San Diego's Weekend Driver » Mountain Drives

Lunch at a hardware store along the Cuyama Highway

Jack Brandais — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:59:03 +0000

I was back on the Central Coast in February giving some exercise to a new car that I actually purchased, my Mini Cooper S Countryman, which regular readers of this website will remember that I ordered in December and received in February.

Crazy Curvy Roads in California’s Central Coast

Jack Brandais — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:58:28 +0000

It's part one of wandering around the Santa Ynez Mountains in California's Central Coast, from Ventura and Gorman to Paseo Robles.

Honey of a Drive: Beautiful Vistas, Challenging Driving in East County

Jack Brandais — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:17:02 +0000

In a region that has some of the most challenging and beautiful highways anywhere, the roads in and around Jamul have to rank near the top of the list.

Surprise Trip Up Mt. Laguna — A Back Road Suitable for a Volvo S40

Jack Brandais — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 18:00:10 +0000

Wandering around mountain roads on a beautiful Saturday lead to a big surprise on the west side of Mount Laguna, a beautiful back road that was suitable for a trio in a Volvo S40.

Ramona roundabout: Wandering through the mountain town’s trails

Jack Brandais — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:39:58 +0000

Ramona is one of the special places in San Diego county. Not just because the low-mountain scenery provides great vistas around every corner, but its bucolic roots and surrounding terrain make for great road and wonderful day trip. Our route this time takes us over the county’s newest and technologically advanced freeways and some of [...]

OC’s Santiago and Trabuco Canyons Are Twisty Fun

Jack Brandais — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:44:47 +0000

Hyundai Genesis Coupe enjoys the back roads but watch the head room.

There’s Always a Dirt Road Somewhere; Mountain Snow Leads to Sunny Proctor Valley

Jack Brandais — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:27:31 +0000

It’s hard to believe, but even in San Diego the weather can interfere with the best plans. With a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee parked out front and a weekend plan to head up Nate Harrison Grade on Mount Palomar (and a Plan B to do some driving on rocks near Jacumba), our local dirt roads [...]

Ultimate Watering Holes: County’s Lakes Are Great Destinations

Jack Brandais — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 04:54:16 +0000

Today we’re in search of lakes — north, south and east. I assume you can find the big lake to the west. For a region known for its beaches, San Diego county has too many lakes to count. The City of San Diego alone operates 10 lakes, reservoirs for our drinking water; water districts generally [...]

A Bear of a Road: Right turn For Challenging, Rocky and Beautiful Wilderness Trip

Jack Brandais — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:30:30 +0000

Over the years, I’ve made hundreds of trips to scenic Pine Valley. From the Pine Valley Boulevard off Interstate 8, we make the turn left into town. But the question always was, “What are all those trucks parked over there,” in the cul-de-sac to the right. The answer, discovered with the assistance of a ’10 [...]

Twisting and Horsing Around Bonsall: Curves, Curves Curves in North County

Jack Brandais — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:10:19 +0000

The very common question came from a reader at the recent San Diego International Auto Show. “How long does it you take to research your drives? How do you find those roads?” The answer? The road’s just up ahead, around the corner. Get behind the wheel and drive.