🚀 go-pugleaf

On 4 Feb 2004 01:47:40 GMT, allan@southpark.engr.sgi.com (Allan
Schaffer) wrote:

>Next stop - silicon valley.  Direct shot on 101 from SLO takes about
>3 hours.  San Jose & the silicon valley are the general center of
>ba.food & have dozens of amazing places to eat.  For a general
>impression I'd suggest a drive on University Avenue in Palo Alto
>(exit off 101 & be _certain_ to go towards Palo Alto NOT EAST PALO
>ALTO.  Really).  Then Palo Alto to SF is about 40 minutes along 101.
>Just before you get to SF, take 280 north to Embarcadero instead of
>101 into the central city.  It's nicer.

Or, you can detour west at Salinas (take G12 and see some of the local
farm countryside) and take Hwy 1 thru Watsonville, Aptos, Capitola,
and Santa Cruz.  Depending on your remaining time, take 17 into San
Jose, then 85 to 280 (much more scenic than 101) up the peninsula to
SF.  This detour will only take perhaps 15 minutes longer than going
straight up 101 (assuming you aren't trying to get thru Santa Cruz
during rush hour).  If you have more time (this route takes 30-60
minutes longer) stay on 1 from Santa Cruz to SF - there is a treasure
of a little restaurant called Duarte's Tavern in Pescadero, 1 mile
inland on Pescadero Road off of 1.  Specialties include the cream of
artichoke soup and the ollalieberry (sp?) pie.

>Plan B -  if you want to get _really_ scenic, you could take Hwy 1
>from SLO all the way up to San Francisco.  This will take all day
>plus.  I'd suggest it if you have time & the sun is out.  It's a
>beautiful drive.  Plan stops in San Simeon/Hearst Castle, Carmel
>(take the 17-mile drive), Half Moon Bay.  If the weather is bad,
>don't bother - these are winding roads and the view will be clouds.

The view is often spectacular when the weather is "bad" - the ocean in
particular is much more interesting when the surf is roaring from the
storm - plus the roads (and restaurants) will be less crowded.  The
road is most likely to be foggy (and difficult/dangerous to drive if
you aren't used to driving on foggy narrow twisty mountain roads) when
we have "good" summer weather, as the inland heat draws the coastal
fog up to the mountains.

You won't have any time to "stop" at the Hearst Castle unless you take
more than 1 day to travel between LA and SF.  If you plan to take 2
days, allow enough time for at least 1 tour at Hearst Castle, and you
won't be disappointed if you schedule to take 2 tours as each tour
sees a different part of the grounds.  Order tickets in advance.

<http://www.hearstcastle.org/>

If you enjoy nature hikes, plan to allow a few hours to stop and visit
Point Lobos, which has been called "the greatest meeting of land and
water in the world".

<http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/>

ObFood:  The Pacific's Edge restaurant at the Highlands Inn (just
south of Point Lobos) has both excellent food and views.  Some of the
other restaurants that have spectacular views along this route "get
by" with the views and have less-than-spectacular food.  Expect to pay
a lot for everything (gas, food, lodging, gifts, etc.) between SLO and
Monterey, as the trucking costs and labor costs are very high for
businesses along this route.

>Driving this route SLO->SF will take 5 or 6 (?) hours without stops.
>Add an hour or two per major stop.  Hwy 1 ends in San Francisco.

Hwy 1 continues up the coast north of SF traveling thru Bodega Bay,
Mendacino, and Ft Bragg until it rejoins 101 near Legget, almost at
the Oregon border.

jc