Historic Highway 101 in San Diego

Don't drive I-5. It's "like one huge back alley" with only occasional glimpses of the Pacific Ocean. Take the old road. That would be old US-101 which became erased by I-5 in 1966. "Today, the monotony is out on the 5."

In the June 1st Orange County Register, Gary A. Warner, said his favorite stretch was Oceanside to Solano Beach. There are all sorts of folks and ancient bars like the Daily Double and the Office that "still smell like smoke years after smoking was banned."

In Oceanside, the 101 Cafe is the unofficial headquarters of the historic highway movement in north San Diego County. Owner John Daley has lots of stories about 101 and says that reviving interest in an officially deceased highway is not an easy task.

Also in Oceanside are the neon-lit Star Theater and classic Sun Bowl Alley and the Dolphin Hotel that has been open since 1927.

CARLSBAD-- most of the US-101 stuff is gone, but Ocean House Restaurant is on the ground floor of the 1880s Twin Inns.

LEUCADIA-- described as having "a coastal funkiness, some of it endangered." The 100-year-old eucalyptus trees are being taken down. Leucadia Beach Inn, a 1920s Spanish-style court hotel that has been restored. Bamboos 2 U and the Tikis Too sells hand-carved tikis.

Pannikin Coffee and Tea is in the 1880s Santa Fe Railroad Depot.

ENCINITIS-- entering you pass under a replica steel arch. The La Paloma Theater dates to 1928. In the 700 block of Third Street, two homes look like ships that have run aground. It's Swami's for surfing and the Beach Boys sang about it in their 1963 hit "Surfin' USA."

Sounds Like a Great Drive with Just Enough Oddball and Old Stuff for Me. --RoadDog