On Wednesday, July 8, Monterey Bay Region took a midweek tour to Alice’s Restaurant, a famed eatery located in the mountains north of Santa Cruz. We started from Chili’s in Seaside, leaving in three groups at 8:30 to give us time to drive to Santa Cruz on Highway 1, then Highway 17 north to the Scotts Valley exit, then head to Scotts Valley and stop at Bruce Canepa’s place.
We visited the sales floor but didn’t have time for a full tour of the museum and the workshop. We also visited the showroom across the street before heading north again on Highway 9 through the redwoods, encountering several places with one lane roads due to road repairs or tree removal.
Highway 9 has less traffic during the week but it was still busy. Once we reached Skyline Blvd. there was another one-lane section and a stop at Sempervirens Point where we had a view of the mists below. From there we went on to Alice’s Restaurant, where Skyline (Highway 35) meets Highway 84. We had 21 cars, which all managed to find parking either in the lot or on the road. Alice’s has mainly outside seating behind the restaurant, where the wait staff brings the orders.
After lunch, some of the group left on their own. Others went with Michael Hesse, taking Highway 84 to Pescadero Creek Road, which wends its curvy way to meet Highway 1 at the coast, then took Highway 1 south to Ano Nuevo State Park to view the elephant seals.
The final group of 7 cars took Highway 84 to Highway 1, arriving near San Gregorio Beach somewhat north of Pescadero Creek Road, then headed south, enjoying the ocean views and the view of Pigeon Point lighthouse. The final stop was at Waddell Beach, which had plenty of windsurfers. From there, each car made its own way home, and since it was nearly 3:00, heading south from Santa Cruz meant making your way through stop and go traffic on Highway 1 for the first three or four exits.
A great tour led by Al Munoz-Flores, who rode shotgun with president Mark in his Boxster. Thanks, Al!
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