Pacific Grove

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Top 10 attractions in Pacific Grove

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17 Mile Dr
No. 11 of Fall Viewing Attractions in California

17 Mile Dr

5.8
4.4/5
291 reviews
17 Mile Dr is a coastal scenic road that runs through the private coastal community of Pebble Beach, named for its total length of approx. 17 miles. On one side of the road are the rolling pine forests and Monterey cypress of the Del Monte Forest, and on the other is the rocky coastline of the Pacific Ocean, with over 10 viewpoints along the way. The iconic view of this scenic route is The Lone Cypress, a Monterey cypress that has grown alone on a granite rock for approx. two and a half centuries. It has long been considered the symbol of Pebble Beach and is a highly popular photo spot along the entire route. Bird Rock is home to flocks of seabirds, sea lions, and harbor seals all year round. The rocks are stained white by years of bird droppings, making it a lively place. In the Seal Rock area, you can often see seals lazily basking in the sun. Spanish Bay features an open beach, a rarity along the route, where visitors stack smooth pebbles into small towers. At sunset, a bagpiper plays by the sea, a tradition that has continued for decades. China Rock holds the history of Chinese fishermen who sought shelter and settled there, while Ghost Tree has become a unique photography subject with its twisted, bleached trunk. There are many attractions along the way. The scenic route also passes through several championship-level golf courses, including the prestigious Pebble Beach Golf Links.Del Monte Forest · 3km from Pacific Grove
Monterey Bay Aquarium
No. 14 of Family-friendly Attractions in California

Monterey Bay Aquarium

5.5
4.5/5
203 reviews
Monterey Bay Aquarium is built on the site of a former sardine cannery on the shores of Monterey Bay and has focused on the marine ecology of this bay since it opened. What makes it special is that the water for the exhibit tanks is pumped directly from the bay, bringing many fish, shellfish, and seaweed into the aquarium along with the seawater. The creatures in the exhibits live in the actual seawater of the bay, so what you see is not just a generic collection of marine animals, but the ecological landscape of the bay itself outside the window. Several permanent exhibits in the aquarium each have their signature highlights: in the three-story Kelp Forest, giant kelp grows at a rate visible to the naked eye, and schools of fish weave through the swaying kelp; the Open Sea exhibit holds over a million gallons of water, where green sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, schools of Pacific sardines, and round, stout ocean sunfish cruise through the large blue tank;Monterey BayHabitats exhibit recreates different environments such as sandy sea floors, shale reefs, and wharf pilings, where sevengill sharks, rays, and giant sea bass appear, while the nearby touch pools, surge channels, and walk-through aviary are especially suitable for family-friendly experiences. The Sea Otter exhibit is home to southern sea otters that were rescued and could not be released back into the wild; they also take on the task of caring for stranded pups, and the feeding and training demonstration sessions are very popular, with viewing windows on the first floor where you can see them rolling flexibly underwater. The deep-sea exhibit relies on the adjacent Monterey Canyon to bring rarely seen deep-sea creatures into the aquarium, with giant isopods, Japanese spider crabs, and iridescent comb jellies as residents; jellyfish husbandry is also a traditional strength of this aquarium. The seaside deck faces the bay, offering opportunities to encounter wild sea otters and seals.Monterey · 1.3km from Pacific Grove
CA-1
2026 Americas 50 - Night Attractions

CA-1

6.7
4.8/5
499 reviews
CA-1 is a highly iconic coastal self-drive route on the West Coast of the United States, stretching over 1,000 km along the Pacific coastline and connecting coastal towns from the San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey, Big Sur, San Simeon, and Morro Bay all the way to Los Angeles. Its highlight is concentrated in the Big Sur section between Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and San Simeon: the road winds along steep cliffs, with the surging Pacific Ocean on one side and mountains and redwood forests on the other. There are many scenic parking areas along the way where you can pull over at any time to enjoy the sea breeze and watch the waves crash against the cliffs. There are several highly recognizable scenes along this section: the Bixby Bridge, which spans the canyon, is an elegantly designed concrete arch bridge, and there are almost always vehicles parked at the bridgehead for photos; McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park drops directly from the cliff top onto the beach in the cove, making it a rare beach waterfall in California; the sand at Pfeiffer Beach has a faint purple hue due to the weathering of manganese garnet in the cliffs; further south in the San Simeon area, groups of northern elephant seals can be seen sunbathing on the beach year-round, and you can also visit Hearst Castle on the mountain nearby. The Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey at the northern end and the town of Carmel-By-The-Sea also have their own unique charm.Monterey County · 20.3km from Pacific Grove

Experiences you can't miss in Pacific Grove

Featured Culture & history in Pacific Grove

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San Jose Audio Tour: Innovation, Icons & Legends of Downtown
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Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
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20% off
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FromAED 21.29AED 26.62
Highway 1, Bixby Bridge, Stanford & Apple Park Day Tour from San Francisco
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FromAED 564.00
[San Francisco] Stanford 2-hour detailed guide | includes Hoover Tower admission ticket
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FromAED 367.09
Mist, Mayhem & Murder: Monterey Ghost Tours
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4.2/5
· 5 reviews
Duration: 1 hr
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5% off
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FromAED 83.46AED 87.86

Featured Outdoor & sports in Pacific Grove

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Monterey: 17-Mile Drive Guided E-Bike Tour
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5.0/5
· 9 reviews
Duration: 3 hrs
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FromAED 274.73AED 289.19
San Francisco best tour ② | Stanford university + Silicon valley + Carmel-by-the-Sea + Big sur group day tour
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FromAED 551.55
Redwood Forest Steam Train and Santa Cruz Coast Day Tour
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Duration: 6 hrs
English
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FromAED 839.46
1-day tour of CA-1, 17 Mile Dr and Carmel Beach in San Francisco
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Duration: 10 hrs
English
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FromAED 551.55
1-day tour to Monterey Peninsula in small group
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FromAED 527.03

Featured Day tours in Pacific Grove

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Monterey and 17 Mile Drive: Half-Day Electric Bike Rental
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4.9/5
· 37 reviews
Duration: 4 hrs
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25 consecutive positive reviews
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FromAED 195.20AED 205.48
Monterey: Tide Pooling Tour with Naturalist Guide
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Free cancellation
5% off
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FromAED 202.73AED 213.4
BEST of Monterey Peninsula & Carmel-by-the-Sea Small Group Tour
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Duration: 8.3 hrs
English
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FromAED 433.40

Featured Nature & wildlife in Pacific Grove

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Whale Watching Tour From Monterey
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4.9/5
· 334 reviews· 40 booked
Duration: 210 mins
English
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97 consecutive positive reviews
FromAED 275.47
3-Hour Whale Watching Tour from Monterey
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4.8/5
· 69 reviews
Duration: 3 hrs
English
Free cancellation
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95.7% of travelers recommend
FromAED 275.47
Monterey Bay: Whale Watching Tour
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4.9/5
· 286 reviews
Duration: 3–4 hrs
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91 consecutive positive reviews
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FromAED 261.44AED 275.21
Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Tour
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4.9/5
· 152 reviews
Duration: 90 mins
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97.4% of travelers recommend
FromAED 165.28
Monterey Bay Whale Watching
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Duration: 2–3 hrs
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FromAED 256.92
Pacific Grove Today's weatherMostly cloudy 12-18℃
Pacific Grove weather for the next 2 days11/1: 11-19℃, 11/2: 10-19℃

Free things to do in Pacific Grove

What travellers say about Pacific Grove

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Apple17 July 2025
5.0
The 17-mile toll road is highly recommended. It costs about $12 and includes Bird Rock, a stunning private residence, a golf course, and a sapphire blue coastline. Every time you visit a photo spot, you will be amazed.

17 Mile Dr

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_TI***vd9 March 2024
5.0
First purchase on here and the ticket sounded almost too good to be true. Took my chance on them, and they worked without issue. Got scanned into the aquarium and had a blast with the kiddo. Took a family of 5 for the price of 2 people. Very good deal. Will buy from again.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

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DEAR张小球23 April 2020
5.0
This is a famous scenic spot located 17 kilometers from Highway 1. There are many places to play around. The beach is very beautiful. Many people play in the water and sunbathe here. Although the sun is a little strong, the scenery is very good.

Pebble Beach

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zhulei83123029 June 2020
3.0
This place makes people feel relaxed and happy, mainly because there are relatively few people, and the entire pier is filled with all kinds of small boats, which makes people feel comfortable and relaxed. If you are interested, you can charter a boat to go out to sea.

Old Fisherman's Wharf

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YoYo_1I8Q7O5O1 May 2026
5.0
Driving along California's Highway 1, my hands were aching from gripping the wheel for so long. The coastal section was winding and twisting, with waves crashing white against the cliffs below. I stopped by the roadside to watch the seals; those lazy guys just rolled on their backs, not moving an inch. The Big Sur Bridge was quite photogenic, but I was too busy watching the road to cross it. We kept stopping and starting, turning into every viewpoint we saw to enjoy the breeze. Just as the gas tank was almost empty, we arrived in town; a burger and a Coke were the perfect comfort food.

CA-1

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亮亮7 February 2020
4.0
There is a huge visual difference between the excitement of chasing whales in the sea and the sea lions living comfortably on the shore. Their laziness makes you feel as if time is about to stop and does not make you feel excited.

Discovery Whale Watch

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雪3飞who17 February 2020
5.0
Recommended index: Just go to see a lonely cypress tree, which is said to be more than 200 years old, and is considered the symbol of 17 Mile Bay. The lonely cypress tree quietly watches the tides, the clouds, and the people coming and going... Stay here for 30 minutes to take pictures and feel that life is enough.

Lone Cypress

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quqky29 June 2020
3.0
It's a very comfortable place. You can walk along the simple path built on the edge of the cliff. You can take a walk and feel the sea breeze. You can see some marine animals. They jump on the rocks to bask in the sun. It feels very natural here.

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

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魔女锦鲤9 September 2019
4.0
Pebble Beach Golf Links, first built in 1919, was rated as the best golf course in the United States by the American magazine Golf Digest and is also known as one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. The course has hosted many of the world's most famous golf events, including the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and five U.S. Open Championships. In addition to enjoying golf games, the scenery here is also very beautiful, with blue sky, blue sea, and green grass. It is a great place for leisure and vacation.

Pebble Beach Golf Links

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吴青芸25 August 2019
4.0
Lover's Point Park is located on the 17-Mile Drive, which is known as the world's most beautiful 17-mile coastline and is a private property. In 1880, the Del Monte Hotel opened, providing travelers with horse-drawn carriages on a scenic gravel road around the Monterey Peninsula and leading to the Del Monte Forest. This is the origin of the "17-Mile Drive".

Lovers Point Park

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What are the must-do things in Pacific Grove?

Don't miss these attractions in Pacific Grove: 17 Mile Dr, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Pebble Beach. If you like Culture & history, try Silicon Valley tech park 1-day tour (departing from San Francisco): visit the Computer History Museum. If you enjoy Outdoor & sports, try Monterey: 17-Mile Drive Guided E-Bike Tour.

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include San Francisco, Monterey, 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea Day Trip | Small Group Tour (No More Than 12 People), 1-day tour to 17 Mile Dr, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Beach and Lovers Point Park in the US, and Monterey and 17 Mile Drive: Half-Day Electric Bike Rental. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of 31 October 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Pacific Grove is around AED 195.2 – AED 584.64. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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