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.

We stopped by here over 5 years ago, cute spot to see the sea lions, they were all napping, it was…read moreneat to do the 17 mile drive and check out this spot, the weather was good but cloudy, we checked out a few spots in the area. The water is gorgeous color, and its neat to see the seaweed and rock formations. Overall a cute spot to check out.

A short hike that is about 2 miles round trip along the coast line. I call it a "hike" but it's…read moremore like a walk. Flat and on a dedicated path that is very easy. You also walk by some ocean front houses. The views were spectacular and it was very sparse as far as other "hikers" on a January weekday. There is a spot at the end of the trail where the Carmel River meets the Ocean.

Easter sunday 2025, we visited carmel beach carmel, calif…read more it was the most beautiful drive one way along the ocean the white sands the peaceful energy.. i would highly recommend visiting carmel for the ocean views.. there is parking near the entrance and restrooms a bit crowded weekends .. but the drive along to the other end is amazing also available parking at the end it's slower driving one way only and able to enjoy the views . I have many memories as a young teen going to carmel and i'm glad we chose carmel for easter sunday was an amazing peaceful drive. pet friendly place as well. highly recommend this beach as the sand seems softer and looks easier for lounging on a sunny day i've included photos videos to enjoy

A calm, peaceful and clean beach. It's located next to the…read morepier - which has good food places. The parking near the beach is paid and has a relatively clean washroom.

A very beautiful beach where my partner and I went towards the end of the day to catch the sunset…read more It ended up being quite foggy - so, the views far off into the ocean were very difficult . We were still able to appreciate the beach - and were even surprised to see some California Sea Lions close to the shore. Overall, a beautiful beach with literally power soft sand!

From our favorite hotel at The Victorian Inn, Joe K and I will sometimes walk to the trails along…read morethe ocean that draw you in towards the Pacific Grove Shoreline Parkway Marine Refuge. One of the first places we enter, is the Hopkins State Marine Reserve. This is a Stanford University Research Center where students have hands on study and lab sessions. The center is gated with signs posted to not disturb this protected habitat. But you are still able to access the provided look out points behind a cyclone fence to watch the sea lions and birds from a distance. We managed to take some long distance photos that surprisingly came out OK. This marine station, (consisting of several buildings), is located near a beautiful sandy beach cove and rocky shore lines, with spectacular crashing waves. And it looks like an ideal place for the serious researcher, undergraduate, and graduate marine biologists. But you don't have to be a scientist to enjoy mother nature all around the area! Besides being a place of education, you can't beat the breath taking views and just watching the seals do what they do best - snoozing! Bird watching is also one of our favorite things to do. It's a good thing we bring along spotting scopes whenever we stop here! https://hopkinsmarinestation.stanford.edu/

Who doesn't want to be a harbor seal? You get to swim all day, take a daily afternoon nap with your…read morefriends on the beach, and from the looks of their bellies they don't skip too many meals. You can see the harbor seals at nap time in a sheltered cove right next door to the Monterey Bay Aquarium along Ocean View Blvd. at the Pacific Grove-Monterey city line. Park your car and walk along the Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail. To read more about the Hopkins Marine Station: http://www-marine.stanford.edu/history.htm

Beautiful beach with soft sand, and great wind in the air. They have a small parking lot with lots…read moreof space. The trail is along the beach and it's nice to walk along. My family loved this semi secluded beach far from the tourist sites.

This beach is beautiful and not crowded. The parking is very limited. I don't like the porta potty…read morebecause it's very dirty and no where to wash your hands.

Magical space next to Pebble Beach where land meets the sea. A boardwalk allow you to walk between…read morethe spaces. Great place for sunsets and watching the waves crash into the rocks.

So, so pretty. My girls loved exploring the tide pools and finding baby hermit crabs. It's…read moredefinitely NOT a swimming or sand beach, but it's a great place to relax and enjoy nature.

Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area was established in 2007 along the southern…read morecoastline of the Monterey Bay. This is the smallest of the four reserves that make up the "Monterey National Marine Sanctuary " and sits directly off shore from the "Monterey Aquarium and Cannery Row."In an effort to protect all marine resources along much of California's Coastline, the Department of Fish and Game enacted "Marine Life Protection Act . This act prohibits anyone from taking any marine resources from these protected area's, except the recreational taking of fin-fish by hook and line or commercial taking of kelp under certain conditions .This reserve lies right next to "Lovers Point State Marine Reserve" and is the Eastern most of the four protected area's. The reserve was named after "Edward Flanders Robb Ricketts" who owned and operated "Pacific Biological Laboratories "in Monterey. He was an marine biologist , a writer, an ecologist, best friends with "John Steinbeck" and even collaborated with Steinbeck on a few of his novels. So cool ! Enjoy!

Awesome place for scuba diving. Crystal clear water with lots of sea life. Also fab place for…read morekayaking. Great picture taking area for mature photos. Lots of beautiful rocks and crystal clear deep blue ocean Next to Cannery Row home of many fine hotel and lots of restaurants and souvenir shops.

Stop #4 of the 17-mile drive. This picturesque location offers stunning views of restless waters…read moreamidst rugged rocks peeking out from the ocean. This is one of the roughest parts of the water along this coastline, and is known to be the resting place of several ships that crashed along these shores. A testament to the power of mother nature, and a captivating memory against the backdrop of turbulent seas. There are some limited parking spots available here along the turn-in. Although we've seen some people park along the road as well and simply walk over.

Stop 4 on the 17 mile drive, and this was my favorite stop on our drive. Aptly named the Restless…read moreSea, this was probably the most active we saw the ocean in all the stops. The waves seemed to be pounding in from both sides is an apparent show of chaos. That being said, it was still somehow calming and peaceful here - standing at the edge and just watching the ocean. There was a light breeze, and I spent more time here than I intended to. So beautiful. Definitely plan to stop here while exploring Pebble Beach. It will easily become one of your favorite stops on the journey.