17 Mile Drive & Pebble Beach

From the centuries-old Lone Cypress to the wave-scrubbed Pacific coast, 17-Mile Drive is a study in superlatives, a spectacular set of twists on every must-drive list. Smooth, shiny pebbles first piqued the curiosity of turn-of-lastcentury visitors to this sublime meeting of land and sea, but in modern-day Pebble Beach, the swing’s the thing. Expert and neophyte golfers alike travel from every corner of the globe to linger on the links gracing this extraordinary expanse.

The crown jewel of the golf world, Pebble Beach first shimmered with the completion of the Pebble Beach championship golf course in 1918. The Monterey Peninsula Country Club and Cypress Point Golf Club soon followed. More recently, Pebble Beach Resorts developed The Links at The Inn at Spanish Bay.

Almost 60 years ago, celebrated crooner Bing Crosby launched the wintertime tournament known as the Pebble Beach National Pro Am, transforming golf from a fair-weather pursuit into a sport for all seasons. International golfers continue to play the threecourse tournament — at Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Poppy Hills — fondly remembered as “The Crosby.”

When it comes to diversions, this glorious enclave leaves no pebble unturned. Annual events like the Concours d’Elegance attract auto aficionados; polo and equestrian competitions draw plenty of devotees, too. Spectators and participants gather at the historic Lodge at Pebble Beach, the ideal perch upon which to relax, recharge, and revel in tradition and a postcard-perfect view.