February 15, 2010
Another good drive in California is the Ortega Highway, California Route 74. The Ortega Highway stretch of Route 74 travels through the Cleveland National Forest beginning nearly from the ocean in San Juan Capistrano and traverses over the mountains to Lake Elsinore. This is a really fun mountain drive winding up and down through the peaks. However, watch out for the locals and commuters, they really like to drive on this road as fast as they possibly can, apparently. But before you descend down to Lake Elsinore (if heading east), stop at the last set of peaks and look for the adrenalin junkies jumping out of the planes high overhead of the lake. Some of those skydivers really free-fall a long, long way before they open their parachutes.
Adam Trotter / AVT
