Bird Rock
by Ewingjr98
Bird Rock off Pebble Beach is home to three kinds of cormorants and a bunch of those wacky California sea lions. The cormorants nest here as they do on the end of the Coast Guard Wharf in Monterey.
The blue-throated Brandt's cormorants are one of the cormorant breeds that come to Bird rock in the spring to nest. These cormorants live along the west coast from Alaska to southern California with the greatest concentrations around Vancouver, San Francisco, and Monterey. These birds feed by swimming under water to depths of 40 feet to catch small fish. It is said the sea gulls are a major threat to rob the nests, so the birds nest in pairs with one always watching the next.
Bird Rock is also the nickname of the Spyglass Par-3 hole near the rock of the same name.
Bird Rock is hiking distance from Asilomar Beach in Pacific Grove, or you can pay the $9 and cruise along 17 Mile Drive. This is easily one of the busiest spots of the drive, up there with the Lone Cypress and the Pebble Beach Lodge.
17 Mile Drive
by Ewingjr98
I finally got around to seeing 17 Mile Drive. It took an invitation to a friend's house in Pebble Beach so I could enter for free. Since we were on the guest list, the gate guard punched our names in the computer to verify, and he waved us through. We entered through the Pacific Grove Gate and did the coastal route twice. The first time we stopped at the Restless Sea, Point Joe, Bird Rock, and the Lone Cypress, then had lunch at the Tap Room in the Pebble Beach Lodge ($15 hamburgers!). We then cut back through some of the residential areas, past the Robert Louis Stevenson School, and Poppy Hills Golf Course, then stopped at the house for a few hours. When we left, we repeated the drive past Point Joe, Bird Rock, and the Lone Cypress, then exited via the Highway 1 gate. My favorite spot is the Restless Sea where waves come in from two different directions at 90 degree angles to each other. I also liked the view of the "Gingerbread House" which was built in 1944 by Pedro de Lemos and is now owned by the Del Monte Forest Foundation.
I really think 17 Mile Drive is very, very overrated for the price. Sure it is some beautiful scenery, but so are Ocean View Drive in Asilomar Beach, Scenic Drive in Carmel, and Highway 1 in Big Sur. Like to walk? You can walk into Pebble Beach from Asilomar Beach to the north for free, and see all of the same sights. You can also walk in from the south along Carmel Beach. Perhaps the only thing that would be difficult to see by walking is the Lone Cypress (which is supported by steel cables and rock walls). Even better...take a walk in Point Lobos for some far better scenery. The worst thing about 17-Mile Drive? Over at least half the drive, houses block the view of the Ocean, so you might as well be driving through the woods for your $9.
Photos
Entrance to the Pebble Beach Lodge
Forum Posts
17 Mile drive toll
by vonbitch
Will be staying at Pebble Beach golf resort for 3days in October. Just a question regarding the 'toll' into 17 mile drive. Do you have to pay this amount each time you drive in there or can the ticket be used all day ? If you are staying at one of the resorts do you still have to pay the toll? Can someone give me a web site I can contact or if someone knows, would you please let me know.
Thankx
Re: 17 Mile drive toll
by puerto_lover
The web site is: http://www.pebblebeach.com/index.asp
I did the 17 mile drive and watched some golf at the main course and don't think I paid any 'toll' about 10 years back. Maybe the web site can tell you. Anyway as you are staying within the resort of Pebble Beach it would be most unlikely for you to pay any toll.
Re: 17 Mile drive toll
by LoriPori
There is a toll for the 17 mile drive and as of Feb. 2010 it was $9.25 US per day per vehicle.
Re: 17 Mile drive toll
by Odinnthor
Yes, indeed the charge is no established. Organized group tours, have paid a fee for a lot longer. Here is my page with all the information you need on the area, with all the websites, including the 17 mile drive. Enjoy.
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/1276e2/b8497/4/
Re: 17 Mile drive toll
by Jamesr3939
If you are staying at a hotel inside 17mile drive you do not pay the fee. We have stayed at both Pebble Beach Lodge and Inn at Spanish Bay and did not pay the fee. Just tell them at the gate you are staying at the Lodge and they will let you in. I don't know if they have a list or just take your word for it, but they have always just waived us through and then when you check in you get a pass to put in your window for future in/outs.
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