3 Scenic Drives To Take This Summer
Monterey Car Week may bring the crowds each summer, but you can have a classic car experience anytime thanks to the vintage rentals from Monterey Touring Vehicles. The woman-owned and -operated company began in 2018 after founder Heather Gardner saw how much joy driving her own vintage rides brought visiting friends. Monterey Touring Vehicles now offers cars from almost every decade since the 1930s—try a ’57 Porsche Speedster or a ’65 Mustang Convertible for a cruise down the coast. “It's not just car lovers, it's people who are like, ‘My grandpa had this car and I want to take my dad out for Father's Day,’ or ‘We've always wanted to drive to Big Sur and we have to do it in a cool car,” says business development director and partner Erin Sollecito. “My favorite part is the stories. Figuring out people’s ‘why.’” Whether you’re calling in a classic or just looking to take the scenic route, Erin is guiding us along her top three summer drives. (Hint: Locals will love them too.)
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01
River Road Wine Trail
Once you get onto River Road in Salinas, off Highway 68, the first winery is less than 10 minutes down the road. In between that and the final winery, it's a total of maybe 30 to 45 minutes of driving. You're surrounded by vineyards and the Santa Lucia mountain range on one side, and Salinas Valley farmland on the other side. It's beautiful but rustic. It's what I imagine Napa used to be.
02
Carmel Valley Village to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
With our group tours, we often drive out to Carmel Valley Village for a light wine tasting and lunch, or maybe a glassblowing demonstration. Then, head over Laureles Grade—which is a great drive—and cruise right into Laguna Seca’s racetrack. We'll do some parade laps on the track at sunset, and it's pretty stunning. After all the country driving, you get on the track and you're looking over the Salinas Valley at that beautiful twilight, golden hour. It's a bucket-list item for a lot of people. (Access to the racetrack is part of an exclusive Monterey Touring Vehicles experience. To book, visit montereytouringvehicles.com.)
The Other 17 Mile Drive
If you’re starting from Del Monte Avenue in Monterey, keep the ocean to your right and never stop. Go all the way around the coast—by the wharf, Cannery Row, around Lover’s Point. At the end is Asilomar Beach, with its white sandy beaches. It’s the same coastline as Spanish Bay—you're just separated by the gate to Pebble Beach. Turn left on 17 Mile Drive, instead of right into Pebble Beach, and you’ll go through forested Pacific Grove. Everything just changes with our microclimates. It cools down, it gets quiet. You're in all these pine trees. Eventually, you’ll turn right onto Lighthouse Avenue and cruise downtown Pacific Grove.
Editor’s note: If you plan on wine tasting, always appoint a designated driver.
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Cover photo courtesy of Monterey Touring Vehicles
PLAN YOUR DAY
on the Peninsula
- River Road Wine Trail
Salinas, CA - WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Salinas, CA - 17 Mile Drive
Pacific Grove, CA
