Advice needed about my Monterrey trip.

[GH85Carrera]

In June I am driving out to California in my 911 to attend Porsche Parade. The problem is my wife has to get back to work on the Monday the 23rd. I want to stay and do the DE at Laguna Seca. It looks like the only logical choice is for her to fly home. Now for the first question.

She really prefers to fly Southwest Airlines but she will fly on other airlines if we can find a decent deal for a one way flight. I am guessing the Monterrey airport is not a big one. I assume will have to get her to a bigger city. Which city is the best choice? Is the trip to San Jose easy or difficult? It looks like it is 75 miles. Would one of the other cities have a big enough airport?

I am lazy enough to ask the brain trust for help rather than spending a lot of time on Google looking for the best option to get from Monterrey, the Oklahoma City.

[Seahawk]

Unfortunately, it looks like either San Jose or Sacramento for SWA

File:Southwest Airlines Route 20110327.png - Wikimedia Commons

United has a few flights out of Monterrey and Fresno. Take the small United jet to Las Vegas, then SWA to OKC.

American has some directs out of San Jose: http://www.kayak.com/flights/mry,nearby-okc/2014-06-22

Good thing I'm home with the flu!

San Jose isn't a bad drive. Lot's of farming land and some nice ocean scenery if you go through Watsonville. There are some commuter flights out of Monterrey so she could get to a larger airport to catch Southwest. The ones I caught were prop planes if that bothers her.

[GH85Carrera]

Thanks guys.

I always forget about the web sites like Kayak. I don't fly much. Most of my vacations are in my 911.

[5String43]

You might also want to check flights to the Oakland airport.

By the way, not trying to be snarky, if you type "Monterrey" into your trip search engine, you may get the city in Mexico. The one in California is "Monterey." And once you get there, be sure to take in the aquarium down on Cannery Row. It is world-class.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Thanks guys.

I always forget about the web sites like Kayak. I don't fly much. Most of my vacations are in my 911.

I wish.

I travel too much these days so I have all the travel sites book marked. It is cold and windy here and I'm just sitting around feeling sorry for myself being sick.

Also, go through Santa Cruz on the way up to San Jose. The drive is really nice, especially RT 17...it is, like any major city, all about timing the trip for traffic.

I'd also get a few Steinbeck novels that deal Monterey and the surrounding areas: Cannery Row, East of Eden, etc.

Have a great trip!

[scottmandue]

My brother's son, wife, and the grand kids are in Santa Cruz... when they fly up there they use San Jose.

Cue up; Do you know the way to San Jose?

I love San Fransisco but the traffic can be bad... if it were me I would avoid SF/Oakland.

Just my two cents.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by 5String43

once you get there, be sure to take in the aquarium down on Cannery Row. It is world-class.

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Also, go through Santa Cruz on the way up to San Jose. The drive is really nice, especially RT 17...it is, like any major city, all about timing the trip for traffic.

I'd also get a few Steinbeck novels that deal Monterey and the surrounding areas: Cannery Row, East of Eden, etc.

Have a great trip!

Great advice!

I have spent a lot of time on the Cal central coast and the above is right on.

[Laneco]

I will be leaving early Sunday morning and heading north to Oregon. For the sake of speed, I'll swing over to I-5 and go home that way. Sacramento is right smack in the middle of my return route. I would be delighted to give your wife a ride to the Sacramento airport.

angela

[scottmandue]

A lot of my NorCal friends use the Sacramento airport.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by 5String43

You might also want to check flights to the Oakland airport.

By the way, not trying to be snarky, if you type "Monterrey" into your trip search engine, you may get the city in Mexico. The one in California is "Monterey." And once you get there, be sure to take in the aquarium down on Cannery Row. It is world-class.

OOPS.

We went through Monterey in 2007 when we were there for the San Diego parade. I know we will take a driving tour of the area every day except the Concours day. I hear there are a few areas that have some scenic things to see and a few expensive houses area. Is there any good seafood to eat?

I do remember lots of traffic. We are looking forward to the trip. The two days of driving each way is not real fun. The GPS instructions are get on I-40 west and drive for 1,200 miles to Barstow, CA

Then I need to figure out which is the best way to go from there.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Laneco

I will be leaving early Sunday morning and heading north to Oregon. For the sake of speed, I'll swing over to I-5 and go home that way. Sacramento is right smack in the middle of my return route. I would be delighted to give your wife a ride to the Sacramento airport.

angela

I for sure want to meet as many Pelicans as possible while out there. We need to set up a Pelican meeting.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Unfortunately, it looks like either San Jose.....

It's been a while, but I remember Highway 9 as being very countryside and peaceful, but a nice twisty slow drive. Plan a day.
Highway 17 is a faster 4-lane through the mountains. Tighter and fast.
Both pcar territory.

Sacramento is a bit far IMO, and you may end up waiting in rush hour traffic.

[Laneco]

From Barstow, you should head over the Tehachapi Pass. Fuel your car in Barstow as on Highway 58 there are only a couple of fuel places. One fun little side trip is the Boron 20 Mule Team museum (borax). It's not real big, but does have some interesting stuff on the borax mining in the area. After you get over Tehachapi pass you will head to 99 at Bakersfield and then proceed north on 99. Take 46 west to Paso Robles. Paso is very beautiful, and if you wander off route, plenty of nice driving roads. If wineries strike your fancy, there are plenty in this area. From Paso, north on 101 will take you to Monterrey.

angela

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Laneco

From Barstow, you should head over the Tehachapi Pass. Fuel your car in Barstow as on Highway 58 there are only a couple of fuel places. One fun little side trip is the Boron 20 Mule Team museum (borax). It's not real big, but does have some interesting stuff on the borax mining in the area. After you get over Tehachapi pass you will head to 99 at Bakersfield and then proceed north on 99. Take 46 west to Paso Robles. Paso is very beautiful, and if you wander off route, plenty of nice driving roads. If wineries strike your fancy, there are plenty in this area. From Paso, north on 101 will take you to Monterrey.

angela

Cool. Thanks! I would love to avoid the main interstate route but to get to California in reasonable time is is just boring I-40 to Barstow.

[Laneco]

I-40 in western NM and all of Arizona is quite beautiful. Plenty of distractions along the way. You can always bail off in Seligman and take Route 66 to Kingman. Won't be a lot slower than the interstate and really breaks up the HURRY HURRY YOU'RE ON THE INTERSTATE feeling.

angela

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Laneco

I-40 in western NM and all of Arizona is quite beautiful. Plenty of distractions along the way. You can always bail off in Seligman and take Route 66 to Kingman. Won't be a lot slower than the interstate and really breaks up the HURRY HURRY YOU'RE ON THE INTERSTATE feeling.

angela

Yea, there is not much of anything to see until we get to Albuquerque.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Yea, there is not much of anything to see until we get to Albuquerque.

I just drove the I-40 route a month ago, going the other way. Things will get interesting about the time you hit Tucumcari, but I like the desert and the vistas.

Originally Posted by Laneco

From Barstow, you should head over the Tehachapi Pass. Fuel your car in Barstow as on Highway 58 there are only a couple of fuel places. One fun little side trip is the Boron 20 Mule Team museum (borax). It's not real big, but does have some interesting stuff on the borax mining in the area. After you get over Tehachapi pass you will head to 99 at Bakersfield and then proceed north on 99. Take 46 west to Paso Robles. Paso is very beautiful, and if you wander off route, plenty of nice driving roads. If wineries strike your fancy, there are plenty in this area. From Paso, north on 101 will take you to Monterrey.

Perfect. Driven this route a bunch...or Route 58. Can't lose.

[GH85Carrera]

When I drove to Charlotte I drove 917 miles east to Maryville, TN and most of that was I-40. I have not quite been to the east end of I-40 but close.

[Seahawk]

If you could add an extra day to the drive out or back, I have some really interesting, very Porsche friendly drives off Interstate.

I have driven across the country at least 25 times...I make a sport of finding new ways across