Pebble Beach, CA

Our first stop today was the DIY dog wash facility.  This was a good one, coin operated like a car wash, towels and waterproof apron provided, even a hair dryer.  

While Trish did the dogs, I did Safeway and ACE.

Next on the schedule was one of the most scenic drives anywhere, 17 Mile Drive.  It’s a toll road, costs $10, which is reimbursed if you eat at one of designated restaurants along the route.  Above pix taken at one of the numerous parking/viewing areas.  All the following pix were taken on the drive.  

The Lone Cypress, 250 years old, is the official Pebble Beach symbol.

Note sign in upper right in picture below. 

Strolling along the row of shops en route to Pebble Beach Lodge, 

lovely bougainvillea and hanging flower baskets.

The Pebble Beach golf course has been famous forever it seems, has hosted the US Open 5 times, and is rated the best course in the USA by Golf Digest.  We had lunch at the Pebble Beach Lodge Restaurant, sitting on the patio directly in front of the 18^th hole.  My Sierra Nevada Pale Ale cost $10, had purchased a ½ case of the same stuff at Safeway earlier in the day for $14.  Location, location, location.

The 18th hole.

It’s a spendy course, of course.  Some would-be players might be teed off by the green fees: $495 + cart, certainly not my cup of tea.  But, they have a fantastic deal if you stay in an ocean view room at the Lodge for a mere $1030 per night (plus taxes and fees): you don’t have to pay extra for the cart!  Wow!  Who can turn down a bargain like that?   But wait, there’s more: they allow dogs – at only $70 per dog/night!  Bring your entire dog sled team and stay a week or two, what the hell. 

Turning 180 degrees from the 18th hole picture above, you see Pebble Beach Lodge, built in 1919.

Our lunch table was under the black umbrella on the far right.