• Start your auto tour by turning right out of our parking lot (or heading north toward downtown, if you are parked on the street). In 7 blocks you’ll come to a Shell gas station. Turn right there onto San Mateo Road (Hwy 92). Soon you’ll be driving past numerous greenhouses and nurseries.
• Stop at Pastorino’s nursery (you’ll know you’re there because of the fabulous rose garden in front). About 2 miles east of HMB).
• A quarter mile and you’re at ePlantWorld, with three greenhouses full of the most beautiful orchids.
• Another half mile and you can visit La Nebbia Winery, one of our fine local wineries, where you can stop for tastings and to check out their facility.
• Continue over the mountain and down the other side. When you come to the second traffic light (just west of Hwy 280 overpass), turn right onto Cañada Road, go about 3 miles till you see a small sign for Filoli House and Gardens.
• Back on Cañada Road, turn right and continue several miles to the little village of Woodside. Lunch at Buck’s Restaurant or go to Roberts Grocery, for an elegant picnic lunch or just some of the best sandwiches you’ve ever had.
• Next you go west, back up the mountain on Hwy 84 (the road that runs through the center of Woodside). At the top, you’ll come to Hwy 35 – Skyline Blvd. Turn left (south) and in about 4 1/2 miles you’ll see Thomas Fogarty Winery on your left.
• Across Hwy 35 from Fogarty is a gravel road down which you can travel a couple miles (stay right at each fork) to Yerba Buena Nursery – a delightful garden specializing in over 600 varieties of native California plants and ferns.
• Returning to Skyline Blvd. turn left and go back to Hwy 84 (Alice’s Restaurant is at the intersection – no, not that Alice’s Restaurant – but a good place for burgers, nevertheless). Turn west (left) onto Hwy 84 and start down the western side of the mountain.
• You’ll be driving through some redwood and pine forest, and the little town of La Honda. Here you’ll find one of the best dive bars (you might call it a roadhouse) in the Bay area: Apple Jack’s Inn. It has atmosphere to spare, and a rather nice selection of beers.
• Continuing down the mountain, you’ll pass through some lovely open space and agricultural areas, coming eventually to San Gregorio General Store. Turn left there onto Stage Road and follow the trail that stage coaches used to take as they plied the Coastside in the 1800’s and early 1900’s.
• In a few miles you’ll come to the small town of Pescadero – Look for Duarte’s Tavern, an American Classic bar and dining room known for their artichoke soup (mix it with some of the green chile soup for a special treat), sandwiches, and their delicious pies
• At the restaurant, Stage Road intersects with Pescadero Creek Road. Turn left onto the latter and continue until you see Cloverdale Road, turn right there and go 3.5 miles to Butano State Park – acres of trails, giant redwoods, and pine trees to drive or hike through.
• When you come out of the park, turn left onto Cloverdale road, and in about 1.2 miles, bear right at Gazos Creek Road, 2.1 more miles and you’ll come to an intersection with Pacific Coast Hwy (Hwy 1). Here you turn right and head back north toward Half Moon Bay (about 23 miles). If you time it right, you’ll get back to the Inn just in time for our wine and cheese between 5 and 7 pm, where you can regale us with stories of your day’s adventures.