Touring * Street * Slalom *

From U.S. 101, take the San Marcos Road exit. You can park on the roadside or at Caparone Winery, about 1.5 miles up the road on the right.

San Marcos Road is delightful for a winter or springtime roll in Central Coast wine country. The fine-grade asphalt passes through a beautiful pastoral setting of gently rolling hills, white fences, and quiet farms. The road, which connects Highway 101 to Nacimiento Lake Drive, was never intended for bikes, so there are no paved shoulders or painted lines, but traffic is scant enough so that's not a problem. Note: summers often get hotter than 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the heat can be draining even with an early-morning start, so bring something to drink.

After the skate, stop in for some wine tasting at the unpretentious Caparone Winery on the north side of the road. The vintner specializes in unfiltered red wines. He, his son, or their one employee will serve you delicious samples, sometimes right from the barrel.