Tag Archives: Carmel-by-the-Sea

17-Mile Drive; Pebble Beach; Carmel Mission (Elks Lodge 522 – San Jose, CA)

Friday morning we drove over to my cousin Phil’s house in San Jose and transferred ourselves to his car for another fun-filled tourist day of sight-seeing.  But this time we have a local tour-guide (my cousin Phil)!

IMG_5122

We drove south on 101 towards Carmel.  But along the way, we stopped in Monterey for lunch at the Turn 12 Bar & Grill.

IMG_5128

This place had a cool motor-sports vibe and motorcycle motif going on.  Their website says it is designed to pay homage to Laguna Seca Raceways 11 turns.  I liked it.  And lunch was good too!

IMG_5124

IMG_5127

IMG_5126

IMG_5125

We did a short drive through Monterey and headed over to the north entrance to 17-Mile Drive.

IMG_5129

17-Mile Drive (←link) 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.

17-mile-map
Red arrow depicts north entrance where we paid our $10 for the privilege of going down 17-Mile Drive.

We drove south along the coastline and finished in Carmel.  We didn’t do the inner coastal road.  Maybe another time…

Here’s another good map that I found on a “Pin It” site courtesy of hotelcaliforniablog.com.  This map depicts most of the scenic viewpoints we stopped at.

17miledrivemap

Follow along for a picture tour…

IMG_5133

IMG_5134

IMG_5136
Stilla and Phil getting out of the car. We did this many times throughout the day as we stopped at numerous viewpoints along 17-Mile Drive.
IMG_5135
My cousin Phil poses on the beach with Stilla.

IMG_5138

IMG_5139

IMG_5140

IMG_5148
Another rare photograph of David & Stilla in a picture together.

IMG_5152

IMG_5153

IMG_5154

IMG_5161

IMG_5166

IMG_5168

IMG_5169

It appeared that seals or sea-lions took over one half of the island rock (below) and birds took over the other half.  So much for desegregation in California, eh? 🙂

IMG_5176

IMG_5177

IMG_5178

IMG_5180

IMG_5182

IMG_5188

IMG_5190

IMG_5193

IMG_5194

IMG_5196

IMG_5146

IMG_5147

IMG_5197

IMG_5200

IMG_5201

IMG_5202

Wonder how much these homes cost!?!

IMG_5205

IMG_5206

IMG_5208

IMG_5209

IMG_5215

IMG_5217

IMG_5224

IMG_5228

IMG_5229

IMG_5239

IMG_5235

IMG_5241

IMG_5244

IMG_5247

IMG_5250

IMG_5252

IMG_5253

IMG_5255

IMG_5257

IMG_5259

IMG_5261

IMG_5263

IMG_5262

IMG_5265

IMG_5266

IMG_5271

IMG_5273

IMG_5275

IMG_5276

IMG_5277

IMG_5279

The Ghost Tree.

IMG_5283

IMG_5282

IMG_5285

IMG_5288

IMG_5289

IMG_5291

IMG_5292

IMG_5293

IMG_5295

IMG_5296

IMG_5298

IMG_5300

IMG_5302

IMG_5303

IMG_5306

IMG_5308

17-mile-map1

We finally got to the south end of 17-Mile Drive (see arrow in pic above) and drove over to the Carmel Mission.

IMG_5310

Click HERE for more info on the mission from my good friend Wikipedia®.

IMG_5311

We had to pay a $6.50 entrance fee that helps support the Mission.

IMG_5354

IMG_5312

IMG_5313

IMG_5314

IMG_5315

IMG_5316

IMG_5318

IMG_5320

IMG_5321

IMG_5322

IMG_5323

IMG_5324

IMG_5325

IMG_5326

IMG_5327

IMG_5328

IMG_5329

IMG_5330

IMG_5331

IMG_5332

IMG_5333

IMG_5334

IMG_5335

IMG_5336

IMG_5337

IMG_5339

IMG_5340

IMG_5341

IMG_5342

IMG_5343

IMG_5344

IMG_5345

IMG_5346

IMG_5355

IMG_5347

IMG_5348

IMG_5349

IMG_5350

IMG_5352

IMG_5353

IMG_5356

IMG_5357

IMG_5360

IMG_5375

IMG_5377

We then drove through the Mission Ranch Hotel & Restaurant (←link) located next to the Mission Church.  It is reportedly owned by actor Clint Eastwood.

IMG_5363

IMG_5364

IMG_5368

Notice the tree growing through the porch roof on the Mission Ranch guest house (below).

IMG_5370

IMG_5373

After our tour of Carmel Mission and the Mission Ranch, we did a drive-by of the beach and scenic downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea:

IMG_5381

IMG_5382

IMG_5383

IMG_5385

When we got back to San Jose, Phil treated us to a great dinner at a favorite pizzeria he frequents often.  Willow Street Wood-Fired Pizza in Willow Glen.

IMG_5388

IMG_5389

IMG_5390

IMG_5391

Thanks for a great day Phil!

Stay tuned because on Saturday, Beth & Keith are coming over to the lodge to pick us up for another fun-filled day of sight-seeing…