Short Road trips from San Francisco

[rufusgti]

Me and the girlfriend just booked a short break to San Francisco at the begining of march. I can hire a convertible car from hertz for £54 for 2 full days. I really want to drive some of the coast route 101 probably just down to Santa Cruz. But would also like to go North. I'm not that clued up on the area but isnt there some amazing redwood forests up that way somewhere? Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on driving/hiring in that part of the world or even better actual must see routes to take.

Bit of a strange post i know but I'm sure there will be people here who have done this kind of thing, looking for the same kind of experiences i.e Not boring motorway journeys.

[Superhoop]

If you like wine, Napa valley and Sanoma valley aren't too far away, with some good roads linking the two

Or head south to Montery Bay, which is a nice little place, and not far from Carmel - once you're there, Laguna Seca Raceway isn't too far either

[so called]

As above, Monterey is a nice town. ("small drinking village with a fishing problem" is their logo).

Had a great weekend in Napa and Sonoma and yes, not far north across the Golden Gate Bridge is a Red Wood Forest. You can get lots of tourist info in SF.

Not far south down Highway 1 (or highway to the irport then follow the signs) fron SF you can find Half Moon Bay. Had plenty of nice lunches at Miramar Beach Resaurant.

Sacramento is 90 minutes drive inland but Old Sacramento is well worth a visit.
There's also a very good Outlet Park at Vacaville on the way to Sacramento.

[paddyhasneeds]

We went to the Muir Woods which are a stones throw north of Golden Gate Bridge.

If you're heading south the outlets at Gilroy are worth a detour if you're nearby, equally El Camino Real is interesting in an odd way vs. simply driving down the coast.

[Motorrad]

The problem is the traffic- get it wrong and you'll be sat in hours of it just to get out of San Francisco.

Bodega Bay is quite nice and can involve some driving through forested areas/twisty bits if you get a car that will be enjoyable to drive through them. Takes you about 2.5hrs to get there.

Otherwise if you prefer to go south then the stretch shortly before Half Moon bay and miles after it is also worth a look.

[vrooom]

You gonna jump the car on those SF street like those car chase film

[CraigyMc]

rufusgti said:

Me and the girlfriend just booked a short break to San Francisco at the begining of march. I can hire a convertible car from hertz for £54 for 2 full days. I really want to drive some of the coast route 101 probably just down to Santa Cruz. But would also like to go North. I'm not that clued up on the area but isnt there some amazing redwood forests up that way somewhere? Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on driving/hiring in that part of the world or even better actual must see routes to take.

Bit of a strange post i know but I'm sure there will be people here who have done this kind of thing, looking for the same kind of experiences i.e Not boring motorway journeys.

I might be able to help, if you can excuse a large post. I've put quite a few photos in this, so I apologies if this turns in to a slideshow of something that looks like a holiday, but these are the places I've seen, so perhaps they might help.

I've lived in Los Gatos a fair bit, writing stuff for the company I work for (Los Gatos is more or less the bottom part of the bay area, south of San Jose's "silicon valley"). I've been a few times, and a couple of them have been 6-week long stretches.
Photos of Los Gatos:




The road from SF to Santa Cruz doesn't actually get to the coastline until you're practically in Santa Cruz (which, by the by, is a sort of seaside resort). From SF to Santa Cruz is way less than 2 hours, from memory. It's actually probably more like one hour, assuming you take the right freeways and don't end up stuck in traffic. So you're probably looking at going a little further. I was lucky enough to be invited down by a friend who was going to a car show on the seafront. The place is like an American version of Brighton, and being in Northern California, nothing is "plasticky" (as things tend to be in the South of California - I hate LA for this reason). I was also lucky that the days I was there were pretty sunny. It's beautiful like that.
Photos from Santa Cruz:


I did a little roadtrip one day last year starting from from Los Gatos and heading South. I got quite a way past Big Sur - nice looking roads, but the roads are strictly policed (I was pulled over for "driving a mustang"). No ticket or anything, just interest in what I was doing. Interesting point - I managed to talk Hertz into giving me the Mustang at class B rates - (this is somewhat like hiring a Fiesta and getting a Mondeo).


Photos from the coastal road (the CA-1 "Pacific Coast Highway"). By the way, the 101 is a bland road miles inland, they are different.


While in Califronia, you really ought to take in a Pacific Sunset. They are magnificent.


Now - other things you didn't mention.
You should probably go to Monterey Bay and 17 mile drive (this is where Pebble Beach is). To drive 17 mile drive, it's a toll road (all the land is private). Last time I was there the price was about $25 per car, but that's refunded if you spend the same amount while there (for example, lunch at Roy's Restaurant in Spanish Bay). Warning: they don't make a good job of advertising the refund!

If you want to see the Lone Cypress tree, this is where to do it:
(Monterey) (Lone Cypress)

If you want to see some pacific redwoods (very tall), they are in a park off a turning between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Check out http://www.roaringcamp.com/ for more information.
If you want to see some really giant (very tall and fat) ones, you need to go to Yosemite, but that's a much longer drive. They are apparently the largest living things on earth, by volume (I can believe this!)

There are tons of other things to do in California, with a car, but these are some of my favourites. Another would be taking a trip across the golden gate to the north side of the bay mouth (the headland) - you can drive up the side of that quite some way and get a nice view:


Sorry for the photos if you find them boring!

C

[CraigyMc]

paddyhasneeds said:

If you're heading south the outlets at Gilroy are worth a detour if you're nearby, equally El Camino Real is interesting in an odd way vs. simply driving down the coast.

I can't really vote for Gilroy unless the OP has a garlic fetish (it's the garlic capital of the planet - Garlic Ice cream??). The outlet shopping place is huge but it's not actually all that cheap. I suppose the missus might like it.

C

[white90]

The Giant Redwoods are a few hrs north of SF, The Avenue of the Giants is approx 1hr south of Oregon, we left SF headed for the Coast asap drove through Carmel and down to Huntington beach.
Carmel is easily reachable in your time frame and well worth seeing.

[AndrewW-G]

you may also want to download some of the US food programs for lunch ideas . . . . . . . the man v food san francisco episode has a few nice places to eat (be warned its not health food!)

http://www.ilikeikesplace.com/

http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/889307/...

http://www.sanfranciscocreameryco.com/

Edited by AndrewW-G on Monday 3rd January 16:16

[CraigyMc]

white90 said:

The Giant Redwoods are a few hrs north of SF, The Avenue of the Giants is approx 1hr south of Oregon, we left SF headed for the Coast asap drove through Carmel and down to Huntington beach.
Carmel is easily reachable in your time frame and well worth seeing.

You speak as if there are only one set of Giant Redwoods in the area. There are loads (here's a few maps of them! http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=24723 )

The place I mentioned is on the route (the 17) the OP was talking about and is actually called "Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park". It's right next door to the roaring railroad (can use either car park to use either attraction). Look up http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=546

By the way, OP, you should check if these parks are open.
California is in a very bad financial situation, and they've closed loads of them temporarily (including the one I'm talking about, at least until May)

C

[paddyhasneeds]

CraigyMc said:

paddyhasneeds said:

If you're heading south the outlets at Gilroy are worth a detour if you're nearby, equally El Camino Real is interesting in an odd way vs. simply driving down the coast.

I can't really vote for Gilroy unless the OP has a garlic fetish (it's the garlic capital of the planet - Garlic Ice cream??). The outlet shopping place is huge but it's not actually all that cheap. I suppose the missus might like it.

Fair point as it has been a long time since I was there. We stayed in Menlo Park with family friends and I just loved living and seeing things like a local and could kill hours doing "normal stuff but in the bay area" rather than doing "tourist routes" for lack of a better term.

I did love Monterrey Bay and the aquarium, have to say I did find Santa Cruz a bit of a let down tbh, but again each to their own.

[CraigyMc]

paddyhasneeds said:

I did love Monterrey Bay and the aquarium, have to say I did find Santa Cruz a bit of a let down tbh, but again each to their own.

I think Santa Cruz is weather dependent (much like Brighton!) - it's not very nice when it's raining.

Come to think of it, in March, SF will be quite cold.
Probably better to avoid the bay tour (the water will be freezing!). I suppose the missus might like http://www.pier39.com/index.cfm

[paddyhasneeds]

Yes serious point for the OP (and sorry if this sounds patronising) but take some warm clothes. When I went it was July "Oh it's California it'll be scorching" I thought - it can, but San Francisco is freaky in just how cold it gets, especially at night, especially on the piers/wharfs.

[CraigyMc]

paddyhasneeds said:

Yes serious point for the OP (and sorry if this sounds patronising) but take some warm clothes. When I went it was July "Oh it's California it'll be scorching" I thought - it can, but San Francisco is freaky in just how cold it gets, especially at night, especially on the piers/wharfs.

Can't agree with this more. And I'm Scottish (thus have built-in central heating).
It's humid, and cold, so any wind just cuts straight through you when it's cold.

Also - when SF gets foggy, it does it properly...

C

[rhinochopig]

We did SF to Yosemite in 3 days if you can stretch a bit. Hired a Shelby mustang and just happened to pass a modern Charger whilst overtaking a long line of traffic. The importance of the event was not lost on the charger driver was not lost, and the following 50 miles of twisty yosemite roads were superb fun.

[davepoth]

It's not the 101 you want, it's California Route 1 that runs down the coast. The 101 goes inland most of the way down to LA. Certainly down to Santa Cruz is a lovely trip, but since you're on the way, I'd suggest taking a night out to drive down to San Luis Obispo, which will let you drive all the way down Big Sur on California Route 1, genuinely one of the roads to drive before you die.

-Edit-

The best place to take in the sunset is Carmel Bay, it faces pretty much due SW so there's an ideal sunset there nearly every day of the year.



That was late October at Carmel Bay in 2002.

Edited by davepoth on Monday 3rd January 17:06

[groomi]

Sunset at Pebble Beach is well worthwhile.

[davepoth]

rhinochopig said:

We did SF to Yosemite in 3 days if you can stretch a bit. Hired a Shelby mustang and just happened to pass a modern Charger whilst overtaking a long line of traffic. The importance of the event was not lost on the charger driver was not lost, and the following 50 miles of twisty yosemite roads were superb fun.

3 Days to Yosemite? It's only 200 miles! I got all the way from Denver to SF in less than a day...but that's another story.

[CraigyMc]

rhinochopig said:

We did SF to Yosemite in 3 days if you can stretch a bit. Hired a Shelby mustang and just happened to pass a modern Charger whilst overtaking a long line of traffic. The importance of the event was not lost on the charger driver was not lost, and the following 50 miles of twisty yosemite roads were superb fun.

Tioga pass anyone?

(Still closed due to weather in March, unless -or probably even if - you have a skidoo).

C