Driving San Francisco to Santa Cruz. Help please (Page 4): A new tunnel makes this dramatic drive easy enough, mates. Drive at the speed limit, no more. Avoid driving at dusk (deer)...

forjava Loc: Half Moon Bay, CA

koalaroo wrote:

I've had really good advice re. Smoky Mountains, n... (show quote)

A new tunnel makes this dramatic drive easy enough, mates. Drive at the speed limit, no more. Avoid driving at dusk (deer) and at night (visibility). Start two hours earlier than you've planned, to access better lunches.

Check Mavericks. Then, eat lunch in the nearby Princeton harbor at Barbara's (local fish), or in Half Moon Bay at the Ritz Carlton in the moderately affordable Conservatory (the view, beach access, seascape photo opportunities, including from the world's most beautiful parking lot), or at the Three Amigos taqueria (go native), according to your interests.

Visit the unknown Harbor Seal colony (telephoto lens, super telephoto lens) and walk the adjacent beach at Cowell Beach, a state park 1/2 mile south of last stoplight out of Half Moon Bay. Parking is a 1/3 mile hike to-from the beach).

Turn left for one mile at Pescadero and briefly visit this pioneer town (photo opportunity). Eat a slice of home-made pie at Duarte's restaurant.

Have breakfast at Gail's in S.C.

forjava Loc: Half Moon Bay, CA

koalaroo wrote:

Thanks. Sounds good. Whether we'll go further south than say Monteray I'm not sure. We only have two weeks and intend going to Lake Tahoe/Reno, then north east to maybe Eureka and down the coast. Jude.

I see you are going to the Monterey Peninsula. For landscape photos, pass Carmel Valley road. The next ten miles southward are the most beautiful seaside views between Oregon and Mexico and by a long shot. California impressionist painters and even my late dog knew this is THE place. http://kargesfineart.blogspot.com/2010/09/william-ritschel.html

forjava Loc: Half Moon Bay, CA

SteveR wrote:

I might mention that both Carmel and Monterey are on the other side of Monterey Bay from Santa Cruz, so you might have to a bit further....just around the bay, but it would be well worth the drive. As far as paying the entrance fee to the 17 mile road, they will have somebody at the entrance there to collect it. Since it's a private road it would not be covered by your National Parks Pass.

The locals avoid the fee for entering 17-Mile Drive by telling the gate guard they are going to meet a realtor. Of course I would never suggest anyone do this...

Photoninny Loc: Monterey Bay Area

forjava wrote:

A new tunnel makes this dramatic drive easy enough... (show quote)

Good info from a local. I would suggest SF to Cruzio allow enough time for a stop at Ano Nuevo State Park to view the elephant seals. Huge beasts. May is molting season so they look ratty, and numbers can vary a lot.

Newsbob Loc: SF Bay Area

Photoninny wrote:

Good info from a local. I would suggest SF to Cruzio allow enough time for a stop at Ano Nuevo State Park to view the elephant seals. Huge beasts. May is molting season so they look ratty, and numbers can vary a lot.

Newsbob Loc: SF Bay Area

You need to make a reservation to see the elephant seals at Ano Nuevo, near Santa Cruz. It's definitely worth it at the right time of year. But you can no longer just park and walk down to see them. It's now very organized, and a docent walks you down and accompanies you throughout your time there.

There is apparently another spot to view the elephant seals, near San Simeon, which is much closer to the road and doesn't require the hike from the parking lot. I haven't done it, so I don't have any details.

Photoninny Loc: Monterey Bay Area

There no docent walks during molting season. More info at the Parks website:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1111

SmittyOne Loc: California

koalaroo wrote:

I did "drive" the route out of San Francisco on google earth, looks ok I think. We will be travelling 5th to the 19th May. Our plan after Santa Cruz is to head east, towards Lake Tahoe and Reno. Then across to Susanville and Mt. Lasser Volcanic Park, and Lake Shasta. Then the coast road back. That's the rough plan.

When you head east out of Santa Cruz, you will be taking hiway 17. It is very narrow, two lane commuter racetrack.

If you leave Santa Cruz during commute hours out here (I live just outside of San Jose, in Campbell), which is from 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. East bound, 3:00 to 7:00 P.M. West bound, you will not have a very nice ride.

Plan on leaving Santa Cruz between 10:30 A.M., and 2:00 P.M. - much nicer ride, although hiway 17 is not what I would call a "nice" ride.

Once clear of San Jose area, you can take Interstate 680 to Interstat 205 to Stockton, pick up I5, to Sacramento.

Switch of to state hiway 50 to Tahoo, Carson City, and Reno. Between San Jose and Mantica (end of 205, get onto I5), is not what I would call to scenic, but it will get you to really scenic state 50.

Been that way many times, decen route, and a fun drive.

We love to do the back roads, and we always stop and read the historic markers, if they are on our side of the road.

Bon Voyage!

captxmas Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

As a SF bay Area resident I won't bore you with all the thousands of decent photo locations. I will share that the "fear" of driving Hwy 1 from Pacifica to El Granada/Half Moon Bay is gone. The old "Devils Slide" section of the highway is gone replaced with a beautiful tunnel with a fairly picturesque bride at the north end. The entire drive is EASILY done with a van or even a motorhome. Picture spots include Half Moon Bay, San Gregorio Beach, Pescadero Beach and nearby Bird sanctuary, PIDGEON POINT LIGHT HOUSE, A million shots in Santa Cruz and Capitola, Moss Landing for Sea Otter Pictures as they are usually less than a 100' from the beach and all the regular shots in Monterey, Carmel and 17 mile drive.

Enjoy. non-stop drive time from San Francisco to Monterey is about 2 - 2.5 hours.