SoCal - Rock Store Destination Advice

[Rogue]

A friend from out of town is visiting this coming Sunday and he’s interested in checking out the infamous Rock Store and Mulholland Road.  My plan is to head up there and have breakfast first, then go to the Rock Store by 10 AM to check out all the cool vehicles for about an hour.  Then head west via Mulholland Canyon Road (I think is the name) towards Pacific Coast Highway (Malibu) and maybe drive all the way to Point Mugu.  Hopefully find a decent place to have lunch before heading back south to Orange County.

Any advice on this day trip?  We will be taking the cage.  Suggestions on other worthy/scenic roads (twisties are fine).  Specifically, any good places to have lunch at (NOT the Rock Store please) in Malibue area?  I’m wide open to any and all suggestions as I have not been to this area in years.

Thanks all!

[nomadmax]

Car or not i'd take Decker Canyon Road from east to west. As it winds down to PCH it gives a breathtaking view. If you're into seafood check Neptunes Net in Malibu, right on PCH.

[atadaskew]

 Specifically, any good places to have lunch at (NOT the Rock Store please) in Malibue area?

I like to lunch at Nobu

http://www.noburestaurants.com/malibu/experience/introduction/

[Rogue]

Thanks!

Nobu looks like a place I'd take a date to but I will look it up.  Any other route advice?

[GooseMan]

Neptunes net has pretty good food, if you're looking for more fast-foodish, fried stuff. Bad for a date, but good for a couple of buddies. Moonshadow is a bit more date-ish, but its a nice place with a great view of the ocean and the food is better. A little more classy

As for the route itself, you can head west/north on Mulholland Hwy and keep going as far as you want, then just take the first left you come across to get back to the PCH.  Some of Mulholland gets pretty twisty, which is fun on a bike, great in a sports car, but probably not so great in a normal sedan.

For breakfast, go to the "Old Place", which has A LOT better food than the Rock Store. Its on Mulholland Hwy, maybe a 1/2 mile before the Rock Store.

Have fun!

[M.Brane]

 I must admit I haven't been to Neptune's Net in quite some time. That's because the last couple times I was there the food sucked, and the place was full of douchebags. Riding past on weekends it doesn't look like the latter has changed so I haven't bothered to stop, and sample the food.

 The last time I was at Malibu Inn the food/service was good. Yeah it's kinda pricey, but it's Malibu. They also have a McDonalds. Best one I've ever been to in fact.

 A drive out Mulholland Hwy can be fun even in a cage with someone that knows how to drive. There are so many side roads between Topanga, and Pt. Mugu you couldn't possibly enjoy them all in a day starting & ending in the OC without running out of daylight this time of year.

[viffergyrl]

Malibu Inn

You don't say what type a cage, but take a look at this - it will get you to the Rock Store and the Malibu Inn.


View Larger Map

[Rogue]

Thanks viffergyrl.

We had a great time.  We got to the Rock Store around 10AM and it was starting to fill up with lots of REALLY cool motorcycles from vintage bikes to really customized ones to the latest and greatest.  We were amazed at the number of brand new bikes WITHOUT their license plates yet and already sporting aftermarket exhaust and other stuff!  Lots of people with money in that area!  

After taking a few pictures and admiring the machinery we headed west on Mulholland Hwy all the way to PCH.  That first part of the road was incredibly evil-twisty!  Tight switchbacks left, then right, as it gained elevation quickly up to that infamous Mulholland Hwy corner where all the crashes on Youtube seem to emanate from.  Now I fully understand why a lot of people crash on that corner.  As you approach this notorious corner, the road looks like it opens up from the evil-tight-twisties behind you, there is also a steep rise on the road that prevents you from seeing how sharp the upcoming corner really is.  It's not THAT sharp but my guess is it’s easily a 20 mph mild decreasing radius.  It’s funny because the guardrail on the right side was all bent and pushed in from all the action!  From there the road loosened up just a tad.

We drove all the way out to PCH and on some parts during the descend down to the coast, the road got pretty narrow with a few sprinkles of dirt and rocks at certain points.  I can understand the attraction of this area to motorcyclists and car drivers alike.  Its sparsely populated and it really can test the handling of your vehicle as well as your skills.  We stopped by Point Mugu then turned around and stopped to have a drink at Neptune’s Net.  It looked like we followed many of the bikers from the Rock Store there as the place quickly filled up with bikes.  From there we headed back towards the 101 via Kanaan Road and had lunch at Islands.

All in all we had a great time.  I brought my car, which is a Regal turbo and it really tested the car’s handling—it’s about the same size as your Acura TL.  I hit the “Sport” button and rowed the shifter’s “+” “-“ to go up and down the gears.  I needed to on those evil tight twisty roads.  I hope to give this area a go on my motorcycle on another trip.  The only downer was this area was crawling with cops!  Holy crap!  This on a Sunday!  There must have been speed traps on every secondary artery there!  My Valentine 1 was going off on Ka-band beginning on the 101 before the exit to the Rock Store, then near the Rock Store area’s road, then PCH, then Kanan Road.  CHP’s and Sheriffs driving around with Ka-band radar banging away.  Kept my detector busy!

Thanks for all the tips.

[M.Brane]

 I try to avoid Sundays in the Santa Monicas. Early Saturday is much better, and weekdays are the best.

[Rogue]

MBrane weekdays are no-go for me.  The traffic going to and from that area from the OC would be a nightmare.  Otherwise I would gladly take a day off to enjoy those great roads.

Actually I really liked it.  It's a taste of the Central Coast without going that far.  

When I return on my bike it will be on another Sunday (no traffic on the 405) but will keep my speeds way down to avoid any citations.  It seemed like those CHP's were just everywhere.

[M.Brane]

 You just need to take a few days off, get a room up here, and spend a whole day or two exploring.

 The 405 is not that bad after 7PM or so. It'll keep your lane sharing skills sharp. Might not wanna do it during the holiday season though. I've noticed a big increase in the idiot count lately.

[Rogue]

I do have a week off Xmas!  Hmmm....  There's that many roads to explore around Malibu?  

[M.Brane]

 Lesseee.. just off the top of my head...

 Potrero
 Deer Creek
 Yerba Buena
 Little Sycamore
 Decker
 Encinal
 Latigo
 Cold Cyn
 Piuma
 Schueren
 Stunt
 Las Flores
 Saddle Peak
 Old Topanga
 Tuna

 Yeah, you need at least a day to take it all in. A couple if you wanna run 'em both ways.

[atadaskew]

  From there we headed back towards the 101 via Kanaan Road and had lunch at Islands.

Islands?

You had local spots like:

Malibu Inn
Neptune's Net (crap)
Malibu Seafood
Nobu
Mary's Kitchen
Zuma Sushi
Malibu Cantina
Sage Room
Tra di Noi
Plate
Coogies
Guidos
Cholodas
Howdy's Taqueria
Bui Sushi
Coral Beach Cantina

But you chose a crappy chain shop?

Dood.

[Rogue]

I didn't want to experiment and wanted something for sure.  Besides, my buddy likes their burgers.  

It's our first time eating there.  For breakfast we had Coco's off the 101.  It was good pancakes and eggs with coffee.  

[atadaskew]

I didn't want to experiment and wanted something for sure.  Besides, my buddy likes their burgers.  

It's our first time eating there.  For breakfast we had Coco's off the 101.  It was good pancakes and eggs with coffee.  

No wonder you like it in Irvine.
Bland and generic.
 

[Rogue]

Safe, boring, and bland is nice to come home to.  When I want excitement I go to LA County or Tijuana, Mexico.

BTW I live in Mission Viejo, safest, most boring city in South OC.