Bixby Bridge. You are absolutely correct. I was thinking in terms of how far it is from Monterey when I gave my directions. Sorry about that.

Whether or not 17-mile drive is worth the time depends on what your interests are. Personally I am in the it's-a-waste-of-time camp because I don't like golf and there are miles beautiful coastline outside of 17 mile drive which you can drive past for free. Other people really like it though.

17 mile drive - I don't get it: I don't like golf, ergo I don't like what Robert Louis Stevenson called the greatest meeting of land and sea God ever created. (I paraphrase lest the literary critics correct one or two words) That is somewhat akin to saying I don't like horseracing therefore I don't like Del Mar. I can't disqualify a place of incredible beauty because it happens to have some beautiful golf courses and beautiful homes located in a magnificent setting. I guess that is what makes the world go round.

If I had limited time and I had to choose I would take a visit to Point Lobos and extra time south of Carmel over driving the 17 mile drive. Not knocking anyone else's recommendations, just stating my preference.

When the subject of 17 mile drive came up before, I was told it USED to be much more beautiful, but that the area is very over-developed now.

We did not find the scenery worth the driving through "fancy" neighborhoods, which left us cold. I'm not saying other people wouldn't enjoy it, I'd just like to alert people about what we saw on the drive.

I doubt Robert Louis Stevenson was talking about the area as it is today. I would save the superlatives for Yosemite, or Point Lobos, or coastal Maine, or lots of other places I HAVE enjoyed.

It isn't that I don't think 17 mile drive is beautiful - it is, but there are MILES of beautiful coastline in that area and given a finite amount of time in the area, it isn't something that *I* would choose. As I said - it all depends on a person's priorities.

I can't believe that I forgot to include the Monterey Bay Aquarium! It is definitely a must.

I do like JohnHamilton's itinerary. However I would part company on his choices of where to stay. The Marriot and Doubletree are fine although I recall staying at the Doubletree once in hot weather (unlikely I agree)and there was no airconditioning and the room was quite warm. My choices in Monterey would be either the Hotel Pacific or the Monterey Plaza. I do agree with Montrio as a nice place to eat and also recommend Roy's for lunch and the Monterey Cafe for breakfast.
Pacific Grove with a B&B such as the Martine or Gosby would be nice. Carmel might be my choice of location and would consider Mission Ranch or La Playa or the Cypress Inn.

If you're staying downtown Monterey, Cibo's is wonderful for Italian. They have live bandsTuesday through Saturdays nights and it's always something different, reggae, jazz, rock n roll, always good, always fun. I also like staying at the Pine Inn (prices start around $140.00) downtown Carmel... free parking and you can walk to the beach and all over town!