Monterey and Carmel Day Trip from San Francisco

See the cities of Monterey and Carmel on a day trip from San Francisco. This complete getaway will give you a panoramic view of the Californian coastline and its main points of interest. The 11-hour tour makes stops at the area's most iconic landmarks.

About 200 km from San Francisco, along Highway 1 you can:

• Visit Pigeon Point, the tallest lighthouse on the west coast of the United States. Take the opportunity to discover the lighthouse or take a quick walk to the beach.
• Stretch your legs and have a coffee in Davenport.

Arriving in Monterey, you'll be greeted by the wonderful views of the bay. Monterey is a city characterised by its lively life, which you can explore at close quarters. You will have about 2 hours to:

• Discover Cannery Row, where the now defunct sardine canning factories were located.
• Wander around the wide variety of shops and restaurants in the area
• Stop by and visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Along 17-Mile Drive, you'll take a scenic drive through the gated community of Pebble Beach on the Monterey Peninsula. There you'll enjoy beautiful coastal scenes with white cove beaches. Three other key stops await you:

• Bird Rock, a wildlife centre teeming with birds, seals and sea lions.
• Lone Cypress, a 250-year-old cypress tree that has been scarred by fire and has stood in place for the past 60 years.
• Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of the world's most beautiful golf courses

Carmel by the sea is a small beach community on the Monterey Peninsula. Discover its scenic rugged promenade that runs from the Carmel Beach surfing area to Carmel River State Beach, and observe the many birds in the area.