Highway 1 - San Mateo Coast

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To do this North to South, find your way to Daly City - most likely by way of I-280 - and pop over the hill to Pacifica. Once your on Hwy 1, it's pretty hard to get lost. Santa Cruz is hard to miss; watch out for tourist traffic on Mission.

This is the edge of the continent, folks. Any farther west requires a wetsuit. You will have views of the Pacific to your right and wooded hills and farmland to your left. In Spring, you'd swear you're in Ireland.

Nice surface, with rolling hills and sweeping turns. In summer there can be a motor home or two, and watch out for pedestrian traffic near the many state beaches. Cars may brake suddenly to turn off into the parking lots. Stay alert. Good visibility and plenty of safe passing lanes. Be patient - slow down and live.

Plenty of places to eat to start the day in Pacifica - try Nicks in Rockaway Beach. Farther south, stop for coffee and a walk-about in Half Moon Bay. A short side trip up Hwy 84, and you can mingle with fellow travelers at the Mercantile in San Gregorio. Artichoke soup and ollaliberry pie at Duarte's in Pescadero is a must, as is coffee and ice cream in Davenport. Ten miles later, you're in Santa Cruz.

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .

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