In 2011, shortly after our wedding, my wife and I spent close to a month in the western part of the US. We spent a lot of that time in and around San Francisco in California, and we also visited Hawaii, Las Vegas and Grand Canyon. One of highlights of our trip was to the pretty Californian town of Carmel-by-the-Sea and the adjoining 17 Mile Drive. We rented a car from San Francisco for this two day leg of our journey, so getting around was very convenient.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a town in
central California having a population of about 3,700 (as of 2010). It was
founded in 1902. It lies 190 km south of San Francisco. It is known for its
beautiful natural scenery. The town is popular with artists, writers and poets,
and a significant number of its residents are involved in the arts. People from
various arts flocked to Carmel after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The
town first came into recognition in 1770 when the Spanish founded Mission San
Carlos Borromeo de
Carmelo. The region was then a Spanish colony and later it went on to become a part of Mexico, after Mexico got its independence from Spain in 1821. Carmel
became a part of the USA in 1848, after the Mexican – American war.
17 Mile Drive is a scenic road
outside Carmel in the Monterey Peninsula. It has several prominent golf
courses, beaches including the well known Pebble Beach, a forest of cypress
trees, and the famous Lone Cypress along Pebble Beach. The 17 Mile Drive was
laid out by the Pacific Improvement Company in 1892. With the construction of
Hotel Del Mont, the area became a popular tourist destination. The drive goes
through the gated community of Pebble Beach, and non residents have to pay a
toll.
Mission
San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, also known as Mission Carmel, was
initially built in 1797. It was the headquarter of the Alta California mission
s from 1797 to 1833, and was headed by Saint Junipero
Serra. The mission was secularized by
Mexico in 1833, and by 1850, it was almost in ruins.
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| Facade, Mission Carmel |
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| Pulpit, Mission Carmel |
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| High Altar, Mission Carmel |
In 1886, Mission Carmel was transferred to the Diocese of
Monterey. Subsequently, the mission has gone through extensive renovation but
it still has the original bell and bell tower.
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| The Courtyard, Mission Carmel |
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| The Living Room in the Museum, Mission Carmel |
Carmel has fairy-tale like architecture, which can be seen in
charming structures like the Cottage of Sweets and the Tea Room in the town’s market
place.
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| Cottage of Sweets |
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| Tea Room |
United Methodist Church is one of Carmel's well known churches.
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| United Methodist Church |
Pebble
Beach is a community in
Monterey County along the 17 Mile Drive. Pebble Beach is home to an affluent set of residents, and is famous for its golf courses and its beaches.
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| The Lounge, Pebble Beach |
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| Pebble Beach |
The Lone Cypress is a Monterey
cypress tree along Pebble Beach. It lies between two popular golf courses. It
is one of the country’s most photographed trees. The tree dates back to the mid
18th century and is now held up by cables after it was almost destroyed in a fire.
An illustration of the tree was registered as the trademark of the Pebble Beach
Company in 1919.
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| The Lone Cypress, Pebble Beach |
Popular golf courses in Pebble Beach include Peter Hay Golf Course and Poppy Hills Golf Course.
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| Peter Hay Golf Course |
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| Ray Mc Donald Sculpture, Peter Hay Golf Course |
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| Poppy Fields Golf Course |
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| Lounge, Poppy Fields Golf Course |
Along 17 Mile Drive, there are numerous scenic points, many of which have been given a name for easy recognition. These include beaches, forests and rocks that stand out for their natural beauty. Some of the best known attractions are
Crocker Grove,
Point Joe,
Restless Sea,
Shepherd's Knoll and
Spanish Bay.
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| Crocker Grove |
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| Point Joe |
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| Restless Sea |
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| Shepherd's Knoll |
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| Spanish Bay |
The two day trip to Carmel and 17 Mile Drive was well worth it. I have seldom seen the kind of pristine, natural beauty that I have seen in this charming part of California. Carmel Mission, the quaint fairy-tile like cottages of Carmel, and the scenic 17 Mile Drive all stood out as magnificent memories from the visit.
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