17-Mile Drive

The famous 17 Mile Drive links the towns of Monterey, which was California's first capital back in 1821, to Carmel-by-the-Sea, where Clint Eastwood was once mayor. The latter is a small town full of million dollar villas overlooking beautiful white beaches. After a brief visit to the historic buildings of Monterey, like Colton Hall where the first constitution of California was signed and the Customs House, we strolled through the quaint Fisherman's Wharf full of seafood restaurants and stalls for sampling local cuisine like the famous crab sandwiches. From here, we took the 17 Mile Drive along lush green golf courses and pristine beaches.

Between Monterrey and Carmel, California to the south of San Francisco, there's a highway. But, if you have time and money for the toll, it's worth traveling the 17 miles right along the coast and stopping occasionally to enjoy the scenery and a swim (with a wetsuit because the water of the Pacific Ocean in this area is icy all year long). There are many groups of seals and pelicans on the island as you can see in the picture. This is also reportedly where the scene of the Hitchcock movie "The Birds" took place.