the logo but also the tree itself ( Wikipedia)
