California's 17-Mile Drive captures natural elegance of Pebble Beach

2/22/2012

There's a reason the Concous d'Elegance is held in Pebble Beach each year. This small private community in Monterey, California, is one of the most scenic destinations on the Pacific state's coastline, and there's one road in particular that stands out in Pebble Beach.

A private road, dubbed 17-Mile Drive, runs along the Monterey Peninsula and belongs to the exclusive Pebble Beach golf community. There is a $9 entry fee to access the road, but this small price pales in comparison to the priceless sights that await you. The road, which is actually much shorter than its name suggests (less than 10 miles long), winds along the cliffs, through the Del Monte Forest and past a number of beautiful sights, according to Travel and Leisure. The Lone Cypress is perhaps the most iconic landmark along the road, standing proud for more than 250 years.

If you decide to put this trip on the back burner, you may want to wait until August to visit Pebble Beach. The third weekend of the month is when the Concours d'Elegance is held, and you might catch a glimpse of some of the 200 collectible cars and motorcycles that head to the golf course each year to be proudly displayed. General admission tickets to the event cost upwards of $200, so you may want to shell out $9 to access the private road and enjoy your coastal drive.