Summary
When you think of the Northern California coast, chances are the images that come to mind are something like this: long, sandy coves fringed with deep-green cypress trees; craggy, rocky cliffs with waves crashing below; road trip–ready highways along the Pacific, dotted with sprawling golf resorts featuring destination restaurants. All of those things come to life on the Monterey Peninsula, home to Pebble Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Although it’s a relatively small area with a combined population of around 30,000, the towns offer more than enough to fill up several weekend trips, featuring a thriving downtown district, miles of beachfront, and some of the most highly ranked hotels in the country.
Here is our guide to the essential places to see and things to do that make this slice of California so special.
Where to Stay
Inn at Spanish Bay
GoTravelDaily readers loved this hotel so much that it wound up on the 2021 World’s Best Awards list for the Top Resorts in California. Situated on the 18-hole golf course The Links at Spanish Bay, the property has the feel of a Scottish lodge — especially when the ocean mist rolls in at cocktail hour as the resident bagpipe player (in full Highland dress) performs on the green. Its rooms, meanwhile, have a light, neutral design that complements the natural surroundings, and each room, regardless of the category, comes with a gas fireplace. The main restaurant, Roy’s, is an area favorite for its take on Hawaiian-fusion cuisine.
Where to Eat
Grasings
In the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s charming downtown area, Grasings is known for its award-winning wine list and hearty twists on classic dishes like the fresh farm-raised abalone served in Meunière style with fennel risotto. On warmer evenings, reserve a table on the patio for some excellent street-side people-watching.
Carmel Grill House
Inspired by the countries of the Mediterranean, the menu at Carmel Grill House offers dishes that include a seafood pasta with mussels, scallops, and shrimp in a San Marzano tomato sauce, and a white truffle risotto — served in a cozy dining room reminiscent of a trattoria in Tuscany.
Enzo Ristorante
Another Carmel-by-the-Sea standout, Enzo is a contemporary Italian restaurant with bougainvillea-lined patio seating. If the weather is too chilly, guests can enjoy a fireplace-warmed dining room, where they can order plates of homemade gnocchi, lasagna, and ravioli. Lunch offerings include flatbread pizzas served with various toppings such as anchovies, capers, olives, and peperoncino.
What to Do
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Golf and Pebble Beach are synonymous; for diehard players, Pebble Beach Golf Links represents the pinnacle of public courses (Golf Digest ranks it #1). It has hosted six U.S. Opens (more than any other course in the past five decades) and is set to host its seventh in 2027. While making reservations for a round can be challenging, hotel guests at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, The Inn at Spanish Bay, and Casa Palmero receive special privileges.
17-Mile Drive
Although Pebble Beach and Carmel are strongly associated with golf, there is plenty for non-golfers as well. One of the most iconic stretches of road in California can be found here on what’s known as 17-Mile Drive, which traces most of the coastal Monterey Peninsula. Highlights along the way include the Lone Cypress, a 250-year-old tree that has become the symbol of Pebble Beach, as well as Bird Rock, a hangout for sea lions and pelicans.
Carmel Mission Basilica Museum
In 1797, this Roman Catholic church was constructed in the Carmel Valley by the Spanish missionaries who settled in California during the 18th century. It remains one of the best examples of its kind (it’s the only mission in the state with its original bell tower) and offers a valuable glimpse into the history of California under Spanish colonial rule and later, Mexico.
Monterey Classic Car Week and Concours d’Elegance
For fans of vintage cars, there is probably no greater event in the country than the week of automotive happenings that take place every summer on the peninsula. Sponsored largely by Rolex, the schedule of events includes The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering (a garden party–like setting at Quail Lodge & Golf Club that showcases both cars and motorcycles); and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where about 550 vintage cars participate in races and awards for categories like craftsmanship and paddock display.
The crown event, and the most formal during Car Week, is the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Held on the Pebble Beach Golf Links, it’s a gathering of the world’s finest examples of vintage automobiles, many dating back to the 1920s and some worth millions. The event culminates in a best-of-show winner, and past champions have included Ralph Lauren (for his 1930 Mercedes Benz). Monterey Car Week remains one of the busiest weeks on the peninsula. Therefore, preparations should begin promptly.
