Inspired by the Italian Mille Miglia and the West Coast California Mille, The Golden Empire Region of the Porsche Club of American is hosting it’s first (and perhaps last) Meta Mille Miglia tour. This driving tour will take place over three days throughout some of California’s most beautiful countryside. And you can join us for part or all of this tour ! It’s a 500 mile tour that will take place over a three day period. From Friday though Sunday attendees will drive from Bakersfield, through the twists and turns of Hwy 33 to Ojai and Santa Barbara. Over the weekend the journey will take participants up Hwy 1 through the some of the most majestic scenery California has to offer. Ending with a thrilling drive down Hwy 25 out of Hollister. Another twisty curvy back road experience that Porsche-philes thrive on. Day One From Bakersfield to Ojai over the exciting Hwy 33. Up the lower Central Coast to Santa Barbara’s Stern’s Wharf for lunch. And into Solvang over Hwy 154 for relaxing shopping, dinner, and overnight stay. This is the heart of the movie “Sideways”. Come and track one of our favorite “fun time” movies throughout the wine vineyards of Los Olivos, just 7 miles to the north of Solvang. The sleepy community of Los Olivos is a great place for dinner and some great wine sampling. Santa Ynez, just minutes east of Solvang even host the gambling pleasures of the Chumash Indian Casino, or the “Land of the Big Winner” as the local native Americans fondly refer to it. Then settle in for a relaxing night’s sleep at one of the Solvang’s many rest spots. The Royal Copenhagen hotel still has rooms available last time I checked. Day Two Wake up early Saturday morning for breakfast or Danish pastry in Solvang. Then it’s on more scenic driving through the Santa Ynez valley’s vineyards and wineries. A 10am stop at the Firestone Winery is scheduled on our way for a private winery tour and tasting of their fine Central Coast wines. The $20 cost per person should leave a wonderful taste in your mouth of the gorgeous Santa Ynez valley. We continue on through the beautiful back roads of the Foxen Canyon which will lead us into the secluded oak forest of Tepusquet. A very well maintained country road full of wildlife. Every time I past through Tepusquet I see deer, wild turkey, tons of grey squirrels dashing from tree to tree. Tepusquet road put us out on Hwy 166 about 15 miles east of Santa Maria. From there it’s about a 20 minute drive up Hwy 101 until we reach our lunch stop at the lovely Ventana Grill, or former Shore Cliff restaurant for all of you “hipsters” who may recall the action filled evenings of great food, drink, and live music of this hotspot overlooking the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. After lunch we drive north to San Luis Obispo to switch from Hwy 101 to a more scenic coastal Hwy 1. Which will lead us through the marshlands of Los Osos, into Morro Bay, and up to the lovely quaint village of Cambria, where the ocean meets the pines. Shopping and sight seeing will last a couple of hours. For those of us “manly men” who can’t hang with shopping for candles and blown glass there is the 100+ year old Camozzi’s bar on Main St Cambria. A real throw back to the 1800s.
Betsy Wadman has arranged for what I believe will be a transcendent evening tour of the Hearst Castle. I’ve been through the Castle many times but never after dark. The warm glow of the alabaster lighting fixtures will transport all who attend back into an art deco age of Downton Abby. I’m truly looking forward to this evening Castle experience.
But wait, we’re not done with our Saturday evening yet. After the evening of the Castle we drive on up Hwy 1 to the Ragged Point Inn for dinner and a night’s rest just 15 miles north of Hearst Castle. Anyone who attended the 2014 Monterey Porsche Parade may recall one of the driving tours to this magnificent hotel and restaurant which sits 600 feet above the Pacific Ocean. All night long you will be serenaded by the crashing ocean surf below.
Sunday In the morning you will awake to one of the most beautiful and majestic views that the California coastline has to offer. You will be nestled in pine, oleander, and dramatic stands of cypress trees. The aroma of this area itself is simply intoxicating.
Breakfast will be enjoyed at the elegant Ragged Point restaurant. And afterwards drive up one of the most majestic section of coast Hwy in the world. The breathtaking Highway 1. There’s a little trick that I’ve found out about other drivers on this road. If you tailgate it really annoys them and they pull over and let you drive your Porsche spiritedly up this beautiful highway. Up to Monterey for lunch at Fisherman Wharf and onto Hollister for staging of the drive down in famous Hwy 25. Another twisty curvy road that Porsche was born to experience. This road takes you out to Hwy 101 around the King City area I believe. Then on home from there.
So if you and your Porsche thrive on the twisty and curvy driving experience this weekend has YOU written all over it. Please don’t feel that you are obligated to participate in the entire trip. I plan on joining the group early Saturday morning in Solvang. And bailing out of the drive somewhere around the Big Sur area and driving back down Hwy 1 and back home. This should be an amazing experience in whichever Porsche you choose to drive this weekend. Can’t wait to take my little air cooled Targa up Hwy 1 for the first time !!