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Coast Hwy 101.....Da' loop Posted by Mike Lynch [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Looking for scenic drives near San Diego ..., GMcGrath, Mon, 25 Sep 2006 19:59:43 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Here's a suggestion for an all day or most of the day drive. A loop going east out through El Cajon, Alpine, north up to Julian, furtner north past Palomar Mountain, head west to Oceanside and the south down the famous Coast Hwy down next to the beach all the way to La Jolla and Mission Beach and eventually over the bridge to Coronado.
Go I-8 east from San Diego, 20-30 miles to Hwy 79, go north to Julian, buy an Apple Pie. Stay on 79 through Julian on to Santa Isabel and turn right staying on Hwy 79. Oh, 10 miles or so turn left on Hwy 76 to Lake Henshaw. In another 5-10 miles on Hwy 76 there's a lake on your right called Lake Henshaw, shortly after that is a right called "East Grade" which takes you to the top of Palomar Mountain past the famous observatory. East Grade becomes South Grade on the way down and rejoins Hwy 76.
East Grade and South Grade with a cafe and gift shop at the top called Mothers is a world famous motorcycle road, hopefully you'll driving something clever. If your not consider not turning on East grade and just following Hwy 76 all the way to the coast in the valley in front of Palomar Mountain, 'bout 40+ miles to Oceansdie and the Coast Hwy. Go all the way on Hwy 76 under I-5 all the way to Coast Hwy and turn left.
15 blocks south on Coast Hwy is Continental Saab/BMW at 601 South Coast Hwy, stop and say hello. Continue south on Coast Hwy, the historic Coast Hwy 101, all the way down the coast to La Jolla.
Once past Del Mar you'll go back up the hill to Torrey Pines, past the golf course, the road becomes N Torry Pines and you have to bear right also onto N Torrey Pines instead of the natural left onto Genessee (and out to the freeway I-5 on Genessee. Another 1-2 miles, past UC San Diego and a right on La Jolla Shores Drive. This will take you past the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
Right on Torrey Pines road, another mile or so and right on Prospect, right on Coast Blvd South past the famous La Jolla Cove. Or if shopping is your thing stay on Prospect for world class shopping, restaurants and galleries in downtown La Jolla. Follow the bike signs to stay near the coast. Eventually you'll get dumped out on La Jolla Blvd, right or South on La Jolla Blvd. La Jolla Blvd turns but the main road goes right and becomes Mission Blvd.
La Jolla turns into Pacific Beach at Mission Blvd another 5 ish miles, then Mission Beach where your stop at the big wooden roller coaster at Belmont Park, one of the original restored wooden roller coaster on the West Coast. Take a ride on the coaster or other amusement rides, walk out to the board walk next to the beach. Itsa' constant scene on the Mission Beach Board Walk. Skaters, walkers, a constant stream of life, you can get quite an eyefull any time of the year. Check out the Wavehouse where they have a huge 6 foot artificial wave and a couple of 2-4 foot waves to play on. Sipping a libation, watching the beach and the Board Walk, watching the folks ride the 6 footer with it's get lost in tube, is fabulous.
From the roller coaster and Mission Beach head out Mission Bay Drive, it woulda' been a left off Mission Blvd if you hadn't stopped at the roller coaster and the board walk. Mission Bay Drive takes you to I-8 and after a couple of miles I-5 South, another 5 miles or so past downtown San Diego and you'll come to the Coronado Bridge, take the bridge to Coronado, turn left on Orange and go through smalltown Coronado to the famous Hotel Del Coronado.
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