Pebble Beach is unique in that it is a golf course (several, actually), a gated community and a scenic drive all rolled into one.

The main golf course is the well-known Pebble Beach Golf Links, but there are seven courses in all, including Poppy Hills and Spyglass hill, both of which have public restaurants. A couple of lodges, The Inn at Spanish Bay and The Lodge at Pebble Beach, both have public facilities.

The homes, many of them mansions, tend to remain in the background, often hidden by gates or greenery. But the ones that CAN be seen, in my opinion, add to the beauty of the drive. They're stunning, sprawling homes.

There are five entry points for starting the 17-mile loop, and a fee is incurred. Once in the loop, there are 21 named pullovers for enjoying the scenery. The loop travels along the coast as well as inland through forest.

The most famous stop along the route is The Lone Cypress, a single tree known to be 250 years old. It has become the symbol for Pebble Beach.