[AZ-Wildcat]

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Without 75 zoom meetings, I decided to take advantage of a corporate holiday off and went for a cruise. As much as I miss living in Laguna Beach and cruising PCH between Newport and Dana Point, Northern California truly offers some of the best and technical driving experiences from coastal views to mountain twisty's.

Started off in Campbell and headed to Santa Cruz to head up Highway 1 and loop back home, roughly 100 miles round trip.

• Went down Highway 17 to Santa Cruz, a sneaky good route through the Santa Cruz Mountains with Redwood treelined roads.
• From there its a 20+ Mile stretch on Highway 1 along the water before my first stop at Hi Pigeon Point Light House.
• I took La Honda road from PCH across the valley floor. Most of a La Honda are long sweepers where you can carry pretty good speeds as you approach the climb up the mountain where things become "fun" (Played chase to the GT2RS pictured)
• Next checkpoint was Alices Restaurant. A local joint with a sneaky good car scene: Singers, Pagani's, Porches ad nauseam, and other rare beauties.
• Once at Alices headed along Skyline Blvd south which stretches from SF to San Jose with views of Big Basin Redwoods on one side and Silicon Valley on the other.
• Last stretch, headed down Highway 9 to Los Gatos for a much needed beer to unwind and relax.

A few thoughts on the car from the drive: When pushed Perelli's suck, the M3 is a great do it all car (comfy, extremely powerful and handles well), wished the Sport display on the dash synched with M1/M2 modes. Enjoy the pics and hopefully inspires people to explore these amazing roads!

[DinanFeighty]

That looks beautiful! Definitely looks like a fun time!! Beautiful spec on the M, also.

[azlightning213]

NorCal has some incredible routes and scenery. I miss driving through Tiburon.

Come to think of it, there’s only two things I miss about the Bay Area: driving scenery and ramen 🤣.

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by AZ-Wildcat

Without 75 zoom meetings, I decided to take advantage of a corporate holiday off and went for a cruise. As much as I miss living in Laguna Beach and cruising PCH between Newport and Dana Point, Northern California truly offers some of the best and technical driving experiences from coastal views to mountain twisty's.

Started off in Campbell and headed to Santa Cruz to head up Highway 1 and loop back home, roughly 100 miles round trip.
Went down Highway 17 to Santa Cruz, a sneaky good route through the Santa Cruz Mountains with Redwood treelined roads.
From there its a 20+ Mile stretch on Highway 1 along the water before my first stop at Hi Pigeon Point Light House.
I took La Honda road from PCH across the valley floor. Most of a La Honda are long sweepers where you can carry pretty good speeds as you approach the climb up the mountain where things become "fun" (Played chase to the GT2RS pictured)
Next checkpoint was Alices Restaurant. A local joint with a sneaky good car scene: Singers, Pagani's, Porches ad nauseam, and other rare beauties.
Once at Alices headed along Skyline Blvd south which stretches from SF to San Jose with views of Big Basin Redwoods on one side and Silicon Valley on the other.
Last stretch, headed down Highway 9 to Los Gatos for a much needed beer to unwind and relax.

A few thoughts on the car from the drive: When pushed Perelli's suck, the M3 is a great do it all car (comfy, extremely powerful and handles well), wished the Sport display on the dash synched with M1/M2 modes. Enjoy the pics and [...]

This is my backyard’s road…
I drive over ther at least once in a month. It’s really nice and enjoyable drive.
There are lots of narrow roads in that area with sharp corners and lots of turns

[peelerec]

Let’s not forget proximity to Sonoma, Laguna seca and Thunderhill are all within 1-3 hour drive.

[Mr.McNutty]

Originally Posted by AZ-Wildcat

Without 75 zoom meetings, I decided to take advantage of a corporate holiday off and went for a cruise. As much as I miss living in Laguna Beach and cruising PCH between Newport and Dana Point, Northern California truly offers some of the best and technical driving experiences from coastal views to mountain twisty's.

Started off in Campbell and headed to Santa Cruz to head up Highway 1 and loop back home, roughly 100 miles round trip.
Went down Highway 17 to Santa Cruz, a sneaky good route through the Santa Cruz Mountains with Redwood treelined roads.
From there its a 20+ Mile stretch on Highway 1 along the water before my first stop at Hi Pigeon Point Light House.
I took La Honda road from PCH across the valley floor. Most of a La Honda are long sweepers where you can carry pretty good speeds as you approach the climb up the mountain where things become "fun" (Played chase to the GT2RS pictured)
Next checkpoint was Alices Restaurant. A local joint with a sneaky good car scene: Singers, Pagani's, Porches ad nauseam, and other rare beauties.
Once at Alices headed along Skyline Blvd south which stretches from SF to San Jose with views of Big Basin Redwoods on one side and Silicon Valley on the other.
Last stretch, headed down Highway 9 to Los Gatos for a much needed beer to unwind and relax.

A few thoughts on the car from the drive: When pushed Perelli's suck, the M3 is a great do it all car (comfy, extremely powerful and handles well), wished the Sport display on the dash synched with M1/M2 modes. Enjoy the pics and [...]

Great spot for a pic!

[jmg]

PCH here in Orange County is nothing compared to Central and Northern California. I absolutely love driving from the Los Angeles area to the north along PCH. I never got the chance to do it in my G82 because of either road construction, or we had too many kids and luggage to fit! I did, however make a drive in my F80 to a track day at Laguna Seca.

[AZ-Wildcat]

Shameless Dravit plug... This color is just so sick, all 4 photos taken in the same spot I just moved around a few steps between each. Loving the dark side on Dravit on #4.

[mwhippa]

Originally Posted by AZ-Wildcat

Without 75 zoom meetings, I decided to take advantage of a corporate holiday off and went for a cruise. As much as I miss living in Laguna Beach and cruising PCH between Newport and Dana Point, Northern California truly offers some of the best and technical driving experiences from coastal views to mountain twisty's.

Started off in Campbell and headed to Santa Cruz to head up Highway 1 and loop back home, roughly 100 miles round trip.
Went down Highway 17 to Santa Cruz, a sneaky good route through the Santa Cruz Mountains with Redwood treelined roads.
From there its a 20+ Mile stretch on Highway 1 along the water before my first stop at Hi Pigeon Point Light House.
I took La Honda road from PCH across the valley floor. Most of a La Honda are long sweepers where you can carry pretty good speeds as you approach the climb up the mountain where things become "fun" (Played chase to the GT2RS pictured)
Next checkpoint was Alices Restaurant. A local joint with a sneaky good car scene: Singers, Pagani's, Porches ad nauseam, and other rare beauties.
Once at Alices headed along Skyline Blvd south which stretches from SF to San Jose with views of Big Basin Redwoods on one side and Silicon Valley on the other.
Last stretch, headed down Highway 9 to Los Gatos for a much needed beer to unwind and relax.

A few thoughts on the car from the drive: When pushed Perelli's suck, the M3 is a great do it all car (comfy, extremely powerful and handles well), wished the Sport display on the dash synched with M1/M2 modes. Enjoy the pics and [...]

Your wheels look so good

[nacs]

I’m laughing at definition of “Northern California” by the author. As someone that grew up in true Northern California where the Bay Area was more central to us, I would have expected an article lamenting CalTrans destruction of the 299 over the buckhorn summit or other truly amazing roads w/o perhaps the vistas….Its all in perspective however.

[AZ-Wildcat]

Originally Posted by nacs

I’m laughing at definition of “Northern California” by the author. As someone that grew up in true Northern California where the Bay Area was more central to us, I would have expected an article lamenting CalTrans destruction of the 299 over the buckhorn summit or other truly amazing roads w/o perhaps the vistas….Its all in perspective however.

You must be from "Upper Northern California", which is just north of Northern California

[nacs]

Originally Posted by AZ-Wildcat

You must be from "Upper Northern California", which is just north of Northern California

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5Kv0Pnaokw

[yousefnjr]

Love those roads as well, minus the teenagers and cyclists

[SushiM3]

Nice pictures!

I think I've seen your car around in the SJ/Sunnyvale area before, looks great.

[AZ-Wildcat]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

Love those roads as well, minus the teenagers and cyclists

And the downed motorcycle on 9 I saw, always a wreck somewhere. Drive and ride within the limits!

[projekt-]

Originally Posted by SushiM3

Nice pictures!

I think I've seen your car around in the SJ/Sunnyvale area before, looks great.

+1, I'm from his area and I've definitely seen his car pulling to the local Whole Foods.

[jefe2000]

Lovely route. Highway 9 on either side of Skyline is a lovely drive. The local BMWCCA chapter has led some great drives through that area, too!

[Tony_M3]

What color did you powder coat your wheels?

[nickrgeorge]

Something about that spot on CA1 by the light house attracts BMWs... This is my old 440i but I haven't shot my new Z4 there yet.

But you can't go wrong for roads in the Santa Cruz area. Inside your loop, be sure to check out:

• Bear Creek Rd
• Alba Rd (uphill from 9)
• 9 from Boulder Creek up to 35
• 236 through Big Basin (incredible post-fire recovery)
• Pescadero Creek Road
• Alpine Road

[AZ-Wildcat]

Originally Posted by Tony_M3

What color did you powder coat your wheels?

Prismatic Powders- Porsche Silver w/ gloss finish. Absolutely stoked how they turned out, very OEM. I just don’t love the all black thing as they look like blobs in pictures and get micro scratches.

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by AZ-Wildcat

You must be from "Upper Northern California", which is just north of Northern California

It's certainly all pretty relative & depends on your perspective of the map I guess. LOL Nice post my Campbell neighbor. Still gotta meet you one day. This is a pretty awesome route & I will have to save it for a later tracing of it in my X3 M. Excellent photos & you picked a good day to do this (on a Monday - the MLK holiday). Hopefully most of the roads were relatively light during this drive!

[JDUNITNOW]

Originally Posted by AZ-Wildcat

Prismatic Powders- Porsche Silver w/ gloss finish. Absolutely stoked how they turned out, very OEM. I just don’t love the all black thing as they look like blobs in pictures and get micro scratches.

Amen to that, I'm glad you went with the color choice for wheels. It definitely changed the way my car looks. I think silver wheels on Dravit makes the car stand out more.