Pre- and Post-Meet Tour Information
For those wishing to extend their time at the Meet, a variety of Pre-Meet and Post-Meet Tours have been planned. The tours include suggested scenic driving routes, enroute highlights, and recommended hotels and restaurants. The Tours are designed to be done singly, or in series, as your time and inclination dictates.
Six Passes Tour
This Tour features drives through the six highest passes in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range: Yuba Pass (6710’), Echo Summit (7500’), Carson Pass (8700’), Ebbett’s Pass (8750’), Sonora Pass (9625’), Tioga Pass (9950’). This Tour nicely ties into the Yosemite National Park Tour.
Yosemite National Park
and more tour
See the wonders of John Muir’s Yosemite National Park including Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, Tioga Pass and more with options to stay at the luxurious Ahwahnee Hotel or the historic Wawona Lodge. From Yosemite it’s easy to visit the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Forests, or explore the leeward side of the range, including Mono, Mammoth and June Lakes, and Mount Whitney, the highest point in continental US at over 14,000 feet.
Avenue of the Giants
A visit to the giant Sequoia Redwoods is an awe-inspiring experience. Nowhere is that more impressive than in the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt County….an actual drive-through experience. This two-day drive takes you through Gold Rush country, across the great Central Valley and into the Coast Range. A natural overnight stop is the lovely Clear Lake.
The "Other" Pacific Coast Highway
Everyone knows, and many have driven, the famous Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Santa Monica, but the “other” PCH is equally as beautiful and enjoys far less traffic. From the Avenue of the Giants, you’ll head south, catching Hwy 1 in Legett. An ideal overnight is Fort Bragg, famous for seafood and beer brewing. The next day, pass through mystic Bodega Bay, where Hitchcock’s The Birds was filmed in 1963 featuring a 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe. Overnight in trendy Sausalito before crossing the Golden Gate into San Francisco the next day.
Or, The Napa Valley
Alternatively, from the Avenue of the Giants, you can head south on Hwy 101, then east into the Napa Valley. The Silverado Resort is highly recommended and from there all the wineries and other attractions are easily accessible. Allow two days to visit both the Napa Valley and the adjacent Sonoma Valley.
To Napa Directly from Tahoe
If you plan to go straight from Tahoe to the Napa Valley, be sure to get off the freeway just past Davis (Sacramento) and take the very scenic Hwy’s 128 and 121 into the “backside” of Napa. Even seasoned California tourers don’t know this delightful drive.
Pacific Coast Highway Central Section (Part 1)
Many visitors think the “PCH” starts in Monterey. Not so. The section from San Francisco to Santa Cruz via Half Moon Bay is very scenic. Alternatively, the inland route through La Honda (Hwy 84) to Skyline (Hwy 35) and then south on Hwy 9 all the way to Santa Cruz is a redwood paradise. You will hardly believe that the populous SF Peninsula and San Jose are just a few miles away. Be sure to take the Hwy 236 (Big Basin Hwy) loop through Big Basin Redwoods State Park for the best “big trees” viewing.
Santa Cruz Alternative
Everyone loves Monterey, Carmel and environs. But maybe you’ve been there / done that. If so, consider an overnight in funky Santa Cruz, where the 1950’s Boardwalk still thrives. Play ski-ball, shoot a bazooka and eat a corn dog. Hotels in nearby Capitola or Aptos are a good bet as some of the older motels in Santa Cruz are a bit shabby.
Pacific Coast Highway Central Section (Part 2)
If you are a first timer on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) this is the most famous section you have always heard about. BUT BEWARE! Portions of the highway are often closed making for VERY long detours. At this writing, the road is closed just past Big Sur (and there are no detours except to return to Monterey!). If you want to see as much as possible, take a day trip out of Monterey as far as you can go (about 50 miles of very scenic driving, including the famous Garapata Creek Bridge), then return to Monterey and overnight. The following day, take Hwy 101 south to King City, then west through Fort Hunter Liggett and on to Ragged Point (on Hwy 1). Overnight in cozy Cambria.
Paso Robles Wine Country
From Cambria, head east on Hwy 46 to Paso Robles, Templeton and Atascadero in the heart of the Central Coast wine country. Lot’s of very challenging backroads. From Atascadero head back to the ocean and Morro Bay on scenic Hwy 41. After viewing “Morro Rock”, drive to San Luis Obispo via Los Osos Valley Road and overnight. Maybe a cool theme room at the world-famous Madonna Inn?
On to La-La Land
As you continue south toward LA, Hwy 101 is your only choice until your reach Oxnard, where you can pick up Hwy 1 again. This section takes you through some pretty farmland and along the coast eventually to Malibu (and then recently burned Pacific Palisades). At this point, you make your own Tour….LA, the beach cities, south to San Diego or east to Palm Springs, there are more choices than you likely have time for.
The Last Great Driving Road in California
As you continue south towards LA, take the Hwy 1 cut off in Pismo Beach and continue for 3.2 miles to Oceana Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, the only place in California where you can actually DRIVE your car onto the beach (for $5). It’s a cool photo op. Then you can stay on Hwy 1 through Old Western Orcutt or use the faster Hwy 101 to Santa Maria. Take Betteravia Road due east until it becomes Foxen Canyon Road, one of the last great driving roads in CA. As you near Los Olivas consider stopping at the Fess Parker (of Davy Crockett fame) Winery. But save yourself for lunch in trendy Los Olivas (Los Olivas Wine Merchant). After a hearty lunch take Hwy 154 to an overnight in Santa Barbara (with a possible detour/overnight in Danish Solvang).
Nevada Ghost Towns
and Las Vegas
If you are continuing East or South, a stop in Las Vegas might be in order. On the way, overnight at the infamous Mizpah Hotel (haunted) in Tonopah, NV. After Vegas, the Grand Canyon is a natural stop.