Two of the most beautiful stretches of the Monterey coast sit side by side south of Seaside. Here is how to see both in a single day from Bay Breeze Inn.
Early morning: Point Lobos
Leave Seaside early. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is about 22 minutes away, and parking inside the gate fills fast. Walk the Cypress Grove Trail and the South Shore, and look for sea otters and harbor seals in Whalers Cove.
Late morning: Carmel-by-the-Sea
Drive a few minutes north to Carmel for coffee and a walk through the village's courtyards and galleries, then down Ocean Avenue to Carmel Beach.
Afternoon: 17-Mile Drive
Enter 17-Mile Drive from the Carmel gate. A per-vehicle fee is collected at the gate, and you get a map of the numbered stops.
- Stop at the Lone Cypress, the drive's famous landmark.
- See the coast at Bird Rock and Fanshell Overlook.
- Look across to the 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Sunset: Pacific Grove
Exit the drive at the Pacific Grove gate in time for sunset along the shore by Asilomar or Point Pinos, then head back to Seaside.
Tips
- Check the reserve's site (https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=571) and the 17-Mile Drive page (https://www.pebblebeach.com/17-mile-drive/) for current hours, fees, and closures.
- Pack a picnic lunch and water. Dogs are not allowed at Point Lobos.
Staying at Bay Breeze Inn
Back at Bay Breeze Inn, fire up the barbecue in the outdoor picnic area for an easy dinner after a day on the coast. The hotel is off Highway 1 in Seaside, about 15 minutes from 17-Mile Drive. Book direct at baybreezeinn.com.
Photo: Point Lobos September 2012 013 by King of Hearts, via Wikimedia Commons. Original photograph and this image adaptation licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized; website renditions may be cropped and converted in format. This license applies only to the photograph.
