Heading West!

[jtalerico]

Have a Business Trip out to the San Jose area. This will be my first time out there!

Any POTN'ers wanna show me some good photo destinations? I have been looking in the Member Activity forums for some good areas, found a couple. Just curious if anyone out west wouldn't mind showing a east coaster around! Or maybe just suggest some good places!

[mikekelley]

Marin Headlands, Muir Woods, Stinson Beach, all of SF, etc. San Jose ain't so pretty in my opinion, but if you get a chance to take a day trip, that's where I'd go.

[jtalerico]

Don't really have an entire day to spend -- What about like a half a day trip? Something not too far.

[number six]

From your avatar I'd guess you're a biker. You like the twisties? We've got 'em!

You could take a drive up into the Santa Cruz / San Mateo mountains to the west. A good ride (well, I guess it'd be a drive in your case) is to head south on Hwy. 17 to Summit Road, then go north on Hwy. 35 (Skyline Blvd). At 35 and Hwy. 9 sits Alice's Restaurant where you'll always find sportbike hooligans.

I like to head west on 9 from Alice's to Boulder Creek, then north on 236 to Jamison Creek Road, then south again on Empire Grade Road to Pine Flat Road, which will take you to the ocean and Highway 1.

When riding down there we usually have lunch at Davenport (the Bakery), about two miles north on Hwy. 1.

If you want to see more good roads, head up 1 to San Gregorio and take Hwy. 84 east up the hill, back to Hwy. 35. Then go south on 35 to Alice's and west on Hwy. 9 to Los Gatos, just down the freeway from San Jose.

This loop will take about four or five hours. You can shorten it to three or so if you like. For example, you could start at Los Gatos and go up the hill to Alices, then down to Boulder Creek, cutting off about 45 minutes by not going down to Summit Road at the beginning.

Have a look at Google Maps, centered on Boulder Creek, CA.

Have fun!

-js

[jtalerico]

Yup - Ride a 07R6 on the Track here (mostly VIR).

Will keep these roads in mind - Might have to take my rental out and tear it up!

Since I am in Ca I am hoping to hit up some vineyards -- Any opened on Sunday - out in the SJ, SF area??


From your avatar I'd guess you're a biker. You like the twisties? We've got 'em!

You could take a drive up into the Santa Cruz / San Mateo mountains to the west. A good ride (well, I guess it'd be a drive in your case) is to head south on Hwy. 17 to Summit Road, then go north on Hwy. 35 (Skyline Blvd). At 35 and Hwy. 9 sits Alice's Restaurant where you'll always find sportbike hooligans.

I like to head west on 9 from Alice's to Boulder Creek, then north on 236 to Jamison Creek Road, then south again on Empire Grade Road to Pine Flat Road, which will take you to the ocean and Highway 1.

When riding down there we usually have lunch at Davenport (the Bakery), about two miles north on Hwy. 1.

If you want to see more good roads, head up 1 to San Gregorio and take Hwy. 84 east up the hill, back to Hwy. 35. Then go south on 35 to Alice's and west on Hwy. 9 to Los Gatos, just down the freeway from San Jose.

This loop will take about four or five hours. You can shorten it to three or so if you like. For example, you could start at Los Gatos and go up the hill to Alices, then down to Boulder Creek, cutting off about 45 minutes by not going down to Summit Road at the beginning.

Have a look at Google Maps, centered on Boulder Creek, CA.

Have fun!

-js

[tonylong]

Santa Cruz has some nice beach areas, if you like ocean beaches -- Marin County as well, but SC is closer to San Jose.

Marin County also has some nice scenic areas around the Russian River and toward the coast.

Of course, for Urban/street stuff, make plenty of time for SF -- many districts that are both scenic and active.

I'd say the best scenic view of SF is from the Marin County viewpoint at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Another fun Urban area is Berkely along Telegraph Avenue. It's an "old time hippie" street.

[rinthiran]

San Francisco is a must! Its 1 hour drive North from SJ depending on where you'll be. 2-3 hours in SF will give you ample urban/street/city photography. Golden Gate Bridge, Koit Tower, Pier 39, Cliff House (Ocean Beach) are all good areas you can traverse in 1/2 day. Watch out for rush-our traffic between 7-9:30am, and 4 - 7pm.