Road Trips from Weekend Driver
in the San Diego Union-Tribune

2007 Weekend Driver Columns

• Back to Julian: The fires are out so it’s time to visit one of the best mountain towns, Julian, and see some fall color in the mountins. Published December 8. GO>
• Really New Roads: The extension of Camino Del Sur between the 4S Ranch development west of Rancho Bernardo and Carmel Valley has only been open since mid-April. New vistas in the area west of Rancho Peñasquitos are just a drive away. All in a brand new Dodge Avenger R/T. Ran June 23. GO>
• Old Trucks, good goodies and an Infiniti G35 Coupe: A visit to Highway 94 and the Campo area, including the Motor Transport Museum, great chocolate and fantastic pie. Ran May 26. GO>
• Santa Ysabel Sky: Old Julian Highway and Mesa Grande Road are bikers' favorites. We’ll stop at Dudley’s Bakery for some bread, the Hideout Steakhouse for lunch. All in a Saturn Sky Redline roadster. Ran Saturday, March 24. GO>
  
  Online exclusive: Read a review of the turbocharged Saturn Sky Redline Roadster. GO>
• Coyote In A Hybrid: Take a drive up Coyote Canyon, a popular and close-by off-road cruise near Borrego Springs, in the Mercury Mariner hybrid SUV. Ran Feb. 24, 2007. GO>
  
  Online Exclusive: Video review of the Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV.
  
• Green Mountains: Take a spin on mountain trails in a Mercury Mariner hybrid SUV. Ran Jan. 27 . GO>

2006 Weekend Driver Columns

• 80 Turns 80: Route 66 may have gotten better press, not to mention a catchy song and TV show, but old U.S. 80 was a real coast-to-coast highway. As a birthday present for the old road, it’s now an official historic road in California. Check out a stretch from Flinn Springs to Pine Valley. Ran Nov. 25, 2006, . GO> GPS Tour Available.
  
  And if you want to celebrate with a t-shirt, go to the Highway 80 Store. GO>

• Desert Canyon: Once it cools off, check out a couple of great canyons in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Ran October 21, 2006 in the the Wheels section. GO>
• Charger Tour: Let’s go looking for the new Charger stadium sites in the south bay. Ran Sept. 23, 2006, . GO>
  
  Errata: It seemed like I was in a tire ad from the 1970s. The manufacturing plant in Chula Vista is owned by Goodrich, not Goodyear. Sorry, everybody.
  
  Update... July 2008: National City has dropped out of the Charger stadium sweepstakes, as has the site near the Olympic Training Center, but the Chula Vista bayfront site is still in the running.
• Snails, Avocados, Eucalyptus and Chocolate Malts: The avocado industry is long gone, but the rugged terrain around Mount Helix is great driving territory. In the next Weekend Driver, take a trip over twisting roads and visit one of the county's oldest parks (named for the eucalyptus tree), up a mountain named for a snail (Mt. Helix), over streets with avocado names and end up at one of the county's last independent roadside drive-ins (Beef n' Bun), a favorite with chocolate malt connoisseurs. Ran August 26, 2006 . GO>
• Towering Canyon: The Corral Canyon Off Highway Vehicle Area is a long and fancy title for what's one of the most isolated and beautiful areas in San Diego county. Ran Saturday, June 24. GO>
• Orange Blossom Special: Nothing like springtime in Southern California and experiencing orange trees in bloom. Ran May 27, 2006. GO>
  
  Note: I messed up one direction in this story. The turn just before Lilac Road becomes dirt is Couser Canyon Road... not Bandy Canyon. So many roads, so little time…
• Day At The Dunes: Head east on Highway 79... past San Marcos, past Escondido, past Ramona... well almost past everything, and you'll find the sand dunes of Imperial County. Take a ride way out there . Ran April 22, 2006. GO>
• My Favorite Freeway: Lets face it, sometimes a cruise on the interstate is just the ticket; check out the Weekend Driver's best. Ran Saturday, March 25, 2006. GO>
• Meet Mother Grundy: Her name is on a mountain and a truck trail. We’ll take a drive and discover just who — or what — she is. Ran Feb. 25, 2006. GO>
• Rough Road: La Posta Truck Trail is a rough road east and south of Mount Laguna. Be sure to take supplies and a four-wheel-drive vehicle for this trek. Ran Jan. 7, 2006. GO>

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