AAA Recommends Easy Drives to the Bay Area's Best Kept Secrets

12 February 1999

Two Dozen Romantic Day Trips; AAA Recommends Easy Drives to the Bay Area's Best Kept Secrets

    SAN FRANCISCO--Feb. 12, 1999--With St. Valentine's Day falling on President's Day weekend, this is a good time for a romantic day trip in the Bay Area.
    "This time of year offers light crowds and scenic green hills," said AAA of Northern California spokesman Paul Moreno. "With gas prices at a five-year low, even Cupid may want to give his wings a rest and drive."
    AAA surveyed its auto touring counselors to find the best-kept secrets on scenic drives and viewpoints in and near the Bay Area.
    Some of the area's most romantic drives and viewpoints include:

    East Bay: In the Berkeley hills, Grizzly Peak Park, Inspiration Point and Tilden Park offer stunning views. A drive along San Pablo Reservoir might end up at Port Costa or atop Mt. Diablo. Or take the roads between Moraga and Hayward for a trip through redwood forests.
    South Bay: Mount Hamilton and the James Lick Observatory are up a 19-mile drive, offering wide views of the South Bay. The Villa Montalvo Arboretum in Saratoga has peaceful open space. In Santa Cruz County, Highway 9 from Santa Cruz to Boulder Creek and Highway 152 from Gilroy to Watsonville, and Highway 1 from Half Moon Bay to Big Sur all offer beautiful views.
    North Bay: Try the Marin headlands, a walk around Sausalito or Angel Island, or a drive along coastal Highway 1 through Sonoma and Mendocino counties.
    Peninsula: Try a drive along Highway 84 through La Honda and toward the coast.
    San Francisco: Twin Peaks, Coit Tower and Golden Gate Park are hardly secrets, but how about Lincoln Park and Treasure Island for stunning bay views?
    Winery Tours: Besides the world-famous Napa and Sonoma valleys, other wine regions include the Livermore Valley, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, Highway 128 in Mendocino County, and the Shenandoah Valley in Amador County.
    Gold Country: The many small Sierra foothill towns along Highway 49 feature Gold Rush-era antique shops, historic buildings and many points of interest like museums and caverns.

    Car-less trips

    Many ferries ply the Bay, and Amtrak provides links to Sacramento, San Jose and beyond. Other rail and bus systems fill in the gaps. Call 817-1717 from anywhere in the Bay Area for transit information. For a free copy of AAA's Commute Alternatives Map, visit any AAA office.
    Day trippers in search of festivals and cultural events should check out AAA's VIA magazine which lists events like Mardi Gras and Carnaval celebrations, Tibetan and Chinese New Year parades, and other events happening this weekend.
    VIA's events calendar and RouteMaster and are available on-line at www.aaa.com.
    To try your luck for a last-minute getaway for the three-day weekend, visit the AAA Travel Agency near you, or call AAA Travel Services at 1-800-272-2155.

	    Tips for Auto Travelers

--   Take a break for every two hours or 100 miles of driving.

--   Before hitting the road, check your vehicle's fluid levels. Make
     sure the tires and spare are in good condition and properly
     inflated. 

--   Carry emergency items in your car, including a flashlight with
     fresh batteries, blankets, jumper cables, and flares or a
     reflective triangle.

Established nearly 100 years ago, the AAA affiliate of Northern California, Nevada and Utah offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance and financial services for its 4 million members. It is the second largest regional affiliate of the national AAA organization.

Note to Editors: A complete listing of events in and around the Bay Area this weekend is available in AAA's VIA magazine (www.aaa.com).