Thank you Stu. Do I understand correctly from an earlier post, that driving via Santa Cruz and then onto Monterey, takes a lot longer and is not particularly scenic?

From Google Maps I get 2h15mins drive from Union Square to Monterey via your route. 2h36 via Santa Cruz. How long do you think it would take with traffic, leaving between 9 and 10 am on a weekday?

2:15 is correct. I would add 1/2 hr for a 9am start. Compared to what you'll see between Carmel & Pismo - the area around Santa Cruz and especially the drive through Santa Cruz itself is not very nice. The drive from an earlier post was from SF to Pacifica to Santa Cruz - on Hwy 1. That's more scenic and takes about 2 3/4 hrs. Shouldn't be much commute traffic on that route - except for close to SF.

I've taken both routes to Carmel this year.

Stu Dudley

Thanks Stu!

And have a good trip to France!

Thanks!!

We leave in less than 2 hrs.

Stu Dudley

Correction: from 101, you would take 156 to Hwy 1. This would be near Prunedale, north of Salinas.

Santa Cruz is a cool place. Stop at Verve Roasters for coffee on Pacific Avenue then head next door to Zoccoli's Deli for great Italian sandwiches.

>>Correction: from 101, you would take 156 to Hwy 1

Sorry to hear that Stu - have a good flight today then!

Hope you're staying away from anywhere Russia plays in France...

We'll be in Nice 2 nights (instead of 3), and then in the "boondocks" of the Ardeche for 2 weeks & then the Alps for 2 weeks.

Stu Dudley

Hi everyone!

I'm here. Trip almost done. A very good two weeks. I've seen so many things.

Update on food so far:

Dinner night one: Slanted Door.
Breakfast day two: Mazarine coffee shop
Lunch day two: my friends live on Diamond in Noe Valley so we had lunch on 24th street
Dinner day two: la fusion which is Peruvian and next to Belden Place

Today is day 3 and tomorrow day 4 and final day.

I have to select a lunch today near Union square to meet a friend, and a dinner either Union square or north bead for another friend.

Tomorrow I'm an open book. I may meet a friend for lunch in Sausalito but that isn't for sure because of her busy week. It might be here in SF.

Thank you for the recos! Still poking around...

Ps day 5 (Friday) is the day I fly so unless I get up super early I'm not even having breakfast in SF I'll be en route to the airport.