How to Get Your Copy
Now In Its Third Printing!
Weekend Driver San Diego from Sunbelt Publications is available at bookstores all over San Diego County, and is now in its third printing due to overwhelming response! Here's how to get your very own Weekend Driver San Diego.
- Order the book direct from the publisher, Sunbelt Publications, and they'll ship it to you right away.
- Visit your local store... if they're out of stock, order it and they'll have it for you in a few days.
- Automobile Club of Southern California offices generally have them in stock.
- Barnes and Noble, Bookstar, B. Dalton, Borders and independent stores can also order the book if they don't have it in stock.
- Not in San Diego or internet savvy (that's why you're here!)? You can also order from Amazon.com.
- Buy a BMW! Cunningham BMW in El Cajon gives away a copy with every new car… see dealer for details!
What The Media Said
- “...Easy-to-follow with plenty of pictures... special-interest notes and contact information. Don't send anyone out for a drive without it!” — Mark Maynard, San Diego Union-Tribune.
- “I had the best time yesterday, just thumbing through this, looking at these little trips, reading about all the little spots you mention. ...A great piece of history for San Diego, a great read. What a fun way to get around and see your community.” — Marc Bailey, XETV 6 (Fox) San Diego.
- “In Southern California, we love our cars. Most of the time we drive to get somewhere; you're telling us to drive to be somewhere. ... There are great little vignettes in here. It's not just some boring travel book.” — Margaret Radford, KNSD 7/39 (NBC) San Diego.
- “It can also help the directionally challenged people out there like myself.” — Beth Shelburne, KFMB 8 (CBS) San Diego.
What’s a sweet road?
It’s a road that any enthusiast would take a detour to drive… just because it’s there.
This site and the book Weekend Driver San Diego take you to the best back roads in San Diego County and nearby areas of northern Baja California, Riverside and Orange counties.
Author Jack Brandais has been driving on these roads since he was a kid, when his parents would take him on Sunday drives. He’s actually a third-generation road fan, as his grandmother — a pioneer driving enthusiast — first explored these roads back in the 1920s. They’re all great day trips... sometimes a long day trip if you decide to explore.
Weekend Driver San Diego is the best guidebook for really exploring San Diego County. Trips include areas in the news, including the Tijuana River Estuary, where the government wants to build a new fence along the border with Mexico.
These roads can be challenging, so be sure to drive your sports car, sports bike or any tricked-out vehicle. Or, just take your daily driver and have some fun.
Enjoy a few sample drives here on the web site, then pick up the book and have a great time. Or see what you’re missing with a video trip.
Most of these trips originally ran as part of the Weekend Driver feature in the Wheels section of the San Diego Union-Tribune. In the Jack’s Stories section, you'll find links to stories he’s written, such as the One-Tank Trip feature for the Union-Tribune’s Night and Day section, travel stores and the newspaper’s Sunday Homes section.
Most recent stories took readers to a mountain area where Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties meet, out old Highway 80 and Indian Canyon in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Jack has also traveled throughout the United States to some locations far off the beaten track. Visit the Road Trips section to find a couple of sample San Diego county drives from his book, Weekend Driver San Diego, plus other road trips around California and the nation.
He also reviews cars, including three hot hybrids, the Mercury Mariner SUV (includes video), Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid. They’re now online here.
Jack’s “day job” is as the media spokesperson for the San Diego Unified School District. He’s also worked for the City of San Diego and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Enjoy your drive!
Updates
As with any book, there are a few things that change after publication (December 2003). Here are updates to Weekend Driver San Diego
- The Coyote Country Cafe in Crest has closed.
- The telephone number for the Descanso Junction Cafe has a new owner and new telephone number, (619) 659-2199.
- The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum is the former San Diego Railroad Museum in Campo.
If you see any other items in the book that need to be corrected, please contact Jack. 
