Fairytales Come Alive

Located about three hours south of San Francisco, Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pebble Beach are delightful communities that enchant travelers with a wild Pacific coast, national championship golf courses, unique art galleries and local restaurants, ensuring that your trip to Monterey Peninsula is unforgettable.

The 17-Mile Drive

1. Roy's at Pebble Beach

Have a Hawaiian-fusion lunch at celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi’s signature restaurant. His seafood creations include Roy’s Original Blackened Rare Ahi and Open-Faced Sashimi Tuna and Dynamite Crab BLT. Take a window table at the dining room to observe sweeping ocean views, Pebble Beach Golf Links—home to the 2019 U.S. Open Championship—and some resident bunnies hopping across the manicured lawns. After lunch, follow the world-famous picturesque 17-Mile Drive for multiple overlook stops offering panoramic vistas of the Pacific Ocean, coastal cliffs and white-sand beaches.

2700 17-mile Drive, Pebble Beach, 831.298.5907, www.pebblebeach.com/dining/roys-at-pebble-beach

2. California Market at Pacific’s Edge at Highlands Inn

Watch spectacular sunsets over the ocean through the glass walls of California Market at Pacific’s Edge. The golden glow behind cypresses and crashing waves will linger in your memory as will the delectable dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients from Bellwether Farms Creamery, Swank Farms and Monterey Abalone Company.

120 Highlands Drive, Carmel-by-the- Sea, 831.622.5450, www.hyatt.com

3. Il Grillo

For a real Tuscan meal of made-in-house pasta like Strozzapreti Carbonara, or roasted chicken with lemon, arugula and raisins, complete with a bottle of Chianti, look for the intimate Il Grillo. There are no street numbers, no neon signs, and no billboards in this toy-like town, so make your way through the romantic alleyways lined with old trees and flower beds.

Mission St. Between 4th & 5th, Carmel-by-the-sea, 831.238.9608, www.ilgrillocarmel.com

4. Il Fornaio

Located inside the historic Pine Inn, Il Fornaio will delight you with a changing menu of regional specialties from different parts of Italy. Don’t forget to take pictures in the hotel lobby decorated in posh 19th-century style. Pine Inn was the first hotel built in Carmelby-the-Sea in 1889 on a pine-lined street, and still carries the charm of la Belle Époque.

Ocean Ave. At Monte Verde St., Carmel-by-the-sea, 831.622.5100, Ilfornaio.com/carmel

5. Little Napoli

Enjoy fresh California ingredients on a culinary trip to Italy at Little Napoli, Bistro Italiano. Roasted garlic bulbs with crispy goat cheese, fried artichokes from Castroville, scrumptious lobster and crab ravioli in champagne-lobster reduction and other specialties are paired with proprietary wines at this restaurant created by Chef Rich Pèpe.

Dolores St. & 7th St., Carmel-by-the- Sea, 831.626.6335, Chefpepe.com/ Restaurants/little-napoli

6. Beach House Restaurant

For a substantial meal and fine libations complete with ocean views, head to Beach House, surrounded by parkland and overlooking a sandy beach. The restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows and is located on a promontory called Lover’s Point in the small town of Pacific Grove. Outdoor dining in the Solarium offers up-close views plus protection from the elements.

620 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove, 831.375.2345, Beachhousepg.com

7. Galante Vineyards Tasting Room

Touted as “some of the finest wines in the West,” Galante Vineyards’ estate-grown Malbec, Pinot Noir and Petite Sirah are produced in limited quantities but will delight your palate with a big taste. The vineyards and wines are produced by real California cowboys, whose dedication is reflected in the tasting room paraphernalia.

Dolores St. Between Ocean & 7th Ave., Carmel-by-the-sea, 831.624.3800, Www.galantevineyards.com

8. Shale Canyon Wines Tasting Room

Shale Canyon Wines produces small lots of premium varietals grown in the Arroyo Seco AVA. Their wines showcase the classic character of the grape, the vineyard and appellation of origin. Sustainably farmed and handcrafted, limited production wines include varieties ranging from Cabernet Sauvignon to Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Malbec, Zinfandel and others. The quaint and simply-decorated tasting room ensures the focus remains on the wine.

San Carlos St. Between Ocean & 7th Ave., 831.332.2227, www.shalecanyonwines.com

9. Gael Gallagher’s Carmel Walks

Join an extraordinary city guide for a walking tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Explore dollhouse cottages built by Hugh Comstock, 1920s courtyards and secret passageways that lead to cozy little inns, dozens of boutiques and art galleries and breathtaking ocean beaches. Tours meet at the Pine Inn courtyard Tuesday through Friday at 10 am, and Saturday at 10 am and 2 pm. To reserve a space, call in advance. Fully-customized Monterey Bay tours are also available.

Lincoln St. At Ocean Ave., Carmel-by-the-sea, 831.223.4399, www.carmelwalks.com

10 Fifth Avenue Deli

To indulge in an open-air picnic in the balmy weather of Carmel, stop by 5th Avenue Deli & Catering for hand-made sandwiches, salads, grilled meats and veggies and other supplies, or pick-up one of their premade picnic boxes. Then take a seat on one of the many welcoming benches surrounded by flowers and tucked away and shaded by old trees in the courtyards of Carmel-by-the- Sea. Or plan ahead, pick-up your supplies before the deli closes at 5 pm and take your picnic to the gorgeous Carmel Beach for scenic ocean views at sunset.

5th Ave. Between San Carlos and Dolores Sts., Carmel-by-the-sea, 831.625.2688, www.5thavedeli.com

Carmel Beach

Emma Krasov