Here are some great ideas for road trips in time of COVID-19

Q

I love Mark Purdy’s term “brain-washing drives” to take during COVID-19. So apt!

My husband and I have been doing the same and have enjoyed heading south on Highway

101 and returning through Aromas, Corralitos and up to Summit Road. We’ve been to Pacifica and up to San Francisco on the Great Highway when the air quality was so bad last summer. We’ve driven to Mount Diablo to enjoy the view. And we’ve gone up Highway 92 to Skylawn, where his father is interred. We also went to Colma that day to visit his mother’s grave.

It’s amazing what a change of scene can do.

— Virginia Gelczis, Sunnyvale

A

Yes, indeed. Here are a few other trips to beat the stay-at-home pandemic blues.

Q

Isolated road trips are a great idea. You get out and see more of California.

One of my favorites is south of Hollister on Highway 25, past the Pinnacles before turning east on Highway 198. You’ll be traveling through earthquake country, and the tortured twists and turns of the landscape have to be seen to be believed. Eventually, the road ends in Coalinga. You can return via Interstate 5 and Highway 152.

If you’ve got more time, you can continue south on Highway 33 toward Buttonwillow through miles and miles of orchards that show off our incredibly productive Central Valley region.

Turning right on Highway 58 takes you over the Gabilan Mountains and down into Paso Robles.

Since Highway 1 is closed, I recommend heading north to San Miguel. Just east out of San Miguel across the river is Indian Valley Road, which takes you north through some spectacular California scenery — fields of flowers, wandering cattle and even the occasional antelope. Indian Valley becomes Peachtree Road, which dead-ends on Highway 198, perhaps 1/8th mile east of where you originally joined it at Highway 25’s end. A left turn and remaining on 198 takes you back to 101 and back home.

For several decades, I led motorcycle tours of California, and this is one of my favorite drives.

— Jim Thurber, Mountain View

A

Orchards, deer and antelope — sounds like a beautiful drive, and I see why it’s one of your favorites.

Q

Try Highway 17 early on a Sunday morning to Santa Cruz. No traffic, so roll down the windows and smell the wonderful redwoods.

— Mark Hahn, San Jose

A

We did this drive back when Anne-the-roadshow-daughter had a swim meet down the coast. The whiff of redwoods was wonderful at 6 a.m.

Q

A dream drive for my wife and me is any trip to see our grandkids.

— Connie F., Fremont

A

Mrs. Roadshow and I know that feeling.