The Belmont Trip

Around the "Peninsula"

San Mateo County

We left Sunday morning after a Grand Slam breakfast at Denny's.
It was an easy drive up Hwy 101 through King City and Soledad (Pinnacles turnoff points).
Salinas has gotten big and the freeway traffic past San Jose wasn't bad at all.
We checked in at the Holiday Inn Express (***) and had a barbecue at the College of Notre Dame de Namur.
We returned through Half Moon Bay and stayed over in SANTA CRUZ

Crystal Reservoir

Notre Dame de Namur

Waterdog Lake Hike

Holiday Inn Express
worth every cent!

Sunset Gardens, Menlo Park
Old Man (coast live oak)

Japanese Tea Garden, San Mateo
5th St, Central Park

Mountain View Center
for the Performing Arts

Smokey Joe's Cafe
We looked 'in the business'.

Castro Street, Mountain View
200 Block

Around San Mateo County
****Sunset Gardens 80 Willow Rd, Menlo Park (415)321-3600 Sunset magazine headquarters
**Japanese Tea Garden, San Mateo (Central Park)
***Filoli Center 86 Canada Rd, Woodside (650)364-2880 Quail's Nest Cafe
Crystal Reservoir - Take a sunset drive. (See a hiking guide for day hikes.)
Waterdog Lake Park - Short hike up to the reservoir. Score points for finding this one!
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts - mvcpa.com, great location on Castro Street
Hwy 92 to Half Moon Bay or try the link below

Quilt Stores in San Mateo County
Laurel Leaf 648 Laurel St, San Carlos (650)591-6790 - Rating C-
Eddie's Quilting Bee, Castro St, Mountain View - Rating B+

Food & Lodging
Creola Bistro 344 El Camino Real, San Carlos (650)654-0882 $$$$ excellent!
Kamei - Japanese House, Mountain View (Castro Street) $$ great value!
Max's Bistro, Belmont (corner of El Camino Real & Ralston $$$ excellent chain of restaurants
Some to try next time?
Vic's Restaurant, San Carlos 595-2606 family
Van's Restaurant on the Hill, Belmont - expensive
Caprinos, Belmont - pricy but recommended
Iron Gate, Belmont 592-7893 recommended, also a night spot
Lodging
Holiday Inn Express 1650 El Camino Real, Belmont (650)654-4000 excellent!

Links and References
Things to do on Hwy 92 to Half Moon Bay
Filoli Center
Garden Visit and Travel Guide
Eddie's Quilting Bee
Virtual Guidebook an extensive collection of flora and fauna
Sunset Gardens an outstanding guide to Morro Bay
Inside the Bay Area - downtown San Mateo's Central Park (shopping too!)
  
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June 2002