All the guide books for Monterey suggest you take this fascinating and beautiful coastal drive from Monterey to Carmel.
We set of towards the start of the route but the overcast sky diverted us to a Starbucks for 45 minutes. The low clouds remained and we started the journey, paying our $12.50 entrance fee.
We received a brochure describing the various stopping points on the way. For example Spanish Bay started the journey and once some Spaniards had landed here. The 17 Mile drive had many such places.
You could get out of the car and look around, take picture and then return to your vehicle and move onto the next number on the list of car parks.
We escaped and exited the winding road at Carmel. Hunger had made our tummies rumble and we decided to go to a Japanese Restaurant. Helped by our smart phones we selected Sushi Heaven and parked the car nearby.
We arrived at the heavenly sushi place and discovered an empty restaurant. Despite this off putting scene we decided to eat here. Within 5 minutes 4 or 5 other groups of people had entered. We had a nice meal, starters of miso soup, gyoza, and tofu followed by a mixture of different sushi’s.
Carmel is a twee town of tourist and expensive shops. After our meal we wandered around the town. We went in too many shops for my liking. Eventually we bought a t-shirt for Keir.
Back to Monterey avoiding the 17 mile route and stopping firstly at a restaurant to book for tomorrow and then at a shopping centre. Here we bought small presents for the rest of the grand kids and a battery booster for my iPhone. You attach to the iPhones magnetic back so it doesn’t need a cable.
All this done we arrived back at Hilby Avenue and settled in for the evening. We watched an Adam recommended called The Order with Jude Law based on true Events from the 1980’s about a group of right wing fanatics who commit robberies and terrorism. Quite good.