California guys, need some P-car guy travel advice

[twobone]

I'm heading to San Francisco for a conference and I have a day off (Saturday Nov 28).

I plan to rent a Boxter...now where do I go?

Please give me your top 3 picks for where to go. I've got 8 hours of free driving time....point me in the right direction please!

[twistoffat]

a friend used specialty car rentals

Specialty Car Rental San Francisco: BMW, Mini, Porsche, Boxster, Jaguar, Corvette, BMW Z4

[Paulporsche]

My faves from a trip in Oct last year:

Napa & Sonoma, especially Niebaum Coppola Winery

Lombard St (crookedest part). Go when there isn't much traffic, eg not Sat afternoon.

Carmel

[w21055]

Originally Posted by Paulporsche

My faves from a trip in Oct last year:

Napa & Sonoma, especially Niebaum Coppola Winery

Lombard St (crookedest part). Go when there isn't much traffic, eg not Sat afternoon.

Carmel

Not a local but did a Driving event about 9 years ago and did the exact drive as above and loved it.

[DW SD]

Go N up hwy 1 from Sonoma. Drive four hours and turn around.

OR take 1 south from SF to 92 E, hang a right on skyline drive (35) and take the 84 West back to the 1S. Head south through Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel and down into Big Sur.
turn around after four hours.

Doug

[ckissick]

While Napa is nice, the route is not so exciting. Carmel is better. Take Hwy 1 to Half Moon Bay, then 92 east to Skyline Boulevard. Take Skyline all the way to Highway 9, and go through Boulder Creek, etc. That must be 60 or 70 miles of some of the best Porsche roads around. From Santa Cruz to Carmel is less exciting, though.

Of course, on a Saturday, you'll get stuck behind slow cars. Leave very early.

[juanbenae]

+1 for the skyline to boulder creek, santa cruz. you can actually drive south from the city to pacifica, to half moon bay, then east on 92 up to skyline (35). thing is you can drive the coast one way & skyline back the other. if you are looking to just drive cool, 4 hours then turn around. but, if you will be looking to hang & check out i might suggest capitola, just south of santa cruz, not quite as crowded with "trash". zelda's and other places have seating right on the beach for vittles and drinks. contact me and if its south you wanna go & maybe i can help, if north there's another BAP north bay guy we can get you hooked up with.


toby

[tmarx]

I've been in SF and Marin for 12 years now. I have ridden motorcycles and driven cars to explore the twisties my entire time here. The only disclaimer I need to add is that I now live in Marin, and while I think I'm still objective, it's only fair to disclose.

Skyline and the areas to the south that have been mentioned are fantastic, but they are covered with motorcycles on the weekend and while many of the riders are fast but safe, many others are just fast and end up all over the road. Additionally, LEOs have increased their presence. But if you drive there, and if you like motorcycles, definitely stop at Alice's Restaurant in Sky Londa (it's at the intersection of 84 and 9 as I recall). Then I'd head west to Pescadero and stop at either Duarte's or somewhere on 1. You can then head north on 1, but it is pretty (very) dull driving. Great views, though.

If you have a ton of time, I'd send you up to Skaggs Springs Road at Lake Sonoma (basically, you take 101 north to Dry Creek Road, go left on DCR until you hit Lake Sonoma and then circle the lake to hit Skaggs Springs Road and then ENJOY until you hit Highway 1 at Stewart's Point). It would probably take you 1.5 hours or so just to get to Dry Creek Road, and the loop would probably be six or more hours, so it might not be worth it. But SSR is the best road in Northern Ca. IMHO.

Balancing all the factors, though, I prefer, and would suggest, West Marin - great roads, great views, easy to get to from the city, and very light traffic, even on weekends. Here's my suggestion for you:

--North on 101 from SF (across the Golden Gate bridge) about 15 or 20 miles to the Lucas Valley/Smith Ranch Road exit.

--Left at light onto Lucas Valley Road

--Straight for 10 miles or so (the first couple miles are straight, but then it gets fantastic) until it ends at Nicasio Valley Road

--Right on Nicasio Valley Road

--Stay on Nicasio Valley Road until it meets Point Reyes Petaluma Road (note that about a mile into NVR, you'll dogtail left and then right around "Rancho Nicasio" - not a bad place to grab a bite, but it's early on in your drive, so I'd probably wait).

--Left on Pt. Reyes Petaluma Road. This is a higher speed road with some sweepers.

--Stay straight until you come to a stop sign. Turn right (this keeps you on Pt. Reyes Petaluma Road)

--Stay on this curvy road for the 3 miles or so until you hit a stop sign at Highway 1

--Left on 1 to Pt. Reyes Station - you'll go down a hill and then hit an intersection that goes into town (there may or may not be a stop sign there) - go left into town.

I would suggest a stop at either Bovine Bakery (on the west end of town on the right) if you want to grab a coffee and sit on the curb and talk to people about there motorcycles or cars) or Station House Cafe (on the east end of town) for some decent upscale diner food, or the Pine Cone Diner (instead of going left into town, you just go straight for 50 yards and it's on your right) for some . . . diner food.

From there, you have lots of options - you could go out to Inverness (farther west to the actual coast), head north on 1 to Bodega Bay, head south on 1 all the way back to 101 at Mill Valley, or go a little south of Pt. Reyes Station (2 or three miles) and head east on Sir Francis Drake Road (at Olema) all the way back to 101 (and then south on 101 to the city).

One final suggestion - if you're heading back to the city around late lunch or dinnertime or later, I HIGHLY suggest the Buckeye Roadhouse (Buckeye Roadhouse) right off 101 at Mill Valley (the exit is called Highway 1 or Shoreline Hwy or something). Take the exit, go left, and it is on your right. Stop for a meal or just a drink and snacks. Do NOT get a table in the dining room. Sit at the bar. If it's after 6:00, it will be crowded. But it's worth the wait - get a drink and belly up to the bar when a space opens. It's not cheap, but it's fun. The bartenders love to talk wine, food, cars, etc. Good times.

Obviously I have a lot of opinions on what to do in a car around here. Don't hesitate to PM or email me for more info.

SSU -
Nate

[PCA7GGR]

The southern routes suggested are the way to go. Just watch out for the turistas in motorhomes, They will delay you until you get to a nice straight and then you'll have an opportunity to clean the carbon that may have built up on the valves.

Time permitting, swing by Leguna Seca - there is usually something gone on on the track. Enjoy our roads but keep it safe.

[regency]

My vote's along the same lines as tmarx's.......go north, hug the coastline.

[vash]

from SF. go across the golden gate bridge, and head into saucilito.

you are going to want to see more than just a twisty road, right? some sights? head towards NAPA or Sonoma. eat some great food, drink wine and zip on back with main highways.

[mike831]

It really depends on what type of driving you want to do. If you want a nice view, down south is really nice, but Northern California in Sonoma County is also beautiful during the fall. I happened to grow up in Sonoma County, and this was my favorite time up there. The grape vines are turning colors, the fall is quite beautiful.

Of course, now I live in Aptos, just south of Capitola. So I get the best of both of these worlds =P I love the area down here as well. The Highway 1 drive is quite nice in either direction, though I prefer driving south of San Francisco for the twisties. It takes about an hour and 45 minutes to get to Santa Cruz from SF on Highway 1 (assuming no traffic), and another 45 minutes will get you to the Monterey side of the bay, but the drive from Santa Cruz to Monterey is not the most thrilling (at least IMO. I used to commute their 4 days a week). Carmel is quite beautiful as well, but you wouldn't have long to spend down there. It really depends on the type of driving you want to do of course.

Of course, I can fully recommend the drive up to Sonoma County as well, like I said it's my favorite time of year up there!

[twobone]

you guys are awesome!

[vash]

dont introduce yourself as "twobone" here in san fran...it means something different

[djdsc]

Originally Posted by tmarx

I've been in SF and Marin for 12 years now. I have ridden motorcycles and driven cars to explore the twisties my entire time here. The only disclaimer I need to add is that I now live in Marin, and while I think I'm still objective, it's only fair to disclose.

Skyline and the areas to the south that have been mentioned are fantastic, but they are covered with motorcycles on the weekend and while many of the riders are fast but safe, many others are just fast and end up all over the road. Additionally, LEOs have increased their presence. But if you drive there, and if you like motorcycles, definitely stop at Alice's Restaurant in Sky Londa (it's at the intersection of 84 and 9 as I recall). Then I'd head west to Pescadero and stop at either Duarte's or somewhere on 1. You can then head north on 1, but it is pretty (very) dull driving. Great views, though.

If you have a ton of time, I'd send you up to Skaggs Springs Road at Lake Sonoma (basically, you take 101 north to Dry Creek Road, go left on DCR until you hit Lake Sonoma and then circle the lake to hit Skaggs Springs Road and then ENJOY until you hit Highway 1 at Stewart's Point). It would probably take you 1.5 hours or so just to get to Dry Creek Road, and the loop would probably be six or more hours, so it might not be worth it. But SSR is the best road in Northern Ca. IMHO.

Balancing all the factors, though, I prefer, and would suggest, West Marin - great roads, great views, easy to get to from the city, and very light traffic, even on weekends. Here's my suggestion for you:

--North on 101 from SF (across the Golden Gate bridge) about 15 or 20 miles to the Lucas Valley/Smith Ranch Road exit.

--Left at light onto Lucas Valley Road

--Straight for 10 miles or so (the first couple miles are straight, but then it gets fantastic) until it ends at Nicasio Valley Road

--Right on Nicasio Valley Road

--Stay on Nicasio Valley Road until it meets Point Reyes Petaluma Road (note that about a mile into NVR, you'll dogtail left and then right around "Rancho Nicasio" - not a bad place to grab a bite, but it's early on in your drive, so I'd probably wait).

--Left on Pt. Reyes Petaluma Road. This is a higher speed road with some sweepers.

--Stay straight until you come to a stop sign. Turn right (this keeps you on Pt. Reyes Petaluma Road)

--Stay on this curvy road for the 3 miles or so until you hit a stop sign at Highway 1

--Left on 1 to Pt. Reyes Station - you'll go down a hill and then hit an intersection that goes into town (there may or may not be a stop sign there) - go left into town.

I would suggest a stop at either Bovine Bakery (on the west end of town on the right) if you want to grab a coffee and sit on the curb and talk to people about there motorcycles or cars) or Station House Cafe (on the east end of town) for some decent upscale diner food, or the Pine Cone Diner (instead of going left into town, you just go straight for 50 yards and it's on your right) for some . . . diner food.

From there, you have lots of options - you could go out to Inverness (farther west to the actual coast), head north on 1 to Bodega Bay, head south on 1 all the way back to 101 at Mill Valley, or go a little south of Pt. Reyes Station (2 or three miles) and head east on Sir Francis Drake Road (at Olema) all the way back to 101 (and then south on 101 to the city).

One final suggestion - if you're heading back to the city around late lunch or dinnertime or later, I HIGHLY suggest the Buckeye Roadhouse (Buckeye Roadhouse) right off 101 at Mill Valley (the exit is called Highway 1 or Shoreline Hwy or something). Take the exit, go left, and it is on your right. Stop for a meal or just a drink and snacks. Do NOT get a table in the dining room. Sit at the bar. If it's after 6:00, it will be crowded. But it's worth the wait - get a drink and belly up to the bar when a space opens. It's not cheap, but it's fun. The bartenders love to talk wine, food, cars, etc. Good times.

Obviously I have a lot of opinions on what to do in a car around here. Don't hesitate to PM or email me for more info.

SSU -
Nate

Nate, buddy, seriously, you have just given up 40 years of the absolute best stash roads in N. Calif. to the whole world. 12 years in Marin has not been enough. At least you did not mention Oakville grade.

[jinos]

GRIZZLY PEAK! best windy roads IMO. You'll see a lot of euros or sportbikes up there.

[twobone]

Twobone was an old dog of mine (since dead) who used to walk around with two rawhide bones in her mouth.

I suspect your reference has me with something in my mouth...that's not me!

[pgeorgeson]

Either north or south, but head to Highway 1. It is a great road that hugs the ocean with views like few other places in the world. If you are going to be on the CA coast, you should really be on the CA coast.

[pplkook]

A little late to the party here, but being that commercial Dungeness crab opened on the 15th, I would have to recommend doing the south HWY1 trip and having lunch at Duarte's in Pescadero - Duarte's Tavern Artichoke Soup Fresh Pies
They have THE BEST Chipino I have ever had...and the Pies, oh man the Pies are outstanding.

Heading down the coast this time of year could be outstanding and fun if we get a big swell and nice weather.

When you hit Santa Cruz, make sure you take one of your first right turns so you can drive down WestCliff drive. A stop at Steamer's Lane if there is big swell is a sight to behold.

Have a fun trip!

-Jack

(EDIT) I figure since I am talking about the swell, might as well arm you with the tools to check it out.

http://www.wavewatch.com/Surf-Forecast-Region.php?RegionID=4

The more west (270) the better (vs. NW). The longer period the better. Ideal would be a 12-25 foot 15-20+ seconds at 275-285. There would be plenty of "show" to watch along the coast.

[Boomtown Rat]

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