Spent a day visiting the Monterey/Carmel area, which is less than a 90 minute drive from San Jose. It's a nice drive down Highway 101, a short drive on Highway 156 though strawberry and raspberry farms toward the coast, and then a drive on Highway 1 along the ocean. It's wonderful to take in ocean views - especially on a clear day.



Monterey is a small town on the coast with mild climate, which attracts a lot of tourists - a lot of great views, fishing, whale watching, interesting shops, restaurants, and a great aquarium. Because it was still early May it wasn't very crowded, and thus it was very relaxing.



The biking and walking paths along the coast in Pacific Grove is very relaxing, too. The area between the coast and the road is covered with delosperma (ice plant) which form carpets of hot pink blossoms! It was a bit too early in the season to see them in their full glory.

We enjoyed a drive, with frequent photo stops, along the coast on Sunset Blvd. and Ocean View Drive.



We returned to Monterey and had leisurely lunch at a restaurant at the Fisherman's Warf. After a stroll around the warf, we drove on the "17-mile Drive" toward Pebble Beach, sneering at excessive consumption displayed as huge mansions along the drive. It looked as if the "Lone Cypress" had lost a branch, but it could be my imagination.



At Pebble Beach Golf Links there were a lot activities taking place in preparation for the next month's US Open. We visited the Lodge. Here's a view of the 18th hole from the Lodge.



After taking in the sights at Pebble Beach, we left to visit Carmel. Here's a shot of beautiful Carmel Beach.



We then got on Highway 1 to head back to San Jose.