California Coast

My introduction to the Pacific Ocean, in Carmel-by-the-Sea. These birds seem to think it's no big deal.


Kseniya approaches the chilly beast.


The 17-Mile Drive is a winding stretch between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pacific Grove. The 10 mile road (yup) snakes its way through a very expensive neighborhood (which your $9.50-per-car helps to maintain) and offers very few views for the first seven miles or so. The last few are a lot more interesting though, with some beautiful sights. The most famous is probably the Lone Cypress.

Bird Rock is more impressive, but harder to photograph without a good zoom. It's a small, rocky island covered with birds and sunning sea lions. The island is a good distance from the mainland, but the animals can be easily made out with a pair of binoculars or one of the pay telescopes set up on the shore. You can also clearly hear the sea lions' barking, and with the binoculars you can occasionally figure out which one's making all the fuss.




Improbable-looking rock pile at Spanish Bay.


At the end of 17-Mile Drive you can turn onto Sunset Drive, which runs along the coast of Pacific Grove and offers views that are less dramatic, but which are absolutely free and very serene in the evening light.


The result of water vs. rock at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz.