Family Activities in Big Sur, Pebble Beach & Carmel
17 Mile drive
We experienced the 17 mile drive bright and early our first morning. Claire was awake and ready to party at 4am, having not yet shaken the jet lag. Normally, an early car ride is not my cup of tea, but we decided to pile in, and I'm so glad we did! Here are some tips if you also want to see the sights early.
- Leave around 6am (we did this in October, before day lights savings).
- Head inland first, and follow the route so that you eventually head south on the 17 mile drive (if you’re staying at the Lodge at Pebble Beach, you want to first head right out of the grounds, towards Carmel. Keep following signs for the 17 mile drive. It’s a loop).
- By the time you reach the famous lookouts for Cyprus Point, the lighting will be perfect (around 7 am) and the tour buses will be far behind you!
- Note: If you are not staying at one of the hotels located within the 17 Mile Loop, there is a $10.50 entrance fee/vehicle.
We experienced the 17 mile drive bright and early our first morning. Claire was awake and ready to party at 4am, having not yet shaken the jet lag. Normally, an early car ride is not my cup of tea, but we decided to pile in, and I'm so glad we did! Here are some tips if you also want to see the sights early.
- Leave around 6am (we did this in October, before day lights savings).
- Head inland first, and follow the route so that you eventually head south on the 17 mile drive (if you’re staying at the Lodge at Pebble Beach, you want to first head right out of the grounds, towards Carmel. Keep following signs for the 17 mile drive. It’s a loop).
- By the time you reach the famous lookouts for Cyprus Point, the lighting will be perfect (around 7 am) and the tour buses will be far behind you!
- Note: If you are not staying at one of the hotels located within the 17 Mile Loop, there is a $10.50 entrance fee/vehicle.
Drive South on Highway 1
The only way to see the beauty of Big Sur is to hop in the car for nap time and head south on the PCH. This stretch of highway is famous for being one of the most breathtaking road trips in the world! There are plenty of places to stop along the way for a quick hike or walk. You won't want to miss Bixby Bridge, or McWay Falls!
Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is designed to transport you to the world under the sea. A visitor's experience isn't solely about viewing animals from above, or through tanks; it's about interaction with wildlife, and exploration of different types of environments: streams, ocean-life, bays, the arctic, the deep sea, and the dark sea. You don't view all of the habitats from above -- some you may view them from the side, or even from below. There's something pretty shocking about walking into a room and looking up to see hundreds of jellyfish swimming above your head.
During our first Monterey visit, Claire was a little too young to appreciate the wow-factor of this aquarium (and at $50/ticket for anyone aged 3+, I was hesitant to go). However, when Claire was 17 months for trip #2, I splurged for the ticket. It was definitely worth it this time around -- just to see her run around with a smile on her face and that look of exploration in her eyes made it a magical day. Did she understand the penguin feeding show? Nope. Did she love it? Yup. Did she show any interest in the animals in the tank? Not really. Did she still gaze around in wonder. Yes.
If you have time at the end of your visit, make a stop to the gift shop. They have wonderful toys, and books, and even great clothing!
Explore Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for art galleries, wine, and boutique shopping. Hey...it's never too early to start toddler art education, right?
I was on the hunt for some artwork and Claire was learning her colors -- perfect combination! I'll be honest, it wasn't the most successful art expedition for obvious toddler reasons, but we had a lot of laughs and giggles. One art gallery nervously eyes Claire's curious fingers. Another owner looked at us nervously as Claire ran back and forth across the gallery threshold for 25 minutes. Alas, it was a no-go on the art, but a gold mine for funny photos, sightings of storybook architecture, and exploration of new shops. Later, we checked out Carmel Beach, a 5 minute walking distance from downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Golf Pebble Beach
Tee-time
If you’ve trekked out to Pebble Beach, chances are you, or someone you love, has a dream to fulfill: playing a round of 18 holes on this iconic course. I am not a golfer myself, but my husband checked this one off his bucket list finally! I asked him to pass along some tips for any golf readers out there. In short, he called the course, “Eye candy for a golfer,” and “Everything [he] imagined.” (He made sure I typed those exact words).
Niall’s tips-
- The bulk of the holes overlook the Pacific Ocean, and “the course is everything you see on TV.” In short, it lived up to a lifetime of expectations.
- Listen to the caddies -- they are adept at reading the greens.
- “I birdied the famous 18 to shoot a 79.” (Translation for non-golfers not available).
- Use the company Ship Sticks to transport golf clubs cross country. They offer door to door service and are excellent to work with.
- Leave plenty of time for warming up! There is a shuttle bus to transport guests to/from the range, but it is 15 minutes away.
- The driving range has everything a golfer needs available on site, and includes multiple short game areas. Head back after a round to “tinker” with your wedges.
- After your round is complete, enjoy a drink at the "19th hole," The Tap Room.
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