Anyone ready for some sunshine? We obviously are…hence us posting about our travels to beautiful and sunny places the past two weeks! One week we took you along with us to Dubrovnik, Croatia and the next we went to the beautiful Greek island of Santorini. While both are breathtakingly beautiful, it’s not necessary to travel out of the country to see such scenery-we do have some of the most beautiful places right here in the good ole’ US of A! The drive down the Pacific Coast Highway from Monterey to San Simeon is like no other! Butch and I flew into San Francisco and rented a car and headed to Monterey where we stayed for three days as we enjoyed driving along the Pacific Ocean, Pebble Beach, Carmel, and Big Sur. We then drove back to San Francisco for a couple of days before flying to sweet home Alabama! The weather was beautiful and we had very little fog. October is a perfect time to go!
Monterey is on the central coast of California. Cannery Row is the waterfront street and was the site of a number of sardine canning factories. It was here that the setting of John Steinbeck’s novel Cannery Row took place!
The crashing waves on the rocks are magnificent!
The Pacific coast is so different than our more familiar Gulf Coast. Each one has its own beauty!
The Lone Cypress, standing on a granite hillside off California’s scenic 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, is said to be the most photographed tree in North America. It is possibly as old as 250 years and has been scarred by fire.
More scenery along the 17 Mile Drive
The golf is legendary at Pebble Beach
The lodge envelopes the 18th green of the Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of the most exciting closing holes in golf. Love the ocean view from the entrance!
To enjoy the scenery along the Pacific Coast Highway, you must rent a convertible!
Big Sur offers stunning views! Many classify Big Sur as the segment of California State Route 1 from Carmel south to San Simeon
Butch and I had to take a short hike to see these magnificent rock formations in the Pacific!
The water is very cold in comparison to the warm waters of the Gulf!
Elephant seals come ashore and form colonies for only a few months of each year to give birth, breed, and molt.
The Hearst Castle built by William Randolph Hearst is a prominent landmark in San Simeon along Highway 1
This massive assembly room in the castle is adorned with historic Renaissance and Baroque tapestries and masterpieces of neoclassical sculptures
The expansive gardens!
Spectacular Neptune Pool with its colonnades and statues provided the setting for lavish parties for Mr. Hearst and his guests!
The meticulously detailed indoor Roman Pool was modeled after ancient Roman baths. It is tiled from ceiling to floor, and features copies of eight ancient Roman marble statues.
Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey
Chateau Julien in Carmel
We have been fans of John Denver since we were married in 1973. Butch has been told more times than we could count that he sounds just like him singing! It was out from these rocks that his experimental airplane crashed in 1997.
“This is my autograph, here in the songs that I sing. Here in my cry and my laugh, here in the love that I bring. To be always with you and you always with me.”
-John Denver
We are so thankful for our time spent together!
“Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!”
Psalm 93:4
Linking with: Pieced Pastimes, It’s Overflowing, Be Different Act Normal, Silver Pennies , By Stephanie Lynn, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Creatively Living, Rustic-Refined, Three Mango Seeds, Pink When, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, Knick of Time, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict,Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Craftberry Bush, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, The Vintage Farmhouse, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, Alabama Women Bloggers
My husband and I took the same route when he retired in ’92, but kept going on down to San Diego. It was a beautiful drive and trip. He has been gone 7 years now, but I still have wonderful memories of our trips together. Travel and make memories as long as possible and enjoy each other. God bless.
Arrilla, thank you so much for sharing your sentiments. My husband was in an accident 8 years ago and I wasnt given much hope of recovery. God healed him and he is a walking miracle. We started to travel when he recuperated and we have been so thankful to be given this gift! So glad you were able to travel with your husband. So wonderful to meet you through the blog and blessings! Pam
Thank you for taking us on this wonderful trip Pam. It looks beautiful and so many varied things to see – from seals, sand, castles, gardens definitely something for everyone. Just the thing to cheer up a snowy and dark January UK day!!
Joy, thank you for your gracious comments! It has been a beautiful sunny day in northeast Alabama but it is changing overnight! Have a great rest of the week! Blessings, Pam
Lovely photos. I love Cali too, my sister lived on 17 Mile Drive in an adorable cottage so I have visited quite often. Love riding the Northern California coast. Nhabe your ever visited Mendocino, it is also quite lovely.
Kelly, thank you so much for reading and commenting. It is such a beautiful place to visit and I know you enjoyed visiting your sister on the 17 Mile Drive. Wow, what a place to live! Hope you will come back and visit our blog! Blessings, Pam
Thank you so much for sharing your trip along the coast of California. Having lived in both Reseda and San Diego, CA I know of the beauty of the state. I have been fortunate, having married a Navy pilot, to live in many beautiful places in the U.S. The Pacific Coast Highway will always be one of my fond memories.
Thanks for sharing comments with me! Wow, I am sure you have seen so much of our beautiful country. The landscape of the Pacific coast is so different from our more familiar Gulf Coast! Equally beautiful! Blessings, Pam
Glad that you got to enjoy some sunshine. Gorgeous photos and it looks like you had so much fun! I love to get away with my hubby like this. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Time spent together is the best! Have a joy-filled week-end! Pam
So beautiful, and such amazing photography. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Susan! Blessings, Pam
Oh yes, to see great scenery you must rent a convertible. Hubs and I rented a convertible to see Hawaii on our honeymoon. We got so burnt! Lol! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
Sherry, we didn’t get burned. It was cool, so we were bundled up and ran the heat with the top down! Blessings, Pam