[RKC]

Car are nice, and SF is beautiful. As it happens, I'm headed there Sunday. If I had to rush into the city and only had an extra hour or two, I'd head across the Golden Gate and drive up the Marin Headlands for the view.

But with 8 hours to kill? I'd head the other way - right over the peninsula to Half Moon Bay, and drive south on PCH in the fine autumn weather down to Santa Cruz and/or on to Monterey/Carmel. Stop at Las Palmas for deep-fried tacos near the pier in Santa Cruz and eat them out near Steamer Lane and watch the surfers and/or windsurfers across Monterey Bay. Then just drive back up the way you came - windows down and radio on.

Cars are nothing without great roads, and PCH won't be crowded mid-day unless it is a weekend.